They don't really go into the woods, usually just near the edge where they scratch up the leaves and find lots of bugs, worms and grubs. They seem to like scratching around the trees too. It's so interesting watching them. The new chickens aren't going farther than they can see the coop and they all stay together, which is good. Yesterday when the crows started flying and cawing, they all ran for cover. I noticed they all froze when they saw a buzzard fly over too. All good that they are learning and noticing their surroundings.

My older ones have been going down by where the blackberry bramble is. I wonder if they think it's safe under all those thorny bushes. Smart thinkin' chickens. LOL So far Captain Jack is keeping his girls away from the new chickens. I guess he knows how many roosters there are.

These big girls are Amaraucanas ( So is Captain Jack)

Great picture. And yes, I bet the brambles are great for chickens to hide under.

I'm trying to capture 'portraits' of my birds to use for labels when I sell/give away eggs. Here's a couple to start with, Sissy (Welsummer) on the left and Mojojojo (banty) on the right. Hard to catch them in a still moment, in focus, without extra stuff included. I think what I'll try is to not focus quite so much on just their head and then crop. Can't tell you how many photos I had of the back of their necks!

Very nice.

Oh so cute your girls are Deb, and those look like great shots to me! But I know what you mean, it IS hard to get good portrait shots!! I take many bad shots between one good one! Hahaha! That's a good idea to get the shot and then crop for a close up!

Here's me trying to get portrait shots!

Here's Honey

And this is Feisty

Christine, you did really good with those portrait shots. Cute names for the chickens also.

Yeah, they just move too quickly. That's why I think widening my range and then cropping to just the head will be a better approach. I'm starting to let them out about an hour before bedtime to free range, so perhaps I can follow them around a bit and get some better photos.

The ones you posted are great photos!

Thank you Rita.

Deb, are you going to use the photos for labels on the egg carton? What a nice touch! Each carton might feature a different hen,? Maybe if you add a collector card inside too, they won't want to keep the carton. When I used to buy local yard eggs, I would always bring the cartons back for them to re-use, they're not cheap. Hey, that could be a pun...

I would think you are not allowed to reuse the carton, legally, of course. We reuse ours, but they are not being sold, just given away.

I'm leaning toward quart size ziplock bags. That's what I've been using when I gift eggs and they easily hold 12+ eggs. My thought is to get some oval stickers and print up labels featuring a portrait with soft edges and hen name in script, with my contact info in small print around the edge.

I bet that will look really nice, Deb!

Yeah, I'm sure you can't re-use on the open market. When I would bring the carton back, they would refill just for me. I use cartons for my eggs and when I finish a carton, I spray it with full strength vinegar to disinfect and then re-use.

Now that the chicks are at least three months old, I think I know how many are pullets.

Out of nine chicks... two pullets!

Yep, the rest are wannabee roosters! Oh my!

wildflowers said:Now that the chicks are at least three months old, I think I know how many are pullets.

Out of nine chicks... two pullets!

Yep, the rest are wannabee roosters! Oh my!

Oh oh. Chicken soup coming up in your future!

Oh my. Do I smell a bit of roo-stew in your future, or will you try to sell/gift them?

Apparently we have some nice roo-stew in our future.

Of course it will be my dh's job to do the 'harvesting'. It's been a long time (over 40 years) since he's plucked chickens. Maybe I should start a thread about the best way. We'll probably do them all at once, and thinking of setting up a hot bath, for easier plucking...

Good idea!

I ordered 25 straght run once, and got 20 roosters,

Not very good odds if you want hens!

Ground has broken on the new "Super Coop". Hopefully the next time we have a broody hen, it can have a place to brood and hatch out the chicks. Not sure when it will be finished but hopefully by this summer.

Yes, and the worst part is that I paid $10. each for them, as they were blue laced red Wyndottes from a well known breeder in Kentucky. That was some expensive soup.