- Feb 22, 2007
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Am I seeing things?
I won't go into the dramatic story of these miracle chicks. My BLR Wyandotte broody had her nest plundered, after an animal attack. I found the remains (eggs strewn everywhere) which had spent many hours in 20 degree weather. The eggs were refrigerator cold when I found them. I didn't think they'd make it, and frankly, I thru them in my still-air incubator, not even having a chance to regulate it = just hoping for some survivors. Of 11 eggs collected from around the plundered nest, 3 of them hatched thru some pretty rugged conditions. I sexed them. I think i have 2 females, one male. They are now living large in a brooder box.
What is striking to me is the behavior of ONE of these survivors. OF the three chicks, one was really struggling. It was a day behind the others, and I had to really handle it extra to be sure it was hydrated, fed and kept warm. At times, when I picked it up - I thought I noticed one of it's mates "charging" my hand as I worked with the deficient chick. If I've sexed correctly, this would be the male of the trio. I didn't pay much heed to this - and in a day or so, the deficient chick caught up, learned to eat, and all three are doing fine.
Tonight, I noticed, that the same assertive male seems to be "posting food" for the other two female chicks. Am I dreaming this? It's all of four days old! Is it possible that this instinct occurs this early? His sire is my best roo - who also exhibits this trait... but he's an adult male.
Would a chick this young also demonstrate similar behavior?
TX
I won't go into the dramatic story of these miracle chicks. My BLR Wyandotte broody had her nest plundered, after an animal attack. I found the remains (eggs strewn everywhere) which had spent many hours in 20 degree weather. The eggs were refrigerator cold when I found them. I didn't think they'd make it, and frankly, I thru them in my still-air incubator, not even having a chance to regulate it = just hoping for some survivors. Of 11 eggs collected from around the plundered nest, 3 of them hatched thru some pretty rugged conditions. I sexed them. I think i have 2 females, one male. They are now living large in a brooder box.
What is striking to me is the behavior of ONE of these survivors. OF the three chicks, one was really struggling. It was a day behind the others, and I had to really handle it extra to be sure it was hydrated, fed and kept warm. At times, when I picked it up - I thought I noticed one of it's mates "charging" my hand as I worked with the deficient chick. If I've sexed correctly, this would be the male of the trio. I didn't pay much heed to this - and in a day or so, the deficient chick caught up, learned to eat, and all three are doing fine.
Tonight, I noticed, that the same assertive male seems to be "posting food" for the other two female chicks. Am I dreaming this? It's all of four days old! Is it possible that this instinct occurs this early? His sire is my best roo - who also exhibits this trait... but he's an adult male.
Would a chick this young also demonstrate similar behavior?
TX
