Babies' First Day out, 2015

Wednesday was such a pretty day that I couldn't let the chance go by to pack the peepers into their carrier and take them out to the garden for awhile.  At this age, 12 days old, they're still pretty easy to handle and can be rounded up without too much difficulty.  I'm not going to get sassy about this.  I know full well that in just a few days, my bakers dozen can go from very attentive to wildly unruly, so their training needs to start now.

That's okay.  We're fine right here.

Training?  That's right.  The first step to happy chickens has been that I've been handling them regularly and talking with them so that they recognize who I am.  Next is to understand basic instructions such as 'no', 'come here', and, of course, 'bed-bye'.

I don't know.  It doesn't look like carpeting...

 After looking over the garden, I decided that one of the unused raised beds was probably the best place introduce the chickies to the big wide world.  Like a big dirt filled playpen, the raised bed had lots of straw to explore, new grass to nibble, and little crawly things to look at.  Once water and snacks were set in place, the carrier was positioned, and the door was opened.
The first half hour was spent standing firmly just inside the doorway or pecking at the back wall of the carrier (we'll tunnel our way back to the house...).  Finally, the combination of curiosity and bravery set in and a couple of chicks stepped out into the world.

Wow!  This is better than the heat lamp!

I could just hear the comments telling me that it would be the boys who would venture out first.  Remember: when Amy and the three musketeers were this size, they were always out front. I suspect that how self assured one is has more to do with how bold your parents were than whether one is a boy or girl. 

When chicks are raised by Mum, they know to stay underneath her for warmth and safety.  Where she goes, they go.  Mum encourages them to explore (sometimes with a well placed foot).  When something scary happens such as a noisy truck goes by or wild birds sing on the wire high overhead, she spreads her wings and fluffs a bit and all the chicks come running.  Instead of wings to huddle under, the chicks have a carrier filled with soft hay and chips. 
After a couple of hours, it was time to go inside for naps.  A big day out for little chickies.

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Happy Hatchday 2015

Little chickies are peep-peep-peeping.  So far there are six eggs rocking, one completely hatched, and a few with little windows (and tiny beaks protruding) pecked out.

Tomorrow we should have an incubator full of little fuzzballs.

...and yes, I know, the pictures are a little fuzzy.  It's not easy to get a digital camera to focus through a window without removing the glass.  Keeping the heat in and the babies safe and toasty, I'll just have to live with some grainy photos.  8D

Another afternoon with the Rounders

I'm always amazed by how fast babies grow.  In less than a year, a puppy no bigger than a loaf pan can look crowded laying across the truck's backseat.  Chicks that were just wee little fuzzballs two months ago are now vying for attention with the adults.

I have to laugh about certain behaviors.  Amy, for example, is as friendly as her mom, Missy, and also does the head cock that her mom does when looking at something she finds interesting.  I am unsure of the parentage of the others however based on certain colors feel I may have a pretty good guess.  But, since I don't know what their grandparents looked like, it's only a guess.

Domino and Fred

All of Domino's behaviors are suggesting that she is a he, as is Pogo.  I frequently find those two going belly to belly to establish top dog, err, chick.  Domino is also now the largest of the group.  Buster and Fred are keeping a low profile, letting everyone work out their issues.  This is what their father did while the feathers flew among their male siblings.

Pogo

Robin, Jet, and Amy were all buddies when little.  Everywhere one went, the others were soon on the scene.  When Amy went exploring up and down the roost, Jet and Robin were playing follow-the-leader right behind.  The three musketeers are still close and frequently can be found preening and dusting together.

Jet and Robin

The abundance of strawberries has allowed us to share some as a treat with our feathered friends.  Some clearly would rather have the green part, leaving the red fruit for someone else to enjoy.  The chicks all understand that they are to wait until the adults have their fill before they can step forward and have some tasties.  So no one is left out, I do my best to spread the leaves and berries across the yard.  The grownups then can enjoy their snacks in peace and the youngsters can tussle all they like.

Sidebar about boys and girls: much to my amusement, many experts have come forward to tell me how to tell the difference between the boys and girls.  The latest informed me that:
1.) boys hold their tails up.  Girls hold their tails down.  and 2.) boys have combs.  Girls do not.

Goldie, Inky, and Lil Miss

All I can say is don't tell my girls...

The Rounders: Boys and Girls

I had to smile a little the other day when I heard a very knowledgable grade schooler explain how to tell the difference between boy and girl chickens.
"Boys make lots of noise and girls wear aprons."

Mr Bossypants

Buster and Robin

What I've learned is that sexing chickens is sometimes a little more complicated than that.  So far we've been lucky in that our chickens are, mostly, of a variety that has feather sexlink at hatching.  In other words, the pattern of the down, i.e. stripes or solids, can give you a good idea of if you have a boy or girl.  Of course periodically you have an odd ball or one whose stripes are so faint as to go unnoticed.

The chicks are now a month old and in many cases, their sexual characteristics are starting to present themselves.  Fred, Twister, and, of course, Buster are all developing combs.  The girls, particularly Robin, Jet, and Amy, are all developing a more rounded look of a hen. 

So how do the Pro's do it?  Some of the more expensive hatcheries actually sex their chicks.  That's right: they peek under the day old chick's butt down and check the vent (cloaca) for a pair of bumps.  At best this is about 95% accurate.  (To read more, check out the online article at Mother Earth News.)  We just let nature take its course, all the while hoping for girls.

waking up from nappytime

The Rounders: Amy

Amy was one of the first to hatch.  What I find surprising is that she was a soft grey as a chick however as she has gotten older, has become creamy white with toasty accents.  So much for my ability to predict what they will look like (LOL!).

The Rounders grow up

The Rounders have all left the nursery and moved into the main house out in Chickenland.  Like other kindergartners they need guidance.  While some of the older hens lose patience with the babies from time-to-time, others appear to enjoy taking on the roll of the doting Aunties.

It's hard to imagine that only a month ago they were tumbling out of their shells ready to greet the world. As the days pass, each of their personalities becomes more apparent.  Domino looks more and more like her mother, Inky, yet her sister, Jet, is more likely to get into mischief.

Domino being groomed by Dusty will Ida looks on

Jet

Jet is getting more of the cinnamon color of her father, with the black background.  The brindle coloration make it difficult to find her sometimes.  At the end of the day, we have to be extra careful that no one gets locked out for the night.

Amy continues to be the sweetest in the lot.  Like her mom, Missy, she's calm and self assured. She and Buster are already trying out the roost, much to Pip's anxiety as he's still a bit too small to jump quite that high.  Fortunately, Dingy is there to comfort Pip and tuck him under her wing.

pip

Introductions: the Rounders meet the rest of the family

Last year when the second batch of chickens met the first, it took a little over a week before things finally settled down and were nice and quiet in Chickenland.  We were braced and ready for feathers to fly when the Rounders were introduced.

The Rounders have been growing up happy and healthy.  In no time it seems, they have outgrown their nursery.  It was finally time to transfer them to their chickbox and introduce them to the rest of the family.  So late last night, just before the girls turned in for the evening, we moved the chickbox into the hen house.  The Rounders were very excited about their new digs, as was the rest of the family about the new bit of 'furniture' that had been added to their living room.  We left the front door of the chickbox closed for the night, deciding that perhaps it would be best to keep the peace at least for the evening.

In the morning, just after dawn, Chickenland was openned for business.  Soon after, the chickbox door was openned.  I sat quietly by, watching how everyone interacted.  Amy was the first to move toward the doorway, then out to explore the floor of the henhouse.  Interesting enough, the adult hens all clustered under Sandy while Junior approached and watched the chicks.  She was soon followed by Robin and Jet.





One by one, the chicks tucked out until all that was left was Dingy and Pip.  About five minutes passed before Lil Miss tentitively moved toward the chicks.  With her curiousity satisfied, she went back to scratching for some fallen crumbles.

The adults milled around a little, then seemed to lose interest and decided to go outside.  I'm still keeping a weather eye out but so far so good. 

The Rounders, Naming part 2

Ida

Ada

Pip

 Ada, Ida, and Pip (who's quite small) are the Buff Oringtons.  They are a busy group.  If there is some kind of tussle going on, you can bet one of these guys will be in the middle of it.

Buster

 Buster is still the biggest boy.  He's developing the same calm approach to life that his father has.  When the other boys wanted to strut and crow, Sandy cuddled and cooed with the girls.  Buster was a bit pushy as a little guy.  As he gets older, he has been seen snuggling and preening his siblings.

Dusty

 Dusty looks a great deal like her sister, Robin.  The major difference is that Dusty doesn't have the bright orange shoulders or breast that her sister does.

Twister

One of the unfortunate issues that crop up in Americaunas from time-to-time, is the condition called crossbilling.  This is where an otherwise normal chick's bill starts to grow crooked.  Unfortunately nothing reasonable can be done to treat the chick.  One just has to watch to see that he's getting enough to eat and is otherwise OK.

Fred

That leaves little Fred.  He's not as big as his brother and is perhaps a little shy.  He reminds me of Junior.  Perhaps Junior is his daddy (when Sandy was looking the other way)?

The Rounders, naming

We're naming the children and hope to be posting throughout the day today:

The girls from left to right: Amy (Missy's daughter), Domino then Jet (Inky's children), and Robin (complete with an orangy-red shoulder and breast).

Pogo

the weather has been very chilly here, however the plan is to introduce the new kids to their family out in Chickenland later this week.  Wish us well!

Chick Update, meet the Rounders

The babies are all growing up happy and healthy.  As the weather warms, we're all looking forward to going outside to play.

We're still thinking about names.  Some have come easy, like Buster, others: not so much.  So here's my guess: the top row (1-5) are all girls.  In the second row (6-11), the first three are boys (Buster is #7), then a girl, then a boy, then Missy's girl.  The last row (12 & 13) is a girl and Dingy.  Although they all hatched within a few days of each other (except Dingy), you'll note that there are some, like #4, who are a bit smaller than her siblings.  This little chick reminds me of Molly who grew a little more slowly than her sisters.  She's now the same size as everyone else just a little more svelte.  Missy's girl and Inky's girl (#1) are a bit larger than the others and considerably more calm.

Chicks # 2, #4, #9, and #10 came from eggs donated by my neighbor.  #2 has all the markings of a Black Australorp.  Very nice bird although I get the sense that all she wants to be in the middle of all the action.  She's not very excited about flying however is very good at jumping up & down to see what's going on.  Her nickname is Pogo (you can guess why).
#4, #9, and #10 may be Buff Orpington cross.  Orpingtons are known to be calm, friendly birds.  The hens are also known to be very good mothers.

All the other kids are Ameraucanas or Ameraucana cross.  Although Inky was labeled an Ameraucana chick by the company we purchased her from, she has grown up with all the earmarks of a Barred Rock and lays pinkish brown eggs.  Since their father was an Ameraucana we could expect her girls (#1 & #3) to lay greenish colored eggs when the time comes.  Of course, theory and reality are frequently two different things.  I'll be happy that they grow up to be calm happy girls like their mother.
Perhaps the new kids will all be named by the end of the month.  Do you have any suggestions?

Chick update, two weeks old

When I came out into the mudroom this morning, I was surprised to see Buster roosted up on the corner of the nursery box looking about.  The Rounders (chicks) are only two weeks old yet their wings and, in some cases, their tail feathers are already coming in.

Several of the chicks like to perch atop either their waterer or feeder, which unforturnately means each of those need to be cleaned multiple times per day (messy!).  Although these roosts are far enough away from the edge to keep the babies from using it regularly as a step, we thought perhaps it was time to put a little safety netting across the top.  Images of the mudroom becoming a party loft keep coming to mind.  They'll be teenagers soon enough.  Before then, when the weather warms, they'll move out to Chickenland to meet their moms and aunties.

Meet the new kids

Missy's girl

When it was all said and done, thirteen chicks hatched and twelve survived.   Remember: we started out with 26 eggs.  Seven proved infurtile.  Five failed to hatch.  There are all sorts of reasons for why things happen but what I believe is that those that survived were the strongest of the lot. 

Boys

So I got an email from one of you asking to see pictures where I actually separated the boys from the girls.  Mind you, this is very unscientific and, no, I didn't peak under their skirts to actually sex them.  This is just a best guess.

Among Americanas and other Easter Egger chickens, I have been told that by observing how stripey the down is, one can guess that these may be our boys. Buster is the stripe-est of the boys.  He's also larger than the other although in this picture, he's down for a short nap.

Girls

Similarly, the girls are all dressed in a solid colored soft down.  In this picture on can clearly see how much lighter colored Missy's girl is.  I'm not quite experienced enough to glance at their colorations and tell what they will look like as adults.  What we strive for are productive hens that are calm and good natured.  A happy chickenland depends on everyone getting along with little squabbling.

For those that are counting, you're right.  That's not twelve.  I also have two little golden wheat chicks, that will be my surprise chicks.

Now all I need are names. Your suggestions are welcom

Hatching Day (Round 3) part 3

Things started to finally quiet down last night and it looked like the last of the chicks were out the door.  I opened the incubator and quickly moved each one out and into the brooding box.  They settled in quickly.  Chicks sometimes need to be shown their food and water.  Each one was carefully taken to the water bowl to have his/her bill ceremoniously dipped into the font for the first drink.  Once this baptism was completed they proceeded to drink on their own.

The heat lamp is set to keep them nice and cozy for a few days.  Over time it will be turned on less and less until they can keep themselves warm without too much additional assistance.  Since the majority of the chicks hatched between 3 and 4 am.  So I don't really know which egg they came out of.  There are a few however that I did see.

The solid fuzzy chick in the lower left hand corner of the above picture, is actually very silvery grey like her mom, Missy.  The little lightly stripey chick standing near her, is Molly's little boy.

Inky's little girls

Speaking of stripey, a couple of the boys are very stripey indeed.  I suspect they may end up looking like their father, Sandy. One of them is already making it known that he's the big chick in town.  Fortunately, the majority are pretty laid back and just let him squawk.  He was the first to be named: Buster.

Big Buster

***Side note: Have you ever heard the expression 'as rare as hen's teeth'?  It's true!  Before the chick hatches, she develops a hardened cap on the tip of her bill.  This cap allows her to peck and break free of the shell.   She starts out by pecking into the airsack at the tip of the egg, then pecking a breathing hole in the shell.  After resting a bit, she gradually pecks around the inside end of the egg forming perforations which allows her to break free.  This is an exhausting process.  Some of our chicks took nearly 24 hours to completely break free.  If  you look at the tip of this baby's bill you can still see her hen's tooth.

Now a little humor: after getting everyone tucked in for the night, I still had seven or eight unhatched eggs in the incubator.  This morning another little boy hatched out and another egg had a breathing hole pecked open.  Makes me wonder if any of the others may hold surprises as well...stay tuned!

Hatching day (round 3) part 2

Things got really busy here early this morning around 3am.  As I turned in last night around 10pm, we had three chicks drying in the incubator and the other eggs looked pretty still.  Around 3am, the party started.  One chick after another, came tumbling out.  Currently there are nine with a few eggs pecked with little bills protruding.

Let me once again apologize for the quality of the photo.  After learning my harsh lesson about opening the incubator too soon, these pictures were taken through the viewing portal.  I'll post better ones in another day or two once the babies are moved into their brooding box.  Happy Birthday!

**By noon, we have eleven chicks and two more eggs have portals poked out.  I wish I knew how to correctly sex chicks.  The only sure fire way I know to sex chicks is to separate the chicks into two groups.   Within each group, the ones that grow up to be roosters are boys.  The ones that don't are most likely girls.  Among Americanas, I have been told that the stronger the 'stripey-ness' is of their down, the more likely they are to be boys.  If this is true, I may have three boys on team chicky.

Hatching Day (round 3)

I'm happy to announce that starting this morning around 6am, another batch of chicks began hatching.  By noon, six of the eggs had little windows pecked out of them with tiny little bills protruding.