About three months ago we brought home our first chickens. We went to local hardware store where we purchased 4 Road Island Red pullets and 2 Lavender Orpington pullets. We settled them into a brooder, provided food and water, constant cleaning, regular attention, and watched them grow. Both of our daughters could stare forever at the new baby chicks.
They grew quickly and were soon ready to spend time outside each day. During this time we began training them with treats, such as bits of vegetable, to come to us when we are around especially if we call them.
Currently our chickens are old enough to live outside full time in their coop, spending day time in the run and the night in the hen house. They love coming out for free range exercise time in a fenced area of the back yard and we all enjoy spending this time with them. We are looking forward to fresh eggs in a few more months when they are fully grown. The Road Island Reds from left to right are: Thing 2, Thing 1, Rogue, and Sunshine. Lady Grey is our Lavender Orpington, the light grey bird. The name of the unique feathered darker grey bird is Fluffers.
Chicken Mix-Ups
When you purchase a sexed pullet there is approximately a 1/10 chance that they got it wrong. Unfortunately the bright headed pullet in the picture below which we named Sunshine was that one and has grown into this handsome rooster. Unfortunately we cannot currently keep a rooster, so this means our flock will be down to five birds this year.
This was not the only craziness that happened with our chicken purchase. One of the grey chicks we brought home, which was sold to us as a Lavender Orpington, has turned out to be a Blue Bantam Silkie that somehow found it’s way into the wrong bin. This chick was always a little smaller, but as first time chicken owners we assumed this was probably because she hatched a little latter than the other Lavender Orpington from the same hatchery shipment. She also had slightly different coloring, most noticeable was her dark sections on her head and in her wings, but we assumed this was just normal variation within the breed. We first began wondering whether or not she was a Lavender Orpington when this chick began to grow feathers on her feet. Then when I looked closer at her feet, I noticed that she has 5 toes, both distinct Silkie traits. Now that she is older her feather growth and smaller size have made it very clear she is definitely a Silkie, we just hope and have our fingers crossed that she is indeed a she (especially since Silkie chicks cannot be sexed and are sold in straight runs) something that will not be definitive for months yet. Funny thing, we named her Fluffers before she ever showed any signs of unique feathers. She is definitely a beautiful chicken and doing well living up to her name.
At this time I am ready to do my breakfast, after having my
breakfast coming yet again to read more news.