I have an aussie red cloud kelpie (same intincts as the border collie. I trust him 100% with the chooks. He herds them up and guards them obsessively when they are out free ranging and will be on the alert if he hears anything when they are in their run. He is brilliant
Now my Jack Russell...
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They are in there own garden with loads of space
I was just wandering if anyone knew what the age of the chick would be when the mother naturally stopped looking after it ... but I take it no one knows.
Thanks anyway
Hi there
My hen that hatched one chick is in with the hen that hatched five chicks.
They seem ok together one minute and are then scrapping the next ??
It is the hen with the older chick (7 weeks) that is being stroppy. Should I put her back in with the main flock without her baby as I dont...
If she is broody they lose the feathers underneath giving the impression they are molting but they do not do a complete molt.
Defo put some fetilized eggs under her
Just checked my broody and a little fluffy face popped out to say hello ... YAY !! Another one is hatching as I type this and hopefully should get a full hatch of seven
I am sooooo happy after all the hassles with the first broody (who is doing really well with her one baby), I was leaving...
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Our normal time of year for moulting is Feb - March here in WA, thats why I wondered if it was something that happened after being broody ?? or if it was just a fluke ??
I am feeding her a higher protein diet anyway so hopefully all will be well ... thanks for your input
Has anyone...
My broody hatched one egg and all is well with baby My concern is that the hen is losing alot of feathers and was wondering if this is a normal thing thats happens afterwards ?? She seems healthy and happy otherwise.
Well ... it is defo just the one chick this time round. The hen was out with her one baby today and had ditched the other egg and it had gone very cold.
I cracked it open and it was dead and fully formed. Couldnt see why it would have died ??? Anyway she is a good mom to her one baby and...
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I was getting ready to buy a couple of day old chicks to put under her if nothing had hatched this time. That is an idea for you maybe ?? But fingers crossed even if only one hatches xxx
I know that my broody would not give up, dont know if it depends on breed type if some are more...
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Thanks
I have RIR hens and a Light Sussex Rooster. Hen is a first time broody and she only had two eggs ones hatched the other hasnt yet ... how long do you reckon I should wait before ditching the egg ??
don't do what i did wait as long as you can!
The first batch of eggs she was...
My light sussex rooster "seemed" nice natured when I went to look at him and on the next visit to bring him home. After a few weeks of getting established with the girls he is doing a brilliant job of looking after them to the point if I put myself between him and one of the hens he will go in...
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Thanks
I have RIR hens and a Light Sussex Rooster. Hen is a first time broody and she only had two eggs ones hatched the other hasnt yet ... how long do you reckon I should wait before ditching the egg ??
WOOHOO ... little chick popped its head out from under moms wing this morning a day early. Other egg not pipped yet but hopefully will soon.
After all the hassle this broody has gone through she deserves success at last !!
I would try bathing their legs and feet in a warm salt water solution. Dry them very well after and apply some antibacterial ointment if you have any. If the weather has been crappy and they have been in the mud alot, chickens can get "mud fever" (like horses) which is a bacterial infection.
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Treat them all with ivermectin in the water, two birds with one stone as they say, as it will worm them as well
You need to apply either tea tree oil or whatever you choose everyday to start to soften them up. You will then be able to gently remove the build up but slowly does it...