Grape leaves and the grapes - my chickens love jumping for whorls of grapes, and compete frantically to get any offered. If you can arrange strong trellising - 1 or 2 vines is plenty and offers great shade on a south or West facing porch.
Yikes, can u get a house-sitter with chicken experience who can take care of them? That sounds like a TINY space .. And dangerous if it gets too warm.?
All 10 babies (5 hens, 5 Pullets) are laying - so much fun with them each day! Spotted an Eagle soaring this morning - and they don't understand why they can't come out to free range today. I think only 1 one saw it - she came right into the henhouse when Dale opened the door for her. Currently...
Actually i had questions about the ages of your Hens and Roos? If over 2 yrs rates will be lower. Breeders have a Testing program that focuses more on bird quality than Incubation i think. Do Roos succeed with all your intended mothers, or have favorites? Some Breeds also are nearly infertile...
Aural stimulation makes most sense Day 14 and following, if i remember right, when their nervous system gas developed enough to appreciate and respond to it.
I've got the same situation, with a 1 year old Black Jersey Giant.
I wonder how long a broody would sit on golf balls before we try tucking a few female chicks under her? Would a week be enough?
Howdy, from NoPo. We find ourselves with a wanna-be broody 1 year old. Black Jersey Giant, and not great timing as our current 5 are almost daily layers, often squabbling over the same nest box. and 5 i incubated this winter are almost ready to lay and appear obsessed with the same nest box...
Welcome! I can't imagine having to chase that many Chicks to watch for pasty butt! What a first week! Do you have a Barn and pasture with Chick Tractors?
They should be fed a complete Chick starter, and add probiotics or Sav-a-Chick if they haven't had that yet. Electrolytes in water may help. A rolled-up washrag may be a comforting spot for the chick to nap. Some people hang a feather duster in one area to make it like Mama - maybe he won't...
Besides being scared and lonely, Is the temperature right for their age? Test it at their level. I agree they need buddies - they are flock creatures who normally live in society 24//7. Be sure you study how to care for them in a Brooder before you get Chicks.
Welcome! The Pacific NW Chickens group on FBk is pretty active and I think you can find the Chicks and Hatching eggs you want in SW WA or the Oregon City area. If Flowery55 and Ayam Cemani//Mosaic mixes are of interest - you can get those eggs and Silverudd's Blue from Cindy at FoxfireFarmsLLC...
Glad you finally spoke up! We'd like to see pics of your Girls and set-up. Do you have a rural property? Near a town or city for easier access to resources and biz delivery? Look forward to hearing more!
We rarely ever buy wood. Untreated/HT Pallets from Craigslist FREE section work great for many projects. Many use hardware cloth for the floor so poo can fall thru, used on grass as a tractor when they are old enough for temps. For bedding, paths and a compost covering in North America - we...
Please leave her be, and watch from a distance to not stress her out. I'd just leave food and water close and protect them from others who might intrude.