Thursday, June 24, 2010

Chicken Update

Well we still have 9 hens! All are growing and getting huge. They are now almost 13 weeks old. I introduced scraps to them last week but so far they haven't been too interested. They do however love dandelion leaves!

The Barred Rocks are definitely the friendliest of the 3 varieties. They come right up to you and let you pet them. They are also the most curious. They will run out the door when you open it if your not careful.I let them all out of the run the other day to have free range of the back yard. They LOVED it. Most of the time they looked like this. Heads down tails up. Peck, peck, peckin' away at the ground. I really need to get their portable run built, hopefully soon. For now I am going to try and give them a little time each day outside in the yard. The problem is our yard isn't fenced in so I have to be out there with them at all times. It was also a little difficult getting them back in the run. I had to have the kids help me guide them back in.

5 comments:

  1. looks and sounds like so much fun!!

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  2. They look great!!! I bet your boys enjoyed the chase. I had thought you ordered straight-run, but you must have gotten specific hens? Mine were straight-run - any idea how to tell if they're roosters??

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  3. I ordered hens, although it is never a guarantee. I am not 100% on how to tell if you have a rooster in the bunch. I am a little worried that one of my Brahmas is a rooster. It is a little bigger than the others and its waddle seems a bit bigger. I guess we will see. The only way to know for sure is if it starts crowing. I heard that can start around 16 weeks.

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  4. They ladies look great! Its been a lot of fun to check bag on their growth and progress. Can't wait to raise chickens of my own, thanks for all the tips/advice!

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  5. We have had good luck getting them back into their coop by enticing them with a piece of bread. (Sort of like feeding sea-gulls.) They all want the bread, so they come running to get their fair share.

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