What to do with Hamburgs?

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SJanay

SJanay

In the Brooder
Jan 24, 2015
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Hi,
Yesterday I ordered some chicks for the spring. I ordered 3 Hamburgs along with a bunch of others. This morning I was doing some reading about Hamburgs and realized that Hamburgs are flighty, skittish, and don't tolerate confinement. I don't know how I missed that!!! There is no way I can let my hens free range as we live in the suburbs and our yard isn't really fenced in, although I know the hamburgs would jump the fence anyway. Well the hatchery I ordered from isn't open on the weekends, so I can't even ask to change my order or anything. So what do I do? I'm afraid the Hamburgs will not do well confined with a bunch of other hens. I think I will have to sell or give them away once they arrive, but that is a bummer since I really wanted the amount I ordered. I guess I could replace them, but it may not work out... Any thoughts? I really want this to go smooth since we are getting a large flock this year and don't want any upsets that I can avoid.
janay
 
Only thing i can suggest is try and see how they act as they grow. If you want to keep them from escaping, then you can clip their wings. I did that to some of my newcomer bantams so they didn't fly the coop. If they don't work out then trade them with someone. OH AND
welcome-byc.gif
 
Thanks! Yeah, I think I will just wait and see how it goes. But in a confined situation, how will my hamburgs act? I mean will they tyrannize my other girls, go crazy, or what? I'd just like to get a handle on what I'm in for... If I can...
 
In what I have noticed, in chickens as well as other pets I own, is that they have their own individual
temperament. Exclude snakes, fish , turtles. But I'm talking about the warm blooded ones. When you have a flock, there will be an established pecking order. No way around it. Even if you only have one variety from a single hatch. Us humans are not much different. There are leaders and there are followers as well as good and evil. Those hamburgers (lol) may be at the top of the pecking order and the rest will have to respect them . HOPES THIS GIVES YOU CONFIDENCE. I have a variety of chicks and they all get along fine. Of course there is a pecking order , and it is not determined by size.
old.gif
 
If you just ordered your chicks then certainly try to contact the hatchery on Monday. They can't fill your order until they hatch them. If it is a large hatchery then they are hatching thousands of chicks every week not just yours. There is probably time to make a substitution. Hamburgs are flighty. The issues will not be with your other chickens it will be with anything that disturbs them, which is just about everything. This includes you going into their enclosure to care for them. I had a hamburg hen that I fed, watered, and in general cared for every day of her life that flew strait into the highway screaming and got run over by a truck just because I walked out of my front door and she was in the yard nearby. They are beautiful, good layers and great foragers.but truly flighty!
 
Thank you all for your help! I emailed the hatchery and they replied monday morning. They took off the Hamburgs from my order as I requested. I decided that I'd rather not take the plunge that deep just yet... :)
Thanks for all your help and advice!
 
I have a Golden Spangled Hamburg . She is always looking for a new adventure, very curious and smart. More vocal than my other girls. They are not free ranging because I live in the city. She is doing as well as my other 2 hens. No signs of distress. She is a happy hen :)
 
I too, live in the city, cannot let my chickens free range, and own a SSHamburg. She is as content as my others being
penned, fits in nicely with the flock. I probably would not have one either if I had read the review first.
I like them because of their size, don't eat much, yet let a medium size egg every day. Very effiecient, mind her own
business sort of gal. :)
 

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