Talkin's Flock Thread

[Bawkbok]

Thank you for the explanation. What a pretty bird. We've had really bad luck with hybrids and sex links so I'm reluctant to go that way again until we have more space and can accommodate a large flock.
With the current legal limitations of four where we live, I'd like to increase my chances of having consistent layers vs. ones with reproductive issues - had our share of that. Although the "sweetness" factor is really alluring.

I don't know how long is too long but if the chickens were dogs, I'd be taking them to the groomer. I guess I'll attempt a nail trim on their next health check.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Ok you guys! I trimmed Ledo's spurs. My family was so afraid of him bleeding that they made me take of the tiniest bit ever off of his spurs (it literally did NOT help him walk better at all.) Benny is a skittish lil boy so I'll probably have to do his spurs when he is sleeping sometime because I cannot catch him.
I'll attach pics hopefully in a little bit! In the meantime, I'll attach some pics of my chickens and some info about them as well


#1 Little Debbie
Sapphire gem x easter egger mix (she lays blue eggs)
1 year old. I think she is the reason why so many eggs are missing and eaten

#2 Bear
I believe she is an olive egger x sapphire gem mix but I could be wrong. She is definitely the meanest chicken out of our whole flock. She will aggressively bite you if your hand is even near her. But, funny thing, she will eat out of your hand She is 1 year old.

#3 Prudence
Prudence is actually, probably, not a pure barred rock.. We have zero barred rocks in our flock, but our rooster is a sexlink and we have a sexlink hen so possibly those two added up equals Prudence? Prudence is the nicest out of the 4 we kept from a batch of chicks that Phyllis and Rose raised together. The batch of chicks included Prudence, Bear, Little Debbie, and Opal (there was a lot more than just them though.) Prudence is 1 year old.

#4 Opal
Opal is Gert's and Ledo's daughter. She is a sapphire gem. Opal is a skittish girl but that's mostly because she is at the very bottom of the pecking order and none of the chickens let her interact with us. She's 1 yr old.

#5 Phyllis
Phyllis is a black australorp, and she is going to be 5 this year!
She is the sweetest girl and has the most pleasant, softest voice. She mothered chicks 2 different times.

#6 Rose
Rose is a white rock. She...Well..She is a little diva girl. She pecks all of the chickens in order to get her way. She is very sassy. But, she is very sweet to people. She is the most likely to follow you around (that doesn't necessarily mean she likes you. Rose probably just wants treats honestly.) She has mothered chicks 2 different times. Rose makes the chicks fend for themselves which resulted in Frank and Fred being disabled Frank was literally buried alive but luckily he made it. She is 3 yrs old.

#7 Winnie
Winnie is a black sexlink. She, like Phyllis and Florence, is turning 5 this year. She is a very sweet girl.

#8 Florence/Flo
Flo is an easter egger. She is turning 5 this year as well. She is a very nervous, skittish little girl but will eat out of your hand.

#9 Gert
Gert is a sapphire gem, and she is 2 years old. Helps us garden. Hates Florence. They get in fights a lot!

#10 Dottie
Dottie is a light brahma, and she is 2 years old. She has had a lot of medical problems. In Fall 2024 she got a prolapsed vent and flystrike at the same time, but she is okay now. Does not mind being held.

#11 Ledo
Ledo is a sapphire gem. He is always a very happy and care-free guy. Absolutely ADORES his girls. Likes being pet and held. Not the brightest chicken ever Ledo is 2 years old.

#12 Benny
Benny is an olive egger. He is a little angel boy. Loves his girls, but barely has a chance to be with them because Ledo is always chasing him away. He is 3 years old.

@Bawkbok
@sourland

 

[Bawkbok]

They are a diverse and beautiful flock. Love the Sapphire Gems. I think Benny just stole my heart and took off with it. What amazing coloration on him. Thanks for sharing the photos.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

They are a diverse and beautiful flock. Love the Sapphire Gems. I think Benny just stole my heart and took off with it. What amazing coloration on him. Thanks for sharing the photos.

Of course! Thank you so much! I'm getting more chicks this year from a hatchery called Duck N Coop in Columbiaville Michigan.

(edited to say THIS year instead of next year. I keep forgetting that we are in 2025 now lol!)

 

[CombNWattles]

I saw this picture and its story in the picture of the week thread and I just had to make a meme:

Love your flock with all their floppy combs and cute faces!!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

I saw this picture and its story in the picture of the week thread and I just had to make a meme:
View attachment 4026113

Love your flock with all their floppy combs and cute faces!!

OMG!!! I laughed out loud reading this. I can totally imagine Ledo saying that to his girls when he finds a nesting spot for them lol I love how Opal responds with dots like she has nothing to say

 

[talkinboutchickens]

Hello!! So, my babies have been locked up for several weeks now. It's been so dang cold, today it was -2 F. I honestly feel so bad for my chickens because they are used to free-ranging all day, but instead they are in their run all day stuck with eating normal chicken pellets. Well, for the best I guess... We have lots of snow and ice on our property right now and there are about 11 mph winds (although on next Monday there are going to be 22 mph winds!) So it is DEFINITELY safe to say that it's much cozier and warmer in their coop...Although they choose NOT to stay in their coop and decide to go into the run instead! Those little dummies. Anyway, I JUST learned on BYC that oyster shells and grit are not the same thing, and I feel so darn bad about not providing my chickens calcium on the side this whole time So I have to get some at TSC some time.
Like I said, since my babies have been "cooped up" (NO PUN INTENDED) for a few weeks, I've decided to bring the outdoors to them! (Kinda.)
So here is my lentil sprouting project!

Lentils specifically have to soak for 12 hours overnight before straining them and rinsing them and such.
For different seeds there are different soaking times.

You don't have to have a fancy seed sprouter, you can just use a mason jar

https://www.fresheggsdaily.blog/2012/10/growing-sprouts-for-your-chickens.html

And yes, you can sprout other seeds for chickens as well, such as lentils, sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and many more. Some of the seeds shown on the picture above may not be safe for chickens, so make sure to do your research beforehand

Hope you enjoyed this post! Keep checking back on my flock thread for more posts! I post about a few times a month, and I apologize for that lol...I have a lot of plans to grow stuff and do some chicken hacks that I've seen on Pinterest, hopefully in the Spring or Summer When I do them, I'll post about them here. I'll also keep you guys updated on my lentil sprouting project

 

[talkinboutchickens]

A list of projects I plan to do this year for/with my chickens (And I plan to post about all of these things here on my flock thread!!)

• Sprouting seeds, in my little 3-tier sprouter and using this unique method as well:
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964246189798/
• Make them chicken birthday cakes!!
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964243490713/
• Let them catch minnows in the summer time!
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964243490872/
• Use a shepherd's hook to hang my feeders...
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964235864424/
• Raise maggots! Sounds completely revolting, but completely free and fantastic for chickens! GREAT source of protein. You don't necessarily need to buy BSF larvae from an online store....Just set up a bin, put smelly produce in, and watch the flies come.
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964235864395/
• I highly, HIGHLY doubt this will happen, but selling chicks for profit has been my DREAM for a LONG time https://www.muranochickenfarm.com/2017/06/how-i-make-1000-month-from-15-chickens.html?m=1
  https://www.pinterest.com/pin/1111966964227981985/
• Make a flock block
• Start adding healthy herbs & spices to their feed

If you have any ideas for things I should do with my chickens... Let me know! I would love to hear your ideas!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

--Day 2 of lentil sprouting--

Lentils are doing good, they have already sprouted!

They are even going through the mesh!

 

[talkinboutchickens]

After a few more days, I fed the chickens their lentils. They didn't go crazy for them, but they also didn't dislike them lol!

Final product:

The babies enjoying their yummy treat..

Please ignore my hand which looks unusually long and ape-like in the photos