Oh, I was so excited to share pictures today, because MISS JANE AND MISS ELIZABETH HAVE ARRIVED!!! I have pictures, but apparently left the connection thing at home. I'm really ticked off at myself, especially because I am taking the next two days off (my sister has been visiting and is leaving Wednesday) so I won't be able to post them until Thursday. Oh, if I had a wet noodle I'd be truly chastising myself.
ANYWAY! More important than my idiocy is the fact that they're finally home! They are SO beautiful. I will need help identifying them, and I suspect they're not entirely of pure stock (although of course they are pure in the way that counts, she added primly).
Miss Jane looks very like a Buff Orpington, but her head and neck feathers are darker than her body feathers. She has a nice red comb.
Miss Elizabeth seems to me to be either a dark Cornish or a golden-laced Wyandotte. She has no comb at all. The friend who finally caught them (sitting on a nest in the wild) says one is the daughter of the other, but she's not sure which.
Hopefully when I post pictures y'all will be able to help me with their genetic heritage, though it honestly makes no difference to me. But OH JOY they're here!!
Questions -- I've kept them in their coop since they came Saturday morning. I want them in there until they feel safe and associate it with warmth and food. But I think they're not terribly happy. They are not eating very much at all. I suppose they're just being cautious and I'm sure they're stressed out from the capture and move. Should I let them out into the pen tomorrow? I have a nice pile of wood shavings and hay and plan to scatter food (nice kitchen scraps) in that so they'll be able to do all the foraging their little hearts desire. I'll also have a feeder with layer feed and a waterer and grit available. How long should I keep them in the coop?
I'm calling the Chick-N-Hutch the coop and the fenced-off area the pen, in case my terminology is confusing.
I really am beyond excited they're here.
WAAAH I don't have my camera connection thingy
Do you have any USB cable that will fit into your camera? I have spares here at work for just that reason...
Even a cord that will fit a phone if it fits your camera will work.
brigidily-
They came home Saturday right?? Were they completely wild? If they have not been cooped for a while, I would keep them in for about a week, maybe longer. You want them to associate the coop as their new shelter.
Is your pen covered? If not they may fly out and not be able to be caught again.
If they are completely wild, that could explain the poor eating. They may have been used to foraging for their only food. It might take them a little while to get used to eating layer rations again.
If they are wild, it would benefit them and you to spend a lot of time with them, they may noy be used to human contact.
sheila
MissJestr, I have nothing for this camera here. I WILL put it in my purse when I get home so I can post them when I get back to work Thursday.
knsl, they're definitely not utterly wild; they were this man's pets for a long time. The pen is completely covered with bird netting; I guess they could find a way out if they tried hard enough, but there are no openings big enough for a bantam without lifting an edge of something. We clipped their wings -- just the right one on each -- so if they flew, they wouldn't do it well.
I've kept them entirely cooped because, as you say, I want them to associate the coop with shelter. I believe they're beginning to feel safe there, and they're not making the ruckus they did at first when they see me. (I make little "bock, bock" noises and sing to them.) They seem to want to forage (they scratch around in the nesting box which is full of wood shavings and no food) instead of chowing down at the little buckets I have clipped to the front of the coop. I will sit in the pen with them when I let them out, but I don't look forward to terrorizing them by having to catch them again to put them back in the coop. But I feel so sorry for them, just sitting there on the roost! They do go to the buckets and eat, just not as much as I think a chicken should.
But you'd leave them in a whole week? They wouldn't pull a Steve McQueen when they got out?
How exciting. I cant wait to see them. Im with Knslwilliams. I would keep them in a bit. They are probably stressed a bit from the move. (normal) They will calm down a bit in time. Sounds like you have a great set up!! Cant wait til they are all settled and you can spend time with them bonding. Once they settle in. I am happy for you. :D Happy dance.
With a completely covered pen, I would not think it would hurt to let them out. I thought you were talking free ranging them. I would think that they could find their way back in from an enclosed pen. May be a good idea to feed them early in the morning and leave them a little hungry at close up time. That way you could coax them in with food if need be. Just a suggestion.
Sheila
I say offer them cottage cheese. Or oatmeal (made in the usual way, not dry). Those are favorites with my chickens. I think they would like that. I am so thrilled to hear of their arrival, and anxious for photos of course! Were they on eggs on the nest when caught? If so, they may also be still getting over their broody phase....
I think it would be a good idea to let them out too.. they will go back in.. You might have to give them a little encouragement at bedtime is all.. Being grown, I doubt they will hesitate to go to bed, if they have been in there a couple of nights.
Treats are always a good thing to win them..
Mine love cooked rice with yogurt on it.. even just bread is a good one..
Do keep us posted!! You must be thrilled.. :)
Wow. I was so proud I remembered to bring the camera thingy today. And forgot to bring the camera!!! GEEZ!!! Y'all just aren't meant to meet them yet.
I did let them out and they loved it. There was some old hay I'd mulched some little trees with and they absolutely turned it into dirt! It was wonderful. And when the sun started going down, those lovely little ladies hopped right back up into the coop and roosted, and watched as I tucked them in (closed the coop). They still won't come to me and they may never, but at least they don't run from me anymore!
They're so cute the way they wipe their little beaks on the grass between bites of softer stuff like tomatoes! I didn't even turn on the TV last night -- just watched the chickens.
They were on eggs when Cheri caught them. They haven't laid one yet, but it's only been a few days and I'm sure moving was traumatic. No demands; I'll be glad if and when I get eggs, but I'm not even really thinking about it yet. Ya'll will be the first to know.
If they were broody when they were caught on the eggs, they may not lay for a while. Takes them a bit to get going again after brooding. They will be sure to find the most awkward spot to lay one that you will not think to look in until there are 10 eggs or so sitting in there.
The beak wiping thing is adorable. I love that too!
Handfuls of scratch go a loooong way in getting them to come to you. Even my scaredy-cat chickens will come over to my hand for scratch.
One question -- when I shut them up at night, do I need to have food and water in there? Do they get up for a midnight snack?
I have water in my coop but that's just where the waterer lives, not because they need a midnight drink. My opinion is no food or water really necessary. They do actually sleep you know! They get bedtime snacks (scratch) in winter on really cold nights because I think digestion keeps them warmer. (just a theory)
Otherwise, mine do not get food after dusk when they go to roost, until they are let out in the morning. This has not caused any problems that I'm aware of!
Thanks! It also keeps the coop a little bit cleaner!
I went to Tractor Supply yesterday and they had baby chicks. It was all I could do not to get some, but their "pullet" bin was empty and all they had was straight run. If I had my farm already, there would be at least a half dozen with a new home, roo or hen. Ah, well. I suspect there will be chickens when I do get the farm.
What about the farmER? ;-)
I am glad the girls are settling in so nicely! I am glad for you. Chickens are way more entertaining than TV anyway. I was so sad when I put all the babies outside. I love watching them in the evening. They really are good medicine. Enjoy your new crew. Have a great night.
ta ta ta TTAAAA -- and here they are! Introducing Miss Jane Bantam in the front and Miss Elizabeth Bantam at the back. Aren't they beautiful?!?
Pecking around in the straw.
Happy in the coop.
Good shot of Miss E.
And Miss J.
They clung to each other -- this was from their first night in their new home. One is actually the mother of the other, according to Cheri -- she believes Miss E. is the mother.
Oh oh oh! They were soooo worth the wait! What a beautiful pair! Miss E has a slight look of Barnevelder about her. And Miss J of course has a slight look of buff orpington. They are a delighful and divine pair. Long live the Diva Banties!
Last one (for now!) -- what kind of bantams are we? NOT that it matters, would just like to know. Doubting seriously they are purely anything in particular. Notice the lack of comb on Miss E.
(Twilight Zone theme playing -- you answered as I asked!) Yes, I was thrilled at their looks; I hadn't known what to expect. I've combed the breed pictures, and buff orp is all I could come up with for Miss J, either sebright or gold-laced wyandotte or barnevelder for Miss E.
(I can call her a barnevelder if I want to, anyway!)
ZZ and Catscan are the combined Barnevelder Twins. They will know...
(By the bye, about the farmER... alas, he has yet to appear... so of course I'm forging on without him!)
WOW what a couple of nice looking girls you have there. They look so happy in their coop too. I love the spring colored buckets!! CUTE! I want to get some now. ;) Worth the wait as Claire said. They are just so cute. Congrats! I see some gold lace wyn. in Miss E I think. I love the tails!
Im thinking Miss J is really pretty.... LOL and Miss E as well...
Thank you! I suspect you know I'm pleased. The little buckets are from Hobby Lobby; they were perfect to clip to the wire front of the coop. I'd tried other things, but they kept knocking them over.
Smart! I love it. Its springy!
Congrats on your lovely new ladies! I agree, they are much more entertaining than tv!