New batch of chickens today

Tractor Supply had baby chicks again, and, for the first time I have seen, they had Turkens.  I've had Turkens in the past and I just love them.  They are calm and gentle, and don't pick at the other birds.  Mine have all been very healthy and hardy.  I bought 6 of the Turkens, and 4 Partridge Rocks.  It's my first time with the Rocks, can't wait to see what they are like.

I just put them into their new home about 30 minutes ago.  I put a couple inches of finished compost on the bottom with some other random pieces of vegetation for them to peck at.  Within 30 seconds they were scratching around in the compost and eating things too small for me to identify.  I think these are going to be great little foragers.  I'll keep throwing clover, comfrey, weeds, and other items in for them, along with mealworms and whatever other little creatures they find in the compost.  A scoop of compost every few days should keep enough living things in there for them to explore.  I'm working on a covered playpen for the little one on hot days so they learn their way around in nature.

The setup picture only shows one heat light, but I actually use one at each end.  That way if one burns out prematurely, they don't freeze before I discover it and can replace the bulb.

Congratulations! Will these be meat birds, egg birds, or scratching birds?

Angela Wilcox wrote:Congratulations! Will these be meat birds, egg birds, or scratching birds?

My chickens are primarily for making compost and for eggs. Mine dont get eaten. Even after they stop laying eggs, they live out their lives just getting to be chickens. I figure I owe them that after all they have done for me in their lives. Not to mention, chickens are just great entertainment. I wouldn't want to be without them. My current birds are getting pretty old. The youngest are about three and the older ones are five or six. They don't lay many eggs anymore but they are still great company.

Lovely arrangement ❤️