C is for Chickens!

I suppose it's no surprise I'm writing about chickens for the letter C since this is my chicken blog, after all.

No lengthy post today, just random shots of my chickens.  If you're thinking about keeping chickens in your backyard, do some homework before buying the bib overalls and announcing yourself as a chicken farmer.  My article, Straight Poop on Keeping Backyard Chickens, can get you started.

Last Year's Production Red Pullets

Starting to Feather Nicely

All Grown Up, and Catching Some Sun

Of the six 'pullets', two ended up roosters
This is Herman

The old gals playing in their sandbox

I'm taking the A-Z Blogging Challenge, where I will post something from each letter of the alphabet on the corresponding day in April, except for Sunday, on at least one if not all four of my blogs. You can see my other blogs in the sidebar - More of Marie Anne.

Outside Nest Boxes on Big Coop

Since today is WIP Wednesday on my crochet blog, I thought I'd share the nest boxes we're building for the larger coop.  Click Rosie's pic to see who else is participating in WIP Wednesday, and play along!

The girls like the outside nest boxes in the smaller coop, and I wanted them on the big coop to free up more floor space.  Having the nest boxes outside will allow more room to move around and also more breathing space come winter when they'll be cooped up for longer periods of time with the cold temps and shorter days.

Lurch and Ruby checking things out

Lurch making sure we're on task

None of the girls seemed interested in going in yet, so I put the 

dishpan (their old nest box) in there to give them a clue

Finished boxes from inside

The photo above makes the nest boxes look pretty small, but they're much 

larger than they look from that angle.  I could almost fit two dishpans in there.

Here's a better shot of the inside of one nest box

Just needs a coat of primer and paint

What're you working on?

Fowl Visitors

Shortly after letting my little flock out just after dawn the other day, I noticed movement outside the fence.  I quickly went out to see how they'd gotten out only to realize that wasn't my hen out there.  The neighbors apparently let their girls out and they strolled over to visit.

One of my neighbors Barred Rock hens

He'd only let them free range once or twice before that I know of, but I know he let them out the previous afternoon.  I don't think he was already up to let them out that morning, so I'm wondering if he left them out all night.  Not a good idea around here.  I've never had any predators infiltrate my 4 ft welded wire fence with all the dogs and cats here, but I sure wouldn't leave the coops and fence open all night.

Two of my girls checking out out the intruder

Lurch was having a fit trying to attract the girls even closer, but obviously they couldn't get in the fence.  

Lurch crowing to beat the band as the hen walked away

Poor Lurch, left in the lurch.

Broody Rooster

Have you ever seen a broody rooster?

I think Lurch was confused.

My young roos have been crowing for a few weeks and buggering the hens, so obviously Lurch knows he's a rooster. I've seen him checking out the nest boxes on occasion, and a few times he's even jumped in and pranced around, pulling at the shavings and building his nest, just like the laying hens do when they're brooding.

The first time I caught him, there was an egg on the nest and he jumped in and moved it around, then covered it with shavings.  At least once that I'm sure of he hopped in and sat on the nest, just like a laying hen with a clutch to brood.

I know roosters are supposed to take care of their girls, but is taking care of a clutch also normal behavior for roosters?

Lurch, scratching to make his nest

... and getting ready to sit on his clutch