8 weeks old and the chickies are officially "out of the nest".
Since my last post at 5 weeks old, nothing much changed to do a weekly post.
They had juvenile feathers and were learning the ways of a flock.
I went on vacation to visit family in Texas for
a week 11 days and left the chickies in the capable hands of my hubby.
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| Nutmeg and Puff |
A few days before we left, we lost Puff to internal laying. That left us with mama Red and poor lonely Nutmeg :-( out of our original crew. Luckily, it killed her quickly and she died before I could get the hatchet out of the shed.
Those pullets (and cockerells) grow so fast.
Boy did they change in those 11 days!
When I got back they were HUGE!
They were sleeping on the roost. Or, at least, trying with Nutmeg and Red making it difficult for them.
Mama Red chicken was no longer mama! She got back her Red chicken voice and was biting and chasing the babies. She had ENOUGH!
She laid her 1st post-mama egg yesterday and is already back to her every day egg. (8 weeks to the day after the last chick hatched). Can I clone this bird!?! Although, a whole flock of alpha hens would not be pretty. Red is back to hanging out with Nutmeg and Red is still THE BOSS!
I wish I could have been home to document the transition from mama to flock-mate.
Nutmeg is a lot happier now that she has her only friend back and she is not on the bottom of the pecking order.
Here are the not-so babies. (re-homes and he/she's are subject to change).
Bear - one of the Young eggs and of the 1st to hatch.
Rooster suspect. Really thick legs but I couldn't get them in a shot.
Bear will be re-homed.
BB - "My chicken" Yes, I do have a favorite and this one is it! The only full-black chick out of the bunch. One of the Tucker eggs. Full of personality! And just look at that gorgeous iridescent black plumage.
UGH! I just saw "her" crow 3 times. Rrrrrrr.... Hoping it was just because she was startled.
Dang it! I might have to waive my no roo policy?
Started out as the tiniest of the bunch but shot up to be one of, if not the biggest.
Brindle - one of the Tucker eggs. One of the smaller birds. At first a rooster suspect. Everytime I picked her/him up, the hackles would raise. Still a very "flighty" and quick bird. This is why Brindle will be re-homed to a free-range flock (good traits to avoid being eaten).
Dusty - one of the Young 4. At first I was keen on Dusty. Now, she seems to have gained some flightiness and is back on my list for re-homeing. She is also a pretty small bird.
EX - a Tucker egg. Not too much distinguished about this one. She looks as though she will turn out to be a pretty girl. She is on the list for re-home.
HiLite - another Tucker egg. This girl is sweet. On the list to be re-homed.
Lucky - a Young egg. She is pretty tiny and sweet.
Ned - a Young egg. The smallest of the birds now. Great for free-ranging. Brave.
Rusty - a Tucker egg. One of 2 "golden girls". AKA "Austyn's chicken. This is a sweet and pretty little chicken. She will be re-homed to a boy Austyn who fell in love with her.
Splotch - a Tucker egg. Rooster suspect because of his tall stature and early comb. He is really sweet, Not dominating but will defend other chicks when they are picked on. If he does turn out to be a rooster, I feel he will be a keeper.
Sunny - one of the Tucker "golden girls". This one I am keeping. She is sweet and has barred feathers on her wings and laced feathers on her tail.
Trinity - one of the Tucker eggs. She sounds like a robin if you pet her. She has a really pretty white face and beard. She is developing and under-bite which is causing me to keep her since she might not make good reproductive stock because of this defect. She can still eat and drink well. She does better at the feed than foraging.
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