I use a marker. I make tiny dots on the fat end of the egg. So for example, maybe 1 tiny dot means it's an egg from one of my Barred Rocks. Two tiny dots mean the egg is from one of my Buffs, etc. Then I write down on a piece of paper what the dots mean. So, the point is, I keep my marks on...
Looks like a cockeral to me too. I always look at the wattles. This seems to me (I've had about 125 chicks to sex that I've hatched on my farm) the easiest and most tell-tail way to compare.
And if you have any others of the same breed/type, the comparison is what really helps. In other...
I agree with Capricorn, if you aren't already, give them oyster shell free choice. In other words, free choice means put it in a separate bowl and let them eat it whenever they choose.
Are you feeding them 16% layer rations? That's what hens need to lay well and lay eggs with solid shells...
Hi There, I think the folks above did a nice job of giving you ideas for minimums for the coop and the run. I'll offer that the bigger you can make it, the better. I'm pretty sure almost no one ever says "I wish I had made my coop or run SMALLER." Yet, almost every one wishes it was larger...
I'm interested in this thread too and agree with Centrachid. Much of what is being done here is not necessary and may in fact create issues.
I've had my share of roosters. Right now, I have 4 with my flock. All my chickens free range (absolutely no fence with true free ranging during the day...
I'm hoping others reply but here's my thoughts.
You can keep trying what you're trying, bringing the chicks to the Buff to see which she will accept? It seems the Maran wouldn't take any of them?
The other thing to try is to slip an equal number of chicks under each hen after the hen has laid...
Delta,
In my opinion, you don't do either. Let the babies and the mom figure it out themselves. All that you see going on on the roost, as hard as it is to watch, is perfectly normal. As long as there is no blood and no one getting truly hurt, all is well.
The only time I would intervene is...
Yup, just to add to this.. Broody mom's leave their chicks at varying ages. I've had about 15 different mother hens and it just depends on the mom and the chicks. The average age is around 5 weeks tho so your chicks are right in that normal range when the mom left them.
The chicks sometimes...
The question this raised for me is... what type of ventilation does your coop have? You may want to think about this. If your coop when the door is closed is warmer than the outside air, you may want to add more ventilation. Just a thought.
Do they have a way to take a dust bath? Let them take care of their stickyness. If they are still in a brooder, give them a shallow plate or flat bottomed bowl of dirt to play in. Or, if you'd like, get a shovel-full of sod and put it in the brooder, flipped over with the dirt facing up and...
I don't know how you stop this behavior once it's started. I know it's very difficult to get them to stop and that the best course of action is to make sure it never starts.
My only idea if you can do it is to remove the eggs very frequently and as soon as they lay them as possible. Put lots...
Wow... I have some suggestions but the answer seems to be that you will not want to let them free range until they are nearly adults.
My situation is similar in that I have had mother hens hatch ~100 chicks over the last few years. Each time, I let the mom take them out when she's ready, which...
Yup, lock them in the coop for several days. I followed the recommendation of others here and locked my first set of chickens in the coop for 7 days to be sure. I free range (no run, no fence of any kind, secure coop at night) so I really needed to have them return to the coop at night so I...
Yup, what those 2 said. I'd add that locking them in the coop for a few days, then letting them figure out how to get DOWN the ramp is all it will take for them to figure out how to get back up. Once one of them solves the ramp puzzle, the others will figure it out. And if say, the first...
Can you describe your coop design a bit? That makes it easier to comment. But in general, the main thing is that it is draft-free but with good ventilation (use the search function in BYC to research this). Also I agree the prior poster, try to make it as big as you reasonably can. And as...
Yup, you can't keep them separate. Everyone gets starter/grower and then put oyster shell or other calcium (smashed egg shells) in a separate container. The hens that need the calcium will take what they need from the separate container.
I just had a broody hen hatch 9 healthy chicks. I...
Honestly, I'd just keep her inside with the others. Chickens don't like being alone in the first place. It's also somewhat stressful when they are moved as they don't like change. I'd wait until they're all ready for outside playtime and keep them together. Also, it's the wind that they don't...
Chickens eat grass often. Dandalion greens are also a favorite. And you don't need to feed them special grit if they're foraging outside on dirt. They'll pick up plenty of grit from the soil. And they know how much they need and will take in the right amount vs. you adding it to their food...
Just an update... my broody hen, Willow, just finished hatching 9 healthy chicks. Everyone is doing very well, mother and babies got out of the nest fine with no help from me. The other hens are not bothering them. The rooster, Rio, acknowledged the mother hen and her new babies (all his...
My hens have hatched several clutches of chicks and I now have a broody sitting on 11 eggs (one broke) which will hopefully hatch in about a week. I always leave my mother to hatch her chicks in a nest and in the coop that is right with the rest of the flock. In other words, I don't segregate...