Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Good Morning Chickens

After the sheep chores, come the chicken chores. Except for my small band of "freedom birds". I've got a small group of about 9 hens and a rooster that live out in the corrals with the sheep. They sleep in the red barn and drink out of the sheep trough and eat from the stored bags of grain for the other chickens. They lay their eggs - well, mostly, under the mineral feeder for the rams. They've pretty much raised themselves for the last year. Now, it's winter and we need the red barn space, so they're slotted to go to the coop. They definitely won't be happy.
Here's a bit of a picture of 'the coop'. It's got a run around it and is a real blessing to have in the winter months. I've got Red Rocks (the black birds - crosses between Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks), Red hybrids (Rhode Island Reds and ?) one lone turkey - she's survived 3 thanksgivings. She had a mate and I kept the two of them because I really like them, but he died last winter. There's no better alarm ringer on the farm, let me tell ya. I've got a few Leghorn crosses and then a few cross crosses :o). I used to feed them with a free-choice feeder, but they ate about 3x what is 'normal', so I now scatter it for them each morning. It's easier on my pocket book and I figure it gives them more to do - scratching around for food instead of just 'bellying up to the bar'. Here is one of my cross crosses. She had a Red Rock (black) mamma and a Red hybrid daddy. I think she's beautiful. I hatched her in an incubator. Once I'm done with the birds, it's time to let out my new friends. I'll post about them next time!

6 comments:

Val said...

Hi, so nice to hear about your chickens and see the photos. I have a flock similar to yours. There was a renegade rooster and his hens out all year here too. They are in the chicken house with the others now and seem to have made the adjustment. Best wishes to you and your animals for the winter months ahead.

Michelle said...

I've never heard of Red Rocks, but I like 'em!

thecrazysheeplady said...

I didn't realize the Adventure Chickens had some Canadian cousins!

Gabrielle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gabrielle said...

We have the same type of hen. What type is it?

Theresa said...

I enjoyed the chicken photos and had to chuckle at the turkey who had survived three Thanksgivings! :o) I hope one day we live where we can have chickens.