Birthday chickens

Finn, of course

A year ago I ventured out to the post office before dawn on a snowy, windy morning and brought home my first chicks. This first year has been quite an adventure, but a successful one: there have been no losses.

The birthday chickens are looking a little rough right now. It’s the right time of the year for molting, but they’re too young for it. Chickens molt at 18 months of age, which is in the fall if they’ve been hatched in the spring like most are. I’ve been finding a lot of loose feathers, but Belle is the only one who seems really committed to the molt. Adding protein to the diet is usually recommended to help ease them through the process, but they’ve been eating chick starter since Elizabeth and Mario were hatched, so they’re getting plenty of protein.

Belle, a little worse for wear

Goldi, with pumpkin treat

Clucky wondering if it’s really a treat

Rachel digging in with Clucky

I’ve been struggling with the decision of whether and when to sell the young birds. The grass is showing some wear and their space will be halved when I take down the extra fencing (which I need to do before the ground freezes so the propane tank can be filled later this winter). There are three social groups at present based on age--the older hens without babies and Finn, Clucky’s four pullets, and Flicka and Zen who are still in mommy-mode with Mario and Elizabeth. At ten weeks the moms are looking worn out and are showing no signs of cutting the cord.

Flicka after 10 weeks of motherhood

Zen, looking worn out too

Elizabeth

After selling both males and Acorn from Clucky’s brood, I am still left with four pullets. Mario does have to go, but I was worried that since he’s a mixed breed there wouldn’t be any takers unless I offered him for free. So I finally decided that I would sell both Mario and Elizabeth and offer a deal if someone would buy both of them. Within an hour of posting them on Craig’s List I had a taker.

Mario

I went out before dawn yesterday morning to wrangle the babies. I had decided to put them in the kennel until the buyer arrived in the afternoon so they could have some contact with Flicka and Zen, and the moms wouldn’t be tempted to try to fly out to them. Even though the moms were once hand-tamed, I have not handled the babies and they are pretty wild. It was a rodeo even in the dark. I was able to get Elizabeth pretty easily, but then I had to trap Mario in the corner under the roost and while he yelled, Finn crowed, and Zen attacked me. When I had to catch them later in the afternoon it was even worse because everybody knew what was up. Next time I do this, I’ll try to tame them a little beforehand and wait to sell until the babies are weaned. Although it was a stressful day for everyone, they are lucky birds because they are going to be pets in their new home.