We feel like chicken tonight, like chicken tonight…
Our menagerie has grown. We are now the owners of 5 little chicks which we are grooming for egg production. Our friends the Franks will be bordering our chicks after the initial 5-6 weeks of brooding in our garage. We have 2 Ameraucana and 3 Production Reds. Our Ameraucana’s are supposed to be ‘Blue Ameraucana’, but we’ll just have to see. Production Reds are a cross between Rhode Island and New Hampshire reds. The Ameraucana’s lay green and blue eggs and the Production Reds lay brown eggs. The Production Red is said to combine the best qualities of both The Rhode Island and the New Hampshire and many regard it as the best of the brown egg layers. Here’s the answer to the question many of you are anxious to ask:
Q: Do these chickens have large talons?
A: No, they do not have large talons.
Thomas we also had chickens. Twice, in fact, we attempted a flock. Both times racoons and the authorities foiled our plans. We had an Ameraucana and a Rhode Island red. Plus we had some silkies. Watch for the racoons they are smart, sneaky and extremely vicious!! The other problem we had was that the chickens started to fly the coop. You have to clip their wings. It is good to talk :) Blessings, marci
Today, I turned our baby chickens out from the nursery into the larger coop. Naked Chicken (the lone survivor from a flock acquired two years ago and so named because her sister chicks plucked her nearly, well, naked. While fully feathered now we all know that once you get a nickname it is hard to lose) has been awaiting this day and gave a couple of them what for, but with the large space available, I don’t think it is going to be a problem. The twelve are at least half her size and seem able to hold their own.
The Frank Executive Chicken Coop was also cleaned this morning and will be available for additional tenants whenever you feel that your babies have out grown their current living quarters. As long as they are not plucking each others feathers, you are ok. I had to let my 12 out of the nursery because they had found a favorite target and all her tail feathers were gone and she just had a little raw nub! I have some black ointment made for this situation and applied it today. When another chick tries to peck at the sore spot they get a mouth full of something that obviously doesn’t taste good. Watching that is better than any reality TV show I know (not really a fair comparision since I don’t watch them – well except Dancing with the Stars).
So keep us updated on the chicks! I know that they take back seat to the Boy, but you can give them a little press now and then. Marci, I know what you mean about the racoons! It is a jungle out there. We let ours free range when we are going to be around the house and then make sure they are locked up before nightfall. But losses are going to happen. I could keep them locked up all the time, but they are so happy when they can get out a scratch in the dirt!