Summer Chicks ~ 15 Week Update

 

With our very busy schedule, activities and my recent neck/back injuries I’ve just not had any motivation or time at all to update and post on my blog.

As some of you know I’ve even tossed around the idea of just shutting down my blog because maybe then I’ll feel like I have gained some kind of control in one part of my life and my world might stop spinning so fast.

I figured that with the big drop in comments, no one would miss my blog anyway.

But some of you have told me otherwise and for all of you, I want you to know I appreciate you and will try to keep blogging, updating and keeping in touch.

And even though I still want to share the details of how I spent last weekend, I realized the other day that it’s been several weeks since I last did an update on our summer chicks, who are now 15 weeks old.

They are doing great and have really grown up! I still call them the chicks, even though they are almost the same size as the rest of our hens.

The integration into the main coop and hen house went smoothly.

It only took two nights of us carrying most of the chicks into the hen house at dusk for them to figure out that was where they needed to roost at night.

There haven’t been any fights or aggressive behavior between the older hens and the chicks and everyone is getting along well.

This week we decided to let them all out together for the first time to free range and the chicks were cautious, but very excited about exploring their new environment.

Trying to figure out all the confusing things in their new space.

They all seemed to enjoy the extra room to run around, flap their wings and explore all the vegetation and interesting and tasty insects.

The chicks are still very friendly and like to gather around wherever we are standing or sitting down.

Some of them still jump into our laps as soon as we sit down, and a few of them love to be picked up and carried around.

I am very happy with the way this flock of chicks have progressed and Jen and I have enjoyed watching them grow up.

                                          The End

     

Summer Chicks ~ 9 Week Update

 

The chicks are now 9 weeks old and have been experiencing a lot of changes over the two weeks.

(Faith, the broken-toed Easter Egger chick is doing great. You’d never know she has two misshapen toes)

First we moved them from their garage brooders into the temporary mini-coop inside the outdoor chicken coop. They spent a week inside the mini-coop, getting used to living outdoors, with a dogloo as their shelter.

(Matilda, our Buff Orpington hen, bought as a chick last summer)

They shared a fenceline with the 12 big hens and they all spent the week getting used to one another. I find that this is the best way to integrate new chickens into an existing flock.

(Golden-laced Wyandotte chick)

I don’t know what I was expecting when the day arrived that I decided to release the chicks into the main coop. Probably a little more excitement than actually happened. But I’m grateful that no one got hurt and that everyone seemed to get along.

(Jen introduced a Speckled Sussex chick to our Speckled Sussex hen, named Spotty Dottie. Dottie was very curious, clucking and cooing while she checked the chick out.)

    

“Yes, you’re spotty, just like me”

For the first day or two, both groups pretty much stayed with their own: the big hens stuck together and the chicks stuck together. Whenever a chick and big hen happened to get close, depending upon who the big hen was, there was sometimes a little pecking and mock charging, just to teach the chick to respect it’s elders.

It’s been a week that the chicks have shared the main coop and they are pretty well integrated and can be seen side by side with the big hens.

(Ameracauna hen, named Fertile Myrtle and a Blue Wyandotte chick)

Some of the big hens like their personal space more than others, though, and they will remind a chick to move on.

(Golden-laced Polish hen we named Pat Benatar. She was born here last summer. She is the daughter of our bad boy rooster Sid Vicious)

For those of you who remember Sid, do you see the resemblance to that handsome devil?

Flock Dynamics are interesting, though.

(Our 4 year old hen, Barred Rock Betty)

Mrs. Cotton, our 3 yr old Japanese Silkie hen, and Phyllis Diller, our 3 yr old Golden-laced Polish hen are two that seem to chase and peck a chick just because they can.

I’m guessing this is because they tend to be the ones that are lower in flock status and are pushed around by the other big hens. So, they are exercising their newfound ability to push someone else around.

So far, so good, though. There is plenty of room in the main coop for everyone to have some personal space, to peck and scratch and just be a chicken.

But I do have some concerns about all these changes and transitions still to come.

The dogloo has a nightlight inside of it and the chicks naturally navigate their way inside every night for bedtime, while the big hens head upstairs each night, into their big hen house, which also has a light inside. I’ve noticed the chicks investigating the big hen house during the day, but they seem to know to sleep in the dogloo at night. Pretty soon, though, they will outgrow the dogloo, it’s already becoming a tight fit, and the chicks will need to move into the big hen house at night.

(Liza Minelli, our Black Star hen that we bought last year)

I do worry about that transition, because, even though the hen house door is always open, there are corners inside where a chick could get caught by a grouchy big hen and get beat up. And as the chicks grow, it will become more crowded inside, which leads to more arguments as chickens demand more personal space. Even though it will be difficult to do, I know it will be necessary to sell at least 10 of the chicks when they reach laying age, because our coop is just not big enough.

(Poor old Suzie, our 4 yr old Silver-laced Wyandotte, agrees. These chicks and all their high energy, just wear her out. )

A lot to think about.

But for now, we’re just enjoying the chicks, who are some of the tamest chicks we have ever raised.

Of course, we hand-raised them, just like we did our first batch of chicks, who are now 4 years old and very friendly, too.

We’ve had different groups of friends stop by to meet the chicks and they always comment on how friendly, calm, and sweet they all are. They are always surprised that the chicks don’t run away when someone reaches down to pet them or pick them up. In fact, they seem more like dogs, and are practically jumping up and down to be picked up and given attention.

Or standing on your shoe.

Woe to the person who sits down inside the chicken coop and doesn’t like chickens on their lap, shoulders or head.

(This is my special girl, Ruby an “Easter Egger” chick. As soon as she sees me she races to me, then follows me everywhere until I sit down, and then she hops right into my lap)

Truly, the minute you sit down, a flock of chicks come swarming all around you. It can be a little intimidating if you’re not used to it.

(This is ShyAnne, Jen’s very special “Easter Egger” chick)

But the chicks mean no harm. They just want to have their necks, backs and heads stroked, and they will nuzzle and cuddle you right back.

   

   

Who knew that petting chickens could be so relaxing……

ZzZzZzz

Three Years Old!

 

Three years ago yesterday (Oct 21, 2007), our first batch of chicks arrived from Privett’s hatchery in Southern, New Mexico.

This month also marks the third year we’ve lived here on Laughing Orca Ranch in the mountains of Central New Mexico.

As for the chickens, these were our very first chickens and the first animals to grace our little ranch. My parents had chickens when I was kid, so I wasn’t completely a stranger to poultry keeping, but I was still excited to own our own flock and wanted to do make sure we did everything right.

I started off with 13 chickens, going in together with a friend so we could split a larger order and get an interesting and varied selection of chickens:

• 2 Rhode Island Reds (Rita and Rhoda)
• 2 Barred Rocks (Betty and Bertha)
• 3 Ameracauanas (Annie, Fertile Myrtle, Angelina Ballerina)
• 2 Silver Laced Wyandottes (Suzie, Sandy)
• 2 Speckled Sussex (Spotty Dotty, Kipper) 
• 2 Brown Leghorns (Brownie, Beanie)

A year later I decided I wanted to add a few more chickens to our flock and chose some unusual breeds, just to amuse and entertain…..a little ‘Coop Candy, if you will:

• 2 Polish (Phyllis Diller and Sid Vicious)
• 2 Japanese Silkies (Mr. and Mrs. Cotton)

(This lovely lady is Phyllis Diller, our Golden-Laced Polish Hen)

One of the Silkies turned out to be a Rooster, and one of the Polish ended up being a rooster, too, which we decided to name Sid Vicious, after the punk rocker.

(This is our Silky Rooster, Mr. Cotton. He’s a sweet roo)

Before the handsome Sid Vicious decided to live up to his name, he fathered 4 chicks: two roosters and two hens. We gave away the roosters, even though they were very handsome boys. And we kept the two hens. One of the hens grew into a lovely black hen with gold highlights, and we named her Ebony. While the other became a carbon copy of Sid Vicious, and we named her Pat Benatar. I’ve been very pleased about how beautiful Pat’s become because I sometimes miss that gorgeous Sid Vicious and wish he hadn’t of attacked me and became so vicious.

(This is Pat Benatar, Sid’s daughter. Her photo is also in my blog header, too. )

When Pat was a chick, the rest of the eggs in the clutch didn’t hatch, so she was born alone. So, I went out to the feed store and adopted two more chicks to keep her company:

• 1 Black Sex-Link (Liza Minelli)
• 1 Buff Orpington (Matilda)

(Here’s our pretty Buffie Hen, Matilda)

And then last Spring, I attended a Poultry Sale and bought some new pullets to add some more color to our egg harvests:

• 2 Welsumers (Cocoa and Hershey)
• 1 Cuckoo Marans (Snickers)

 

(One of our Welsumer Hens……..What’s up, Chicken Butt?!)

Over the past three years, we’ve lost 8 chickens to sickness, predator attack and re-homing. And we now have 18 chickens in our flock: 17 hens and 1 rooster.

The older hens have slowed down on their egg-laying duties and are just dear pets now. But we still get between 5-8 eggs per day from our flock, which keeps us from having to buy any store-bought eggs for our baking, while also allowing us to enjoy delicious green chile breakfast burritos at least a couple times a week.

I’m so glad we have chickens, not only to give us tasty, fresh eggs, but also to enjoy their entertaining antics and behavior. I can’t tell you how many times my chickens have relaxed me and brought me joy just by watching them peck and scratch, waddle around and take dust baths, and cluck and mutter to each other. Just stroking their feathers while they sit on my lap can be very peaceful. I can’t imagine not owning my own chickens.

Yay! For Chickens!

Pat Benatar, Horse Integration, Obstacle Photos

 

Time for a big catch-up (or is it ketchup?) post, as I’m preparing for my first ever horse camping trip this weekend with my mare Apache, (Have I mentioned how excited I am?) and I won’t be online for a few days.

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*Pat Benatar

The 3 chicks are still being kept with Mrs. Cotton in the temporary ‘quarantine pen’. Maybe another 2-3 weeks and I’ll let them out to integrate with the rest of the flock.

 

And I think fate may be smiling on me in regards to my cute little chick Pat Benatar.

I’m happy that she seems to be a pure-bred Polish chicken, with both Sid Vicious’ Golden-laced coloring, and Phyllis Diller’s Buff-laced colors, too.

But I was disappointed about 2 weeks ago when I thought Pat’s poofy head feathers were coming in spiky, which is the tendency for the Polish roosters.

But last week I noticed that the feathers are wider and not as spiky, as I originally thought, and are growing in thicker and becoming more of a bouffant style of top doo.

Pat Benatar, the chick, also has a personality more like a hen. And all of this makes me very happy, because having to get rid of Sid Vicious because of him becoming vicious towards us, made me a little bit sad. He sure is beautiful and I’ve always enjoyed just looking at him. If Pat Benatar truly is indeed a hen, I will be thrilled because she is turning into a beautiful chicken with her feather markings and coloring. Keep your fingers crossed!

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*Horse Integration*

I’ve only ever owned one horse at a time, so I’ve never had to integrate a herd of horses. True, last summer I leased the pasture across the road with Val’s 2 horses, Scout and Nadia (Yalla! had just been born and was kept with Annie at the barn), along with another neighbor’s 3 geldings. I just wasn’t as worried about Baby Doll integrating into a herd of new horses because she was an alpha mare and was quick to remind the other horses who was boss.

Apache on the other hand, is much more peace-loving, laid-back, and not at all an alpha mare. She’s actually a little ‘needy’ and I have a strong feeling to protect her and keep her safe.

Which is why it took me about 4 days before I finally felt comfortable about letting Etta Bay and Apache out together in the big paddock. Etta Bay wears metal shoes and Apache does not, and Etta Bay is more alpha……not like Baby Doll, but somewhere in between.

I think waiting was better than just throwing them in together the first day that Etta Bay arrived, because they did get to know each other across the fence.

But I was kind of surprised how easily they moved in together when I opened the gate between their two paddocks. It was a non-issue. No ears pinned, no kicking, and not even any squealing.

In the beginning, Apache kept walking up to Etta Bay and Etta Bay would ignore her because she was checking everything out, so Apache would walk or trot up to me for a hug, petting and some reassurance.

I think she was feeling a little insecure, like a child on the playground with potential new friends.

Etta Bay was curious about our chickens that we keep in a coop beside our house. She was listening to all of their odd noises, especially after one of the hens laid an egg and felt she must tell the entire world about her accomplishment.

But they both seemed happy and relaxed to finally be out together.

I thought it was cute to see Apache leading Etta Bay around the paddock, showing her around the Obstacle Course and also showing her that walking up to humans can be a wonderful thing, especially when said human has carrots.

I was also pleased to see that Etta Bay wasn’t at all concerned about my llamas either.

Maybe she figured that Apache wasn’t worried, so she shouldn’t be either.

Etta Bay liked our 3 goats, too. But  she really seemed to like Cataleya, my female llama, and the two of them nibbled on each other over the fence.

Look….Bay Twins!

Sometimes I think my llama Cataleya likes horses more than her own kind.

We enjoyed having Etta Bay here but we’ll see her this this holiday weekend for the horse camping trip. Apache is actually on her way up to Northern New Mexico right now, trailered with Etta Bay and several of Colleen’s other horses.

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*Obstacle Photos*

I finally received a few of the ride photos from the ACTHA weekend 3 weeks ago. They are of the water obstacle and the mailbox obstacle. I’ll just post them below….no need for words.

(All the photos below were taken by Cory Tourino, copyright.)

 

 

Can I just say that I love my custom made riding tights and matching helmet cover (I added my own silver star brads to it after it arrived) from the “The Tights Lady”. She made me my own pair of ‘chappies’ with fringe. They are so comfie with their padded crotch and padded knees, along with the extra long ultra-suede knee patches. It’s so difficult for me to find any kind of riding pants that are long enough, especially in riding tights and breeches. But these riding tights were made for me and are actually too long…….but I love that so much! I never have pants that are too long. lol!

Check her out sometime if you are wanting some of the best made, and most affordable riding tights:

Just for Horsin' Round        

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Water Obstacle

 

 

 

Check out my big goofy grin! lol! I was so stinkin’ happy, not only to have completed our first Competitive Trail ride, registered in the Pleasure Division, and not only because we crossed the water obstacle with no problems at all, but because I was finally realizing the dream I’ve had all along, which is to trail ride while also having goals to challenge my horse and I on interesting trail obstacles. Wooohooo!

  

Here were were waiting for our turn to play in the pond, after everyone in our group had completed the obstacle. 

I had so much fun and can’t wait to participate in another competitive trail ride again. I’m also so excited to ride my sweet mare during this weekend’s horse camping trip. I just love my Apache girl!

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I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend with family, friends, and especially with your equine friends. Be safe and have fun!