Raising Chickens: Baby Chicks to ½ Grown

[dlgoff]

I thought I'd start this thread to keep Evo posted on her chickens progress.

Baby chicks first picture
[PLAIN]https://www.physicsforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=33980&d=1301871732

Chickens as of today (>½ grown)

 

[rhody]

Rhody's perhaps ?

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

Aww, thanks Don! Roger is soooo adorable!

 

[rootX]

I came here looking for why the chickens cross the road .

 

[Borek]

I hoped for a chick pictures - can't say there were none.

 

[jtbell]

How about some chick flicks?

 

[pergradus]

What are you going to do with these? Cause I'm kinda hungry...

 

[dlgoff]

Roger is soooo adorable!

Yea. And she's got that Evo look. :!)

 

[dlgoff]

What are you going to do with these? Cause I'm kinda hungry...

Need I say more?

 

[FtlIsAwesome]

I came here looking for why the chickens cross the road .

lol.

 

[HeLiXe]

They look so cute and healthy!

 

[nucleargirl]

Chickens are so funny! I want chickens too! big ones!

though, one thing I don't get is, why do they still lay eggs if the eggs are not fertilised? it doesn't make biological sense!

 

[Borek]

though, one thing I don't get is, why do they still lay eggs if the eggs are not fertilised? it doesn't make biological sense!

In their normal environment they are being constantly sexually harassed by cocks, in effect there is no such thing as not fertilized egg. In other words - mechanism that would stop lying eggs would not give them any evolutionary benefits.

 

[dlgoff]

In their normal environment they are being constantly sexually harassed by cocks, in effect there is no such thing as not fertilized egg. In other words - mechanism that would stop lying eggs would not give them any evolutionary benefits.

Not only that, they know what could happen if they don't lay eggs.

 

[lisab]

Not only that, they know what could happen if they don't lay eggs.

I love chicken and dumplings :!)

 

[Evo]

I love chicken and dumplings :!)

Bisquick fluffy cloud dumplings. Not the noodles.

Funny how there are two camps for dumplings. On the TV show, Top Chef, one contestant was to make one of Jimmy Fallon's favorite foods, and one chef got "chicken & dumplings". She made the flat noodle type and he hated it. Jimmy liked the fluffy round dumplings, so the judge told her real dumplings are soft fluffy round puffs, not flat noodle type things, and she almost had to leave the show.

 

[AlephZero]

Not only that, they know what could happen if they don't lay eggs.

A "townie" work colleague of mine moved to a house with a big garden, and decided to keep some chickens. Everything went fine, till the egg production started to dwindle and they decided to eat one of them when some friends were visiting.

This was a complete disaster - effectively, raw chicken foir dinner. The guy didn't realize that a chicken that has spent its life running around outside has a lot more muscle and a lot less fat than one bought from a supermarket!

 

[dlgoff]

A "townie" work colleague of mine moved to a house with a big garden, and decided to keep some chickens. Everything went fine, till the egg production started to dwindle and they decided to eat one of them when some friends were visiting.

This was a complete disaster - effectively, raw chicken foir dinner. The guy didn't realize that a chicken that has spent its life running around outside has a lot more muscle and a lot less fat than one bought from a supermarket!

Years ago when I still had a lot of "townie" in me, it wasn't a old hen but a old rooster. Live and learn I guess.

btw It was well cooked but had the consistency of my shoe sole.

 

[Ouabache]

Rhody's perhaps ?

Rhody...

Yep, they look like a Rhody-Sussex cross..
Our hens were out free ranging, having a great ol' time, kicking up leaves
looking for grubs. A notagoshawk swooped down an ate one of our Rhody's.

 

[dlgoff]

Yep, they look like a Rhody-Sussex cross..
Our hens were out free ranging, having a great ol' time, kicking up leaves
looking for grubs. A notagoshawk swooped down an ate one of our Rhody's.

I haven't gotten around to making a predator proof cage outside the coop yet so they haven't experienced the outdoors. This afternoon when I was tending then, I opened the coop door and watched them come to the doors edge an look out but were afraid to come out. However [STRIKE]George[/STRIKE] Roger came, took a look out, put her head over the door jam and got ready to jump out. I said, "Hey". She's smart and changed her mind. Good Chicken.

BTW I covered the floor with wheat straw a few days ago to give them some scratch.

 

[Evo]

Yep, they look like a Rhody-Sussex cross..
Our hens were out free ranging, having a great ol' time, kicking up leaves
looking for grubs. A notagoshawk swooped down an ate one of our Rhody's.

Nooooo!

I haven't gotten around to making a predator proof cage outside the coop yet so they haven't experienced the outdoors. This afternoon when I was tending then, I opened the coop door and watched them come to the doors edge an look out but were afraid to come out. However [STRIKE]George[/STRIKE] Roger came, took a look out, put her head over the door jam and got ready to jump out. I said, "Hey". She's smart and changed her mind. Good Chicken.

BTW I covered the floor with wheat straw a few days ago to give them some scratch.

George is another of my favorite animal names! Protect my baby! Make sure they don't go out in the open where notagoshawks can get them.

 

[dlgoff]

Protect my baby! Make sure they don't go out in the open where notagoshawks can get them.

When I get their outside pen completed, it'll be covered just for that reason. Roger will be in good hands.

 

[dlgoff]

Here's Roger this afternoon.

And with her friends.

Now she's showing off.

 

[lisab]

Nice looking brood, Don ! Did all of them survive their chickhood?

 

[Evo]

<Gasp> He's beeutiful! I have the fist male egg laying chicken.

 

[dlgoff]

Nice looking brood, Don ! Did all of them survive their chickhood?

Thanks. Yep. Six out of six.

 

[dlgoff]

<Gasp> He's beeutiful! I have the fist male egg laying chicken.

You sure you want to eat those eggs now?

 

[rhody]

Don,

I ran into this and thought I would post it, kittens make good baby chick guards...

Rhody...

 

[Evo]

Don,

I ran into this and thought I would post it, kittens make good baby chick guards...

Rhody...

Awww, but don't let BobG see it, we all know what happened when his chick met the cat...

 

[HeLiXe]

:!)

 

[dlgoff]

Roger is starting to act like a rooster. When I open the door to the coop, she throws up a wing and wants to attack my foot. Hope she/he can still lay eggs.

 

[Ms Music]

Any spurs visible yet?

Even if you got lucky and have 6 hens, there is always one dominant hen that decides to pretend to be a rooster.

 

[dlgoff]

Any spurs visible yet?

Even if you got lucky and have 6 hens, there is always one dominant hen that decides to pretend to be a rooster.

Well that explains it. Roger must be the dominant one. No spurs that I can see.

 

[dlgoff]

Well that explains it. Roger must be the dominant one. No spurs that I can see.

I've been building an 8' X 8' cage attached to the chicken coop where they can get outside when they want to sun. I've been letting them out while I'm working on the cage and it's clear that Roger is the dominating hen. Whatever she does or wherever she goes the others follow. Today she decided to peck around on my shoes and all the others wanted a piece of the action.

Perfect choice Evo. Everyone loves her.

 

[Evo]

I've been building an 8' X 8' cage attached to the chicken coop where they can get outside when they want to sun. I've been letting them out while I'm working on the cage and it's clear that Roger is the dominating hen. Whatever she does or wherever she goes the others follow. Today she decided to peck around on my shoes and all the others wanted a piece of the action.

Perfect choice Evo. Everyone loves her.

Don't give her a banning gun!

 

[dlgoff]

Don't give her a banning gun!

Only you can do that.

 

[Evo]

Does Roger have an air conditioned coop? I don't want my baby keeling over from the heat, what with all of those feathers she's wearing. Maybe let her sleep with you at night.

 

[dlgoff]

Does Roger have an air conditioned coop? I don't want my baby keeling over from the heat, what with all of those feathers she's wearing. Maybe let her sleep with you at night.

I'm really careful about that. There are two screened windows on the coup and if I ever think that they are getting too hot, I will put a fan in one to circulate the air. So far, on the hot parts of the day, I let them out. But the coop so far hasn't gotten hot enough to cause any problems.

My uncle use to raise chickens in Arkansas where it gets really hot and humid. He had 7 houses with ~50K chickens in each. He had large fans and misters that worked well.

Don't worry Evo. I look after them like they are my children.

Edit: There's a nice elm tree for shade next to the coop also.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I look after them like they are my children.

Edit: There's a nice elm tree for shade next to the coop also.

Why did the chicken cross the road?

dlgoff's place was on the other side!

 

[dlgoff]

Why did the chicken cross the road?

dlgoff's place was on the other side!

At last. An answer to the eternal question. I'm the chicken god I guess.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

I'm the chicken god I guess.

I'm just a lowly fryer.

 

[dlgoff]

I'm just a lowly fryer.

You are here by now my road crossing flyer. Spread the word.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

You are here by now my road crossing flyer. Spread the word.

No, not flyer, fryer!

You know, like friar. Now you've completely ruined my witty pun.

 

[dlgoff]

Not such a good god after all. Fry on my man.

 

[Ivan Seeking]

Not such a good god after all. Fry on my man.

Just call me Fryer Puck.

 

[dlgoff]

Just call me Fryer Puck.

 

[dlgoff]

OMG. Evo's going to sh*t. Guinevere was killed last night or this morning. RIP

Something dug under the pen (made a 1" high X 3" wide hole) and managed to grab her and pull her to the pen; close enough to bite. I just buried her. Must have been a raccoon.

I am so pissed off.

 

[Ms Music]

That is horrid news! That is one of my big fears.

I hope the raccoon doesn't come back. Were you able to get the hole repaired and reinforced?

 

[dlgoff]

That is horrid news! That is one of my big fears.

I hope the raccoon doesn't come back. Were you able to get the hole repaired and reinforced?

I've temporally placed concrete blocks there. I going to put rail-road ties around the entire bottom of the pen. I'll try to post pictures later. I can't believe how the chicken could have let him reach in through such a small opening, considering the pin is 8'x8'.

Damn raccoons.

 

[rhody]

OMG. Evo's going to sh*t. Guinevere was killed last night or this morning. RIP

Something dug under the pen (made a 1" high X 3" wide hole) and managed to grab her and pull her to the pen; close enough to bite. I just buried her. Must have been a raccoon.

I am so pissed off.

Time to break out the night vision googles, rifle, traps and do some late night varmit trapping and/or hunting Don, don't go down without the good fight. May Guievere RIP.

Rhody...