Written by Heather Zubiate
A few weeks ago, we went and picked up some more little hens to add to our flock, something I have been wanting to do since I found that according to L.A. County animal regulations, I'm not limited to only five birds. I can have as many birds as my property can handle by density. Chickens require around 4 sq.ft. per bird so I have enough square feet to allow for 20 birds, but I don''t want to push it, so I think 12 will be plenty.
The first few nights I had them it was down right frigid, and of course I was worried about them so I called Russ and he told me to cover the coop with a tarp and some blankets and if possible to put a lamp in with them to help break the cold. No problem there, I was on the job! They got two blankets and two tarps, and for a few days we had a light on for them.
But on the first night, both my husband and I decided to turn it off because the little peepers weren't sleeping. We felt that it was worse to keep them up, which would probably stress them out, then keeping it on for warmth. My husband assured me that they would huddle up for warmth, and of course he was right. The next morning as I scurried across the frozen grass to the frost covered coop, they were peeping excitedly! Whew! We survived the first night! Ha ha ha! We switched the bulb the next day to a red one, but it still kept them up. So I put the bulb on for a few hours before sunset to warm up the coop, and then then turned it off at 8 pm. All worked out fine, they stayed warm, and they were able to get some much needed shut eye.
Anyway, aren't they cute!!! I call them "my little peepers", because when I got them at 8 and 10 weeks old, they still peep! Here's the new girls roll call:
The first few nights I had them it was down right frigid, and of course I was worried about them so I called Russ and he told me to cover the coop with a tarp and some blankets and if possible to put a lamp in with them to help break the cold. No problem there, I was on the job! They got two blankets and two tarps, and for a few days we had a light on for them.
But on the first night, both my husband and I decided to turn it off because the little peepers weren't sleeping. We felt that it was worse to keep them up, which would probably stress them out, then keeping it on for warmth. My husband assured me that they would huddle up for warmth, and of course he was right. The next morning as I scurried across the frozen grass to the frost covered coop, they were peeping excitedly! Whew! We survived the first night! Ha ha ha! We switched the bulb the next day to a red one, but it still kept them up. So I put the bulb on for a few hours before sunset to warm up the coop, and then then turned it off at 8 pm. All worked out fine, they stayed warm, and they were able to get some much needed shut eye.
Anyway, aren't they cute!!! I call them "my little peepers", because when I got them at 8 and 10 weeks old, they still peep! Here's the new girls roll call:
Miss Lily is a Cream Legbar. I had no intention of getting a Cream Legbar, but Russell at Chickens Galore in Norco, Ca. didn't have some of the breeds I wanted. I had wanted to get some Easter Eggers (EE) instead, because I wanted the surprise of waiting to see what egg colors they would lay, which range from yellow, pink, blue, or even green. As for Cream Legbars (CL) I know for sure that Miss Lily will lay blue eggs, and that will make it very easy to know if she is laying, or not. She is a sweet little bird, and I mean little. She is the runt of the flock for now.
Miss Lacey is a Dominique hen; I had wanted to get a Barred Rock (BR) because I think the BR aesthetically looks more like a robust barn yard chicken, while the Dominique hen is quite trim, almost like the supermodel of the chicken world, if you ask me. Anyway, for a Dominique, Miss Lacey is quite robust and happens to be the largest pullet, so I might be pleasantly surprised. For a great page on the differences between Dominiques and Barred Rocks, you can click here. One thing is for sure, if Miss Lacey ends up with a single comb, then she will actually be my desired Barred Rock!
I know dear reader, but my son wanted a new "Daisy," so he got one! She is a Light Sussex (LS)! They are supposed to lay pink eggs, we'll see. I had wanted to get a LS for a while, but the breeder I was looking at wanted an arm and a leg for one, so I pretty much gave up one getting one, and then lo and behold, Russ had one left - yippy skippy! I have read that these birds can be very vocal, so much for not getting a loud bird, but my neighbors have yet to complain about Miss Buttercup, who sings an early morning song quite loudly on Sunday of all days! Here's hoping that Miss Daisy is a quite bird!
And last on the list, Miss Rose, she is a Red Sexlink (RS)hen. I had wanted a Speckled Sussex (SS), but Russ was out of them. Maybe the next batch of birds I can get a SS, but for now I have this adventurous little bird! She really is quite inquisitive, more so than the other girls. I like her two tone brownish and white feathering, and hope she will be a reliable layer. She certainly is a big girl for her age, as expected by the breed. Her eggs are supposed to be large and brown, and she is supposed to lay earlier than her flock mates. Time will tell if this is true.
Overall, I am very happy with my acquisitions, and in a few more months I will be seeking four more pullets. Hopefully I can get a SS, and a couple of EE as well as a French Copper Maran, either black or blue, and I will call her Frenchy - I know, I'm so cliche sometimes!