You know they are growing up when..

[its hilly]

..You open the door for the teenagers to come out and play. Something big black and nosy (yearling and her mum) distracts your attention for a few minutes. When you turn back to check that the door is safely wedged there are two black behinds heading through said door . With a wild dive you grab them and haul them out muttering curses that your big chooks wont keep out of the way while the teens organise themselves and come out (you know what teenagers are like for not wanting to get out of bed in the morning, ) only to discover that what you are now holding IS a pair of teenagers. How did they get so big without my noticing?

What made you realise that your babies weren't any more?

[Nicos]

At 12 weeks my Marans chicks are almost 4 times the size as their banatam mom!!!!

[Suechooks]

When the cockerel you've lovingly hand reared and planned a lovely future for has a go at you for the first time! Be very careful Dave!

[Nicos]

....when you start to imagine them without their feathers on and which veg you've grown would go well with them

[Suechooks]

....when you start to imagine them without their feathers on and which veg you've grown would go well with them

The broccoli's nearly ready Dave!

[sheena]

The broccoli's nearly ready Dave!

I got some PSB, Cabbage and if you wait a week you can have some carrots and parsnips too that you can put with it, if ya fancy?

I'll get me coat

[jessmorris]

At 12 weeks my Marans chicks are almost 4 times the size as their banatam mom!!!!

ditto!!

[its hilly]

He he he..Nicos, Sue..norty step Roasts and parsnips, lol
My Silver Sussex boy kept having a go at me when he was about four weeks old Eventually at six weeks I lost my temper when he landed a nasty peck on some very sore skin. Grabbed him, turned him completely upside down and shook him. He was amazed and shocked..didn't try again for several days, then just had to. So got the same treatment again. Now he's four months old and amazingly is a proper little gent who is becoming very friendly.

[Suechooks]

Trouble with Dave is he's becoming quite mature at 18 weeks but the girls he's with are younger. He took exception to the 2 young Orps (8 weeksold) when I let them in together and flew at both and jumped on them pecking quite nastily. He was waiting at the coop door for me this morning but I just picked him up and carried him under my arm for a while so he thought better of it. Hoping to rehome him with a group of mature hens soon but if not it'll be the pot I'm afraid.

[Glutton4...]

Sorry, I'm tittering over the fact that you've called a Rooster Dave!!! LOL

But I did have a friend with a Horse called John!

My own lovely Valentino, from RedThorn, has been re-named ASBO for obvious reasons. His true colours weren't shown until he was a good six months old, he's now nine months, and totally fed up with being chased, netted and squirted with the hose, so gives me a wide berth when I'm in the run. He still 'attacks' through the fence though - idiot!

[Suechooks]

Dave's saved!

Glutton - I had 3 boys Dave, Clegg and Gordon! Gordon was dispatched about May, Clegg was rehomed and Dave was intended to stay. but has become a tad noisy for the allotment which is a bit close to some houses!
My neighbours brother keeps chooks and was looking for a cockerel so Dave's off to the country on the isle of Anglesey! How lucky is that! Just arranged it this afternoon.

[its hilly]

Nice one Suechooks. What timing that was.

[Glutton4...]

Lucky Dave - well done you!