Our new chickens

18 years ago

I was inspired by PJ's thread about her new chicks to run out and get a photo of ours!

The yellow chick is a Buff Orpington. Her name is Tilly.

The shorter brown/yellow chick is an Ameraucana. Her name is Patty (short for Patriotic)

The small white chick is a Light Brahma. Her name is Ophillia.

The taller brown/yellow chick is a Brown Leghorn. Her name is Cocoa.

I wanted different breeds to get different kinds of eggs. I would love to have a Maran as they lay dark chocolate colored eggs but there are none to be had around here!

Cocoa is the most flighty. She got out yesterday when my daughter went to change their water. She ran under our deck and two of our cats went under with her! My daughter completely lost it (I did too) and started crying (I didn't cry!). My heart dropped, I just knew that she was a goner. I started calling, "Here Kitty, kitty, kitty" to urge the cats out and the chicken ran out! I was finally able to catch her ~ it would have been hilarious to see a video of myself chasing her!

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Comments (10)

jolanaweb
18 years ago
Awww, how cool. I want to see pics of your first eggs.
Congrats and I'm so glad you got Cocoa back
jolana
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necia
Original Author
18 years ago
Jolanaweb, I hadn't thought about that! What a cute picture it will make!!!

Thanks for the idea!
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pjtexgirl
18 years ago
How cool is that? They are so fantastic! Does the white one have fluffy feet? I was thinking about the funny-looking fluffy chickens but they were too much work.You are so set for Easter.I have mine in a 6x6x5 ft cage. I have to crawl in there to catch them to roost at night in thier crate. I can't look any sillier than you did! They run all crazy and I'm b*tt in the air,crawling around yelling "Henny! Penny! Chick,chick chicken!!!" PJ
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fliptx
18 years ago
They're adorable! I've sometimes thought about getting a couple of hens so I could have fresh eggs, but then I think about my poor, crazy dog and how upset he gets just seeing sparrows. His brain would probably explode at the sight of chickens.
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sally2_gw
18 years ago
With so many sparrows around, I'm surprised his brain hasn't already exploded.

Necia, they're sooo cute.

Just how much space does it take to raise laying hens? I sooo want a good source of humanely produced eggs. I just don't think that my back yard can handle them, or, like fliptx, the dogs next door might just bark their heads off with chickens living just across the fence.

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pjtexgirl
18 years ago
From what I gather not very much. The smaller the space the more you have to clean. I've noticed my 2 1/2 grown chickens need to be cleaned once a day in a 6x6x5' cage. They are about as messy as a large parrot.Thankfully, they are much quieter and a heck of a lot nicer! PJ
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Jacquelyn8b
18 years ago
Beautiful birds! Amazing how fast those little feathered beasties can be.
Thankfully, our girls go in their house around dusk. Just leave the door open.

They are really quiet and unobtrusive, Sally. (Down right stealthy when sneaking up on a poodle.)
They don't need much room either - a nesting box, some grass to scratch/pull, feed & water.
They'll trash seedlings! Put chicken wire around 'off-limits' areas.

Oh, they take to spoiling just as quickly as the rest of the crew.
Before you know it, they will wait expectantly for you to feed them a tasty worm or hopper.
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necia
Original Author
18 years ago
PJ~ Yes, Ophillia has fluffy feet. Actually, only the outside toe has feathers on it. My daughter said we should have named her "Bell Bottoms". She does think that she is the boss even though she is the smallest!

fliptx~ Our dog's pen shares a fence with the chicken yard. He does get to barking at the babies when they get active and chirpy. He could care less about our old hens. I guess they don't do anything exciting!

Sally2~ I don't think that it takes much room. We converted the bottom of our kid's tree fort. Then, we attached a chicken yard for them to peck around in. They do destroy all of my seedlings if they get out. Plus, they throw all of the mulch out of the beds!

Here is a picture of their set-up:

In the picture, you will notice that my DH build what looks like a screen door turned on its side. This is to seperate the old hens from the babies. The old Black hen is pecking the brown leghorn and making her bottom bleed.

Jacquelyn~ My old hens pace back and forth when they see me weeding. They know that I will be bringing a grub worm to them!
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pjtexgirl
18 years ago
That is soo cool! I love it. What a great idea. I might just copy you! PJ
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Texasorbust
18 years ago
They are so cute! Love their names Necia and they look to be living in luxury, lucky girls.

What do they do when they actually get to the poodle Jac?
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