19 Jun 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: baby chickens, Baby chicks, birds, Chickens, chicks, Dogs, small farm animals, weather
Our youngest chicks are now a month old and we have taken them out a couple times into the yard in a protected area for some grass play time when it is warm enough.
Their play time was cut short today by a thunderstorm, but they seemed to enjoy the time they had.
They had been playing out of their pen under a heat lamp inside for a while now. But we really like them to get used to the outside if it is the right temperature and safe for them.
If they had been hatched here their mama would care for them and keep them safe. But without a mama bird we have to do things a little different.
We use a Tarter big burn ring to keep them corralled and put fencing over it so they don’t get out but can experience the sun and air.
We are in the process of getting our almost 3 month old chicks used to outside all day and the big girls used to them. Slowly getting their day time pen closer to the big girls. In the next 2-4 weeks we hope to have them outside full time and the other chickens accepting them into the flock. (Hopefully closer to 2 weeks 😉 )
Wish us luck with all these girl. This is the hard part, getting the old girls to accept the new ones. As well as getting rid of this rooster and the others in his group getting used to being without him. At least we have a trusty dog to help manage when they get a little out of hand 😉
30 May 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: Baby chicks, birds, Chickens, homesteading, Outside, Rooster, Suprised
So in my last post I said I would tell you about our rooster… that we didn’t know and wasn’t supposed to be a rooster. So our friends got us 4 chicks with their chicken order.
They were supposed to be pullets. Well about a week or more ago now we were out in my garden trying to get it ready to plant. We herd a strange noise coming from the basement where we keep the girls. Hubby went in to investigate and no noise. He was coming outside again and there was the noise again. So back down he went and then I herd…. um honey I think we have a rooster! I about fell down… we have raised quite a few chickens and never got a rooster. But I guess there is a first time for everything.
Rooster is on the right with the red crown.
So yes we have a rooster and his crow has gone from a sick sounding curdle to an actual small crow. We aren’t sure if we will keep him, but he is a handsome boy and so far not aggressive. And here he is…
And he used to look like this when we thought he was a she… we used to call him diva because he liked to primp in front of the mirror but that’s when he was thought to be a she… 😉
The weather is breaking some, so on the nice days we have been able to get the girls and guy out to play outside.
They enjoyed being outside and on Memorial Day were outside most of the day in the warm sun. We made them a longer run to be in until we can incorporate them in with the big girls. So far the big girls check them out across the yard on occasion and these 4 check them out back, but they are still a distance away.
As they get bigger we will move them closer to the big girls until they are side by side with a fence in between.
So with the new babies we have 15 big girls, 4 (as we call them) adolescents (they are 2 1/2 months old+ now), and 7 babies. So 25 total gals and one rooster. With 10 total breads. Its getting exciting here on our homestead. Chickens laying and other growing, garden in, herbs growing, etc. Busy and exciting time 🙂
29 May 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: baby chickens, Baby chicks, birds, Chickens, coco marans, Farm Animals, Rooster, speckled sussex
You can’t eat just 1 or 2 or 5 or 10 or more -or- in this case can’t just have 5 or 10 or 20 or more… And with that in mind meet our newest baby chicks…
Yes we just got 4 more about 2+ months ago, but one turned out to be a rooster (more on that later), we lost one of our buffs on Easter, and I got more requests for eggs. So hubby and I saw these girls and had to try out some new brown laying breeds. So we got 8 more…
We did get one additional Americana that would lay colored eggs (green/blue), but the rest lay brown. This includes three Speckled Sussex, two coco marans, one amberlink, and one barnevelder. Unfortunately we lost our Americana about 3 days in. We think she got smothered by her sisters or something, she was very small, it was very sad 😦 She was fine in the morning but by mid day when I got home from work she couldn’t stand and wasn’t eating or drinking. We kept her alive for a few more hours before she passed.
Our hen house in a few months will include a colorful array of chickens. And we will be up to 10 different varieties of chickens.
So if you have one of our new breeds in your hen house let us know what you like and even what you don’t like about them. We are eagerly learning more about all new breads. (Lets just hope none of these babies are roosters 😉 )
29 May 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day, Pictures
Tags: Chickens, Dogs, flag, holiday, Memorial Day, outdoors, Pets
Memorial Day is a federal holiday in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country’s armed forces.The holiday, which is currently observed every year on the last Monday of May, was held on May 30 from 1868-1971. It marks the start of the unofficial summer vacation season, while Labor Day marks its end. Many people visit cemeteries and memorials, particularly to honor those who have died in military service. Many volunteers place an American flag on each grave in national cemeteries. Memorial Day is not to be confused with Veterans Day; Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving, while Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans. (info from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day)
Today hubby had to work this morning so I worked around the house, got the 2+ month old now chicks out into their outside pen for some fresh air, and did a few things around the house. My boys were on the porch watching me work and usually sleeping…
Once hubby got home we did some more work in the yard, grilled out a late lunch, and are going for a lovely drive later with the boys. Its so lovely here today 🙂
Our gratitude to those families who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. To all: I hope you and your families are having a pleasant and beautiful day!
19 Apr 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: Baby chicks, birds, Chickens, chicks, Nature, Outside, rain, small animals
Hello All
Hope everyone is having a great week and have good plans for the weekend ahead. We have been dealing with a lot of rain this week, but trying to get the babies out in between the rain…
They just love getting out and are growing so fast. Enjoying having these babies in the house 🙂 (on a sad note we lost one of our 2nd batch girls the buffs… but moving forward with the new little ones ). Sending out sunshine and blessings your way!
14 Apr 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: baby chickens, Baby chicks, birds, Chickens, chicks, Dogs, outdoors
The baby chicks have been getting out more now that it is warm enough and are learning many new things. Sometimes they learn together…
And other times one or two will get brave and venture a little further solo before running back to the group…
But they are never to far from me yet…
Because Chase will herd them back if they do go to far…
They are learning how to peck at the ground for food…
And how to pose for the camera…
It’s a fun time with them and will put you in a good mood watching them learn to be chickens 🙂
07 Apr 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: Ameraucana chickens, baby chickens, Baby chicks, barred rock chickens, birds, Chickens, chicks, livestock
Its been a fun experience so far with these girls. Each batch of chicks we have had has been slightly different in the way they interact with us, interact with each other, and depending the season how much they get out and how early.
These girls like to pair up a lot. But which two are together usually depends on situation and who is doing what. I think this also has to do with number… there are only four of them. Before now the fewest we have had together is 8 and usually get 10 at a time.
Each is starting to get their own personality and each has her own coloring which makes for a pretty batch of girls. One is very light in color… (she is always primping)
Another more medium brown… (she likes to sleep and is passive with the others)
The last Ameraucana is dark brown and black mostly in color… (she is the leader)
And the other girl is our brown egg layer so she is all back with little spots of white… (she is all over the place and likes to be second in domination)
Over all they are a fun bunch 🙂
05 Apr 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day, Pictures
Tags: Ameraucana chickens, baby chick, baby chickens, Chickens, chicks, Dog, Dogs
The baby chicks went out to play again today as it was warm and nice enough. Chase came out too as he has been really good with them inside, so we watched him around them outdoors. He is used to baby chicks as this isn’t our first rodeo with chicks, but we always watch the boys with them anyways.
Today Chase showed he is the protector of them as he is of the other girls.
At first the chicks weren’t sure of this big creature walking around them. But soon made friends with Chase and used him for a little cover…
Chase was very protective of them even when they went near hubby, he was still right there watching them.
It was a cute site to behold and the baby’s had so much fun outside you could tell.
But eventually they got a little chilly so it was back inside to get warm under the heat lamp and take a nap.
29 Mar 2017
by Seasonsgirl
in Animals, Every Day
Tags: Ameraucana chickens, baby chickens, Baby chicks, barred rock chickens, birds, Chickens, chicks, spring
We got new baby chicks… (yes mom we did 😉 )
It wasn’t planned really as we thought we were done for a while with chickens, but these girls are addictive. A friend of ours at church was getting some and offered to add to his order because he was getting a kind I always wanted… Ameraucana ‘s 🙂
So meet our three girls the Ameraucana triplets…
And here is our other new girl as we decided to go ahead and add a new brown egg layer. So here is our first Barred Rock baby…
They are sweet birds and less skittish then the last couple of batches we got. So we are excited to add to our flock.
If you think chickens are not addictive… I beg to differ 😉 The proof is above 🙂
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