We have a very mixed flock, some buffs, some brahmas, a red, few Plymouth rocks. The buffs were very broody a few months ago so we are just being patient waiting for another to get broody. A neighbor though just offered us an incubator so if we get impatient we may do that!

Hi Grizzlyhjoe and family.

Looks like I left y'all hanging here. We ended up with nine chicks and had to move them to a trough that we set up in the garage with a heat lamp.

After a couple of weeks, we had to move the chicks in the cage that dh made for them and put them in the garage. I
They're getting so big but they still chirp like little chicks. So cute. I still can't tell if we have chicks or roosters.

Here they are after we moved them into the garage.


Last week we had them outside, getting some sunshine for those few days that the weather was nice. They enjoyed some chopped up cabbage.






They are getting so big they're outgrowing the cage but it's so cold outside, I don't think they're ready to go out. For one thing, I don't know how the rest of the flock will react to new residents in the coop. For another thing, we are out in the country where there are many predators... as long as they are chirping, it seems to me they might sound like a meal!

It's my first time raising chicks so this is all new!

Apparently one of my doggies thought I was finished writing because he pushed my hand and I hit the finish button.

Actually, I wanted to say, good luck with your broody hens, grizzlyjoe! I promise to keep the updates coming and hope you will let us know what's happening with your girls.

The Buffs I used to get a few years back were much bigger and would go broody, this last bunch I got are smaller, and are really good layers, but haven't gone broody. I will have to find a different source next time I get some.

I've never had Buff Orpingtons. Are they big hens, or small? I like having a mixed flock and would like to mix it up more next year when the new henhouse gets built and will accomodate more chickens.

I guess there's no certain time that hens might go broody. I had one hen go broody and then another... then the rest of the hens stopped laying too. Except my little crazy hen, Lucy Bell, she was the only one leaving the coop, running around and then laying her egg here and there since the nest boxes were occupied!

They're still not laying eggs. I've been meaning to look into how long before they start laying again? It was really hard buying eggs at the store, they just aren't even close to being as good as the ones my hens lay!

Buff Orpingtons are big, calm, friendly hens that look even bigger due to their poofy feathering. Because they are so docile, they can sometimes be bullied by the older hens. They are moderately good layers of large light brown eggs. Mine have been healthier than average in my flock, and usually keep laying through the winter. This time of year many hens are molting and therefore not laying.

Porkpal, I recall you saying that you bring new chickens into your flock and have many different varieties of chickens living together.

Is there some advise you can give me on how to introduce the new chicks?

How old before the chicks are ready to move into the hen house? Dh was saying at around 6 weeks old but I just don't think they are ready!

I have several coops and I normally introduce new chicks about 25 at a time, so I clear one of the coops for them. I will keep a light in the coop for warmth until they are well feathered. The older hens can see them as the front of each coop is hardware cloth, but I don't let the new chicks out to free range with the others until they are about 8 - 10 weeks old and about half adult size as the chicken pasture is not fenced to hold little birds. Because of the numbers involved, the large area available, and the through-the-fence introduction, I usually have no trouble with the old girls picking on the newbies. Perhaps you can use a variation of this method?

Thank you Porkpal. Sounds like you have a great setup!

It sure would make it easier if we had that other coop up and running; plus our chickens have complete free range to go wherever they want, with no fenced in area. Last time, when we brought the Amaraucans in, it was in January and they were already about 6 months old. We just put them in there with the others. They had been living in a small cage, never free ranged, so they didn't leave the coop until around March when the rooster, Captain Jack brought them out. It all worked out.

It's possible that Captain Jack will take charge again if we put the others in there...

There is a small caged area off the coop if I could figure out a way to use that to keep the chicks inside but still let the older ones out. Hmmm!

I ususally let my new starts get nearly mature before I introduce them to the flock. I just put them into the coop and then keep them fenced in for about 2 or 3 weeks. By then they are accepted into the pecking order, and I can let them free range again and they can find their house. This fall I had just one to introduce to the flock, and I was worried that they would really pick on her as she was the only one. I snuck her in during the night and put her on the roost. It was ammazing how thay accepted her.

Thank you, Tom, waiting until they are mature seems like a good idea to me too. Good to know yours were so accepting. I like the idea of putting them in there at night when they are all settled in.

Since the age of the chicks is staggered over a weeks time, maybe I will put a few of the oldest ones in first and see how it goes. Ha!

Two of my grandsons are coming after Christmas and that will put some of the chicks right at eight weeks, possibly a good time to do it. The boys (13 & 14) will probably like the experience.

Well, when the grandboys came, they carried the chicks to the coop one night to move into their new home with the other hens and rooster.

It took a couple of days, but they made themselves at home in no time and now they are running around outside and coming in at night to roost. Although, there is some tension between the older flock and the newbees!



Beeing inexperienced with new chicks, I'm just now able to identify the males from the females. I'm still not sure how many roosters vs hens! Just when I think I have it figured out, I'm not sure. so far, I'm sure of two hens.

I'm pretty sure these two on the right are cocks!


And I'm pretty sure the little black one is a hen (although she looks suspiciously like the crows around here )

At this age the roosters can often be identified by their big feet and long sturdy legs. The feathering will also be different - pointier neck and saddle feathers for the roosters, as well as redder combs and wattles. Whatever they are they are an attractive flock!

I think roosters rather glare at you (something about their eyebrow feathers) whereas hens have a more vacant WTF (why the frown?) expression. I'd agree the two duking it out are likely roosters.

I'll have to look closer at the saddle feathers.

The other day two of the cockerels were chest bumping each other and ended up in a beak-lock. I was amazed when my rooster, Captain Jack went over and broke them up. He ran over to them and made a warning sound, then made another sound and stuck his head between them to break them up and then chased one away from the other! I love that rooster. I really think I got lucky with him, he's never aggressive with me or any other humans.

I admit when he first arrived, I thought I had made a mistake because he gave my remaining two hens a hard time trying to control them. They were practically naked from all the aggressive handling by CJ! But he finally won and the girls' feathers all grew back. It was hard to let my girls go through that.

Now I sing praises about him! (Picture taken in summer)

Most handsome!

I should think a hen would be proud for attention from him

A nice looking flock of chickens. Feel free to post more pictures! I love chicken pictures.

LOL I think the girls do like the Captain!
Rita, you don't even have to twist my arm since I love showing pictures of chickens.

Here they come...


And there they go...


Time for a drink

Where are they going? Do they go off into the woods? They really are a nice bunch of chickens.