The silky’s are 16 weeks and the little ones are 12 weeks.  We have been watching the difference between the two lavender Orpington and one has been growing much faster than the other one. I did some research on the Internet and have a suspicion that the larger chicken is not in Orpington but rather and Americana or as some people call them Easter Eggers. One of the reasons I started questioning the difference between the two chicks is one is much larger the the other and the larger one has puffy cheeks.

Over the last couple of weeks we have realized Ringo is a roo.  Here is a picture of the tail feathers starting to grow.

The other thing I have been trying to watch is how the black copper maran has been growing.  Honestly hoping for a hen but worried of my odds.  Here is a 12 week update.

We headed to a goat breeder and have made a deposit on 3 nigerian dwarf goats.  We ordered 2 does and 1 wether.  Here is a picture of the mother and father for our first choice does.  We have a couple others as backups.  The expected due date is 3/7/16.

Chloe (mother)

Chloe’s Pedigree:

Chloe’s 5 Generation Pedigree

Grand Sire – AGS Sugar Creeks NR Nellies Shawn

Sire – AGS Tamarack’s

Grand Dam – AGS Gay Mor’s NB Narcissus

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Grand Sire – CH AGS Dancing Angels Cool Your Jets VEE 89

Dam – Heidi’s Mini Acres Harriet

Grand Dam – Heidi’s Mini Acres Stella V+VV 86

Casper (father)

Phan Boy’s Pedigree:

Phan Boy’s 5 Generation Pedigree

GGrand Sire – Proctor Hill Farm To Go Daddy EEE 92

Grand Sire – Camanna GD Moonlight Sentinel

GGrand Dam –CH Camanna CS Moonlight Sonata EEEE 91

Sire – Damascus Road SE Prosperos

GGrand Sire – TX Twincreeks MS Poseidon

Grand Dam – TX Twincreeks P Poise N Ivy

GGrand Dam – TX Twincreeks R Wine And Roses

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GGrand Sire -AGS Ponders End Double Dare

Grand Sire – Ponders End DD Matinee Idol

GGrand Dam -AGS Ponders End Maximum Praise

Dam – CH The Schifsky’s TLC Farm Faith EEEE 91

GGrand Sire – AGS Green Gate X-Dream Obsession

Grand Dam – AGS Happy Tailz Phunny Phace

GGrand Dam – AGS Happy Tailz Glittering Sunset

The silky chicks are 11 weeks and the baby chicks are 6 weeks.  All the chicks are enjoying the mild winter temperatures.

 

This chick is a barred rock and the runt of the group.  At this time the chick has been temporarily named “War Hammer” or “Thor” to compensate for it’s size.

Below is our only Brown Leghorn and we have suspicions that it is a roo.

The baby chicks are 5 weeks old and the silky chicks are 10 weeks.  All the chicks are settling into the barn and the mild temperatures.

The silky chicks are 9 weeks.  Below is “Lahaina”.

Below is “Bob” which we are guessing is a roo.

 

The new chicks are still in the house.  They are starting to make quite a smell and will be sent out to the barn soon.  Sadie was “Merida” the princess from brave for Halloween.  We were able to meet all the neighbors tonight.  Our neighborhood isn’t very large but every house had lights on even though there is only one other family with kids.

Sadie saying good night to the baby chicks.

The kids and I drove to Wisconsin to pick up a few more.  By the time we left we ended up with 15 baby chicks.

2 bare neck chicks

1 leghorn chick

3 barred rock chicks

2 black copper maran chicks

2 red star chick

2 lavender orpington

1 california white chicks

2 black austerlorp chicks

We soon discovered that our backyard is not only good for our own farm animals but also home to hawks, eagles, and a neighbor bird dog.  So we took a weekend and built a modular chicken run.  I am not sure how big to make it so we are making it modular to add or take sections out as the chickens get bigger.

We are officially moving out of the city and heading to the country.  At least that is what all my co-workers believe.  We have found a house that is the best of both worlds.  We are still close to all the stores I need but when I wake up and look out my windows I see animals grazing in pastures.  We have neighbors but we also have our own piece of land.

We have purchased our 3.5 acres hobby farm.