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backyard chicken update VI

Mar 1st, 2012 by

We’ve had backyard chickens for about nine months now at the Cottage by the Mountains. The Damsel practically feels like an old hand (hen) after all this time. Ha! Ha!

There are a few aspects of raising chickens that she hasn’t faced yet. For example, molting. The girls haven’t done that yet, but the Damsel has heard it’s a funny sight. Stay tuned.

Currently, she’s proud of them for surviving a Utah winter. Check it:

 

We specifically chose these breeds for their ability to deal with cold (we have 3 Plymouth Barred Rock and 1 Dominique) and so far so good. They don’t seem to mind tramping around in the snow with their poor little skinny non-furry legs. They have an amazing coop, built by the loving hand of the Knight, and they have even figured out it’s a nice place to lay their eggs. Yay! No more egg hunts! The Damsel was getting mighty tired of that.

 

One other thing the Damsel has not done with her little flock is add more birds. Her zoning allows up to six, so she’s excited to get two more. But what kind? How old? How should they be introduced? Apparently it is not ok to just huck the new ones out there with the others.

These are the burning questions cluttering the Damsel’s fuzzy brain today.

Tags: ,

Posted in chickens

  • Jdaniel4smom

    I love the chicken prints in the snow!

    • Anonymous

      Aren’t they hilarious? Thanks for stopping over.

  • http://www.oneguyinahouseofgirls.com Photina

    Are you adding chickens of a different age? Or will they be about the same age? If you add new chicks they will have to have their own area for feeding that only they are big enough to enter in and out of so they are able to eat. You have to slowly introduce them to the other chickens. Even if they are the same age you should make them their own space and let your established chickens and the new chickens see each other and slowly meet each other. When introducing new chickens it is common to have a reestablishment of their pecking order so don’t be surprised if they fight a bit.

    As for the breed we favor the New Hampshires. They are also supposed to be good in the colder weather.

    • Anonymous

      Photina,

      Thanks so much for the sorely needed advice!

      • http://www.oneguyinahouseofgirls.com Photina

        You’re welcome. We learned more by trial and error and then checking our chicken book.

  • Maria Zannini

    Photina is right. You’ll want to raise your chicks separately until they’re big enough to defend themselves. (They will get pecked.)

    I introduce new birds outside. There’s enough room to meet and greet without getting into a tussle. At night I put them up in separate quarters. Usually after 2-3 days seeing each other in the open air they know each other well enough to be put in the same coop.

    The first night or two of cohabitation, put them in at sunset so they’re more interested in sleep than checking out the interlopers.

    • Anonymous

      Thanks! I need all the help I can get!

  • Rachel Herrick

    I second the suggestions already mentioned but I’d add having separate feed/water bowls for the newbies from the established “herd”, at least until the pecking order is established.

    • Anonymous

      Good idea. Thanks!