Some Chickens

[Taceas]

Since I've been away for a while, my chickens have been keeping me rather busy. They've all grown up now from the little chicks they were in April, and the hens are starting to lay eggs.

I was up early one morning, so I decided to take a few pics while I was out and about.

I've got three roosters I'm trying to decide between as the permanent resident, although all three do get along, for the time being anyway. I only managed to get pics of two of them though, the unpictured one is Dumbledore, our Partridge Cochin.

Here is Buddy, he's a Cuckoo Maran rooster, and is in the lead for being kept:


This is Lucius, our Silver Penciled Rock rooster, he's a big fraidy cat though:


Here's one of the "Pajama Sisters", Narcissa, a Black Cochin hen:


There's nothing better than a good dust bath...one of our Dark Cornish hens enjoying hers:




And a few other hens join her:


Up top is Uno, our mongrel hen, trying in vain to dust in the grass...to the right is Gabby, one of our Speckled Sussex, and at the bottom is Mop, one of the Light Brahmas.

Then comes Hilda, the turkey comes along to chase everyone out so she can stand in the dirt:


And finally I was standing in the hen house waiting for a couple of Araucana's to finish up laying, I'm trying to see which hens lay the green eggs, and as one gets off the nest clucking "I LAID AN EGG! I LAID AN EGG" loud enough for the county to hear...I hear Maia our dog come off the deck where she was asleep. She adores a good egg or 12 now and then or everyday...

Unbeknownst to her, I was waiting with my camera, ready: "Caughtya!"

[Hurley]

Woo, that first rooster is sharp!

[Russell]

great pics! I might have to raise some chicks next spring, just for butcher though, as in laws don't really have a spot to keep em through the winters here. Anyhow, I too think the rooster in the lead for head rooster is a winner! I love his barred coloring.

[susang]

I envy you chickens, but not the roosters. Some are so aggressive. We've all kinds of chickens but for laying I like Black Astalorpe, exellent layers even the heat.

[Taceas]

After looking at pics and consulting with Russ, I believe the top rooster, Buddy, to be a Dominique.

The hatchery I ordered from does include one free rare breed chicken with every order, and thinking back to what developed, everything else is something I ordered. He's the only one who doesn't fit in.

[Nanci]

Wow do I miss having chickens!!! I love your Buddy rooster- he's gorgeous!! It's so fun to watch them take dust baths- they love that so much. When I had chickens, I'd go out and catch as many grasshoppers as I could hold- I'd stack them between my fingers. Then I'd call the chickens- Chick Treats!! and they'd come running. They _love_ grasshoppers, and eating insects and grass makes them lay eggs with the bright orange centers instead of washed out yellow like store-bought. I miss them...

Nanci

[Laceyjane260]

Originally Posted by Taceas

The hatchery I ordered from does include one free rare breed chicken with every order.

Great pictures! What hatchery do you get your chicks from? We had chickens when I was growing up and I would like to get back into them in the furture.

[Taceas]

Most of mine have been ordered from McMurray in the past, although I really don't plan on doing much business with them in the future. The past two years of chicks have had one problem or another.

Last year several breeds had leg or body deformities, which I know can occur when not fed properly, but I feed all of my chicks the same year after year and I have never had problems like I did that year.

This year they couldn't properly sex anything. When I'm paying a premium for sexed birds, it should come out pretty darn close. But almost everything I ordered came out bassackwards in the ratios. Instead of 3 planned for roosters, I ended up with 9.

I think next year I'm gonna try Cackle Hatchery, they have a pretty wide selection of breeds as well and I've heard some good things. I need to get some more Americaunas, the green egg layers. I've only got two who lay green eggs, and one of them is on her last leg these days.

[Piper]

Thanks so much for posting your photos!! I like the first rooster, he's got alot of character!

I've browsed the McMurray hatchery website, thanks for posting your past experiences with them. We had chickens when I was growing up as a kid I had the job of checking for eggs, what great fun We plan to get some next year. Should be a fun project!!!

Do chickens eat Japanese Beetles?

[Nanci]

That's too bad about McMurray- I was pleased with my orders from them, though that was back in the early 90's...

Nanci