Crowing

I was up early this morning about 5.30am and all was quiet in the McClune household.

Then all of a sudden I hear this crowing from the chicken area. Two typical rooster noises. One after the other. Then silence. Then again. Then silence. Then again. It didn't last for long. Perhaps 5 mins in total. But it freaked me out and I realised again how grateful I am to be making the trip to drop off our roosters with Jacqui tomorrow.

I will miss our beautiful boys, but I'm so glad they are going to have a good home.

Coronation Sussex boy or girl?

Here's Sunshine

She looks like she has less comb/wattles than Queenie?

Araucana's - is it a male or female?

Hey Vicky,

Here is a picture of two of our Araucana's. It gives a really good view of what I think is the difference between the males and females.

The male has a definite comb. The female, nothing but feathers.

Taking a close look at them today, we've got two of each, which would match with what I've been thinking since I got home.

Check it out....

Does this help at all? Does Minnie have a comb?

Oh, here's another photo of just the female....

Our babies, 8 weeks old! Photos from the last few weeks

These are just off my iphone from the last week. I will do another fill in post soon.

Firstly our 2 girls roosting Barry is sitting off on the left too while Minnie and Queenie are in the house

Queenie getting up this morning
Barry and Queenie, look at the size of him!
Our funny old Minnie in for a morning cuddle
and Lucy in for some toast too
Kaya and his Rose
and Barry, look at the red comb and wattles.

Grandmas eggs day 19 and 20, hatching

Last night I found a pip in one of the tiny Silver LAced Wyandotte eggs,

This morning it was like this. These eggs have hatched differently than our last lot. It seems like the chicks are doing the classic peck right round with out help from John

here she is, Grandma has named her Alice

Next out was the Blue Orpington, Louise (Louie for short)

and then this Black Orpington, Millie came out, I havent got a good photo of her yet.

Look at this Blue chick, is it not one of the cutest youve seen!

Heres Kaya having a hold of Millie, the black orp

who then crashed out under John who has been eating the shells!

The others have all pipped as of 6pm, a buff orp, a barred rock and another SLW. Hopefully we will meet them all by morning.

New 'final' position for the babies house

We got back home yesterday and the chicks had all grown soooooo much. They definitely don't fit in the chicken house as it is. I can't believe that it is advertised to be 'fit' for 5-6 chickens. Doesn't seem fair.

Anyway, we've now attached it to the main chicken run. It took some fencing materials, some netting (so those cats don't get in) and some time.

This afternoon we put them back into their house but with it shut off from the main run so they know this is where they live and sleep.

Tomorrow I will unblock the hole through the fence so they can go through to the main area. Wish us luck.

Grandmas Chicks... Whats in the eggs....

Silver Laced Wyandotte. There are 2 of these but the eggs are REALLY small. Im interested to see if they hatch, they were fine on day 11. I also wondered if they might hatch later?

Buff Orpington

Blue Orpington

Black Orpington