new chickens

[smudgley]

& here's a cheeky monkey!

[alexgirl73]

they look great Smudgley! Fingers crossed for better luck with these ones. (and love the monkey lol)

[smudgley]

Yes Alex, more careful management system & routine needed and communication between all members of the family.

[dandysmom]

What lovely chooks!! They look so bright and alert; I know you mentioned the breeds, but what are they again, I've forgotten. Have they been out of the henhouse yet to intimidate poor Bluebell?

[borderdawn]

Nice set up Smudgely, are you sure youre not missing one? Bluebell looks very content!

[dandysmom]

Oh, I forgoi to ask; did you get the new chicken flag yet?

[Mags]

Lovely chookies Smudgley ...... when can you expect your first egg from them?

[yola]

Aren't they lovely (and this is from someone who really is rather fearful of feathers) . . . the fluffy chick in the last picture is more my thing though . . .

[smudgley]

DM the black ones are Black Rocks. THe brown ones (with black tails & a few black feathers on their wings) are Calder Rangers. Both breeds are hybrids bred for good egg production. We have not kept either of these breeds before. The Black Rocks are a hardy breed that have good waterproofing on their feathers and are very good at staying healthy, have a good ability to fight off disease. They are a docile breed but can get grumpy when caged. The Calders are very placid, much easier to handle, a pretty, quiet peaceful bird. Both breeds have excellent egg production.

They are confined to their enclosure for a week so they get used to their living space, then we will let them into their big run and after a week or 2 we will let them free range in the whole garden. We have to put them on their perches at bedtime. (bless 'em) because when they are kept in sheds in large numbers they don't roost, they huddle together on the floor, so you have to teach them to roost. It's quite amusing to watch them, they soon pick it up though.

I reckon another 3 weeks or so before the eggs start & they'll probably lay every other day or every 3 days to start with, then after a while they will lay every day. {hopefully} We have always been lucky and had good layers. THe last 4 we had were fantastic, 4 eggs every day come rain or shine & even on the dark miserable days we always had 4 eggs from them. {some hens don't lay as good in the winter months}

[Grete]

Awww they are lovely Smudgely Is Bluebell going to be scared of these ones do you think?

Love the mental image of having to put them to bed on their perches