Hi all!
Well, the mutt eggs I'm raising from Quail_Antwerp are healthy, happy and really full of themselves at 6 weeks old.
And I have no idea of sexing other than looking at the ones that had the first combs to show up at about 3 weeks. I wasn't sure that *just* because of that one thing alone would be the determining factor, will they crow or will they lay? I'm willing to wait it out with the flock with food costs, they're more my pets than anything else.
Tonight, we let the broody hen out with the 6 wk flock to get some outdoor time right before dark..and when she started her dustbath, of course, the chicks started in also.
But not the 6 wk. old EE roo...he mounted her, grabbed the broody's neck and started what was CLEARLY trying to 'do the deed'.
The broody took care of him in short order,(A few sharp hard pecks to the head made it more than clear that he wasn't wanted there
) but I've noticed other telling signs, like the attention he pays to keeping the smaller chicks in line, chest bumping, etc. The chicks are not related in any way to the broody hen, so while it was startling, at least THAT chick I won't have to play the guessing game with, at least I think?!?
Do the roo's really start trying this early??
Well, the mutt eggs I'm raising from Quail_Antwerp are healthy, happy and really full of themselves at 6 weeks old.
And I have no idea of sexing other than looking at the ones that had the first combs to show up at about 3 weeks. I wasn't sure that *just* because of that one thing alone would be the determining factor, will they crow or will they lay? I'm willing to wait it out with the flock with food costs, they're more my pets than anything else.
Tonight, we let the broody hen out with the 6 wk flock to get some outdoor time right before dark..and when she started her dustbath, of course, the chicks started in also.
But not the 6 wk. old EE roo...he mounted her, grabbed the broody's neck and started what was CLEARLY trying to 'do the deed'.
The broody took care of him in short order,(A few sharp hard pecks to the head made it more than clear that he wasn't wanted there
) but I've noticed other telling signs, like the attention he pays to keeping the smaller chicks in line, chest bumping, etc. The chicks are not related in any way to the broody hen, so while it was startling, at least THAT chick I won't have to play the guessing game with, at least I think?!?Do the roo's really start trying this early??
