Chicks are finally outside

First they were in Sterilite tote brooders, then we moved them to a big brooder on the porch, and last night we took them outside not too long before dusk and put them in with the other hens. No major problems - whew! One Speckled Sussex thought they all needed head pecks, but she wasn't chasing them down to do it. They spent the night in the coop with everyone else, and everyone was fine.

This morning though I had to boot them all out of the coop after everyone else was out, because they didn't want to go. Once they were out they found the food and water, and started wandering around, so I got my camera and took some photos.

This photo has Buff Orps, Buff Brahmas, Partridge Rocks, and a couple of the Americaunas.

Another group shot.

No, that's not a Turken - it's the smallest of the Partridge Rocks who got picked on and had all her neck feathers removed. She's starting to grow them back though, so I think she'll look normal soon.

This photo shows my favorite Americauna of the bunch. I love how they are all different. One in fact is very hard to tell at first glance from a Partridge Rock. But this one in the middle of the photo has wild coloring with grey background and rusty splotches and the "hawk" head thing going on. She's got the beard too, but it's a little hard to tell from this photo.

Another of the Americaunas.

And finally, a Buff Brahma and a Partridge Rock carefully inspecting the foundation of the coop for engineering problems!

Oh, and forgot to mention, they are 6.5 weeks old now. What I was thinking getting chicks in late March, I don't know. I guess I was thinking they would start laying before winter, which would be a benefit. But they had to stay inside much longer than otherwise. And we got broilers too, and they got booted outside over a week ago because they were just taking up all the brooder space and making a mess.

It's funny how the hens we have don't bother the layer chicks, but get them next to a broiler, and they want to start pecking and seeing how many feather/pinfeathers they can pull out. And the broilers will just sit there and squawk but not run away. I think they'd let themselves be eaten alive before they would try to get away. We have them in a pen inside of the larger chicken pen, so they have their own space and don't get pecked to death. They go in the coop at night with everyone else, but I wait until dark, and they don't get picked on then.

If you can get some "no pick" lotion or blue kote, that will help stop the picking.. at least on the one young pullet.. :)

They sure are a pretty group!!!

I have some blue kote, but I don't think they are picking her now - too many other interesting things around. It happened earlier on when they were in the brooder, but if she shows signs of fresh picking, I'll have to pull out the can.

That blue kote is the greatest stuff,I have used it many times and it works!

What breed is the one who looks all yellow? Will it stay yellow, or turn sorta' reddish-orange?

That's a Buff Orpington. It's looking more yellow than in real life because of the early morning sun. It really made them look golden!