Two weeks ago I found myself in the predicament of having four newly hatched chicks, six five week old chicks, and only one brooder. I put the new little babies inside a milk crate inside the big brooder. The big kids could see them but couldn't get to them. babies had their own food/water. About four days ago one of the babies escaped from the milk crate. The big kids didn't attack and all seemed cool. So I took all the babies out of the crate and let the two groups combine. The big kids are HUGE compared to the little ones, so I watched carefully to make sure no one got hurt.
The wee ones sure did peep a lot and they would run away screaming from the older chicks even when the older ones were not trying to harm them or anything.
Well today, I noticed that one of the Production Red pullets was hanging around the babies more than the others. I just peeped out at them and that PR had all four babies huddled under her. My husband said he saw her doing the same thing last night. It's the craziest thing. She's acting like their mom! How on earth would she know to do that at such a young age? I tried to get a pic but of course they saw me come out and everyone starts running around.
What a sweet pea. Maybe I'll name her that.
The wee ones sure did peep a lot and they would run away screaming from the older chicks even when the older ones were not trying to harm them or anything.
Well today, I noticed that one of the Production Red pullets was hanging around the babies more than the others. I just peeped out at them and that PR had all four babies huddled under her. My husband said he saw her doing the same thing last night. It's the craziest thing. She's acting like their mom! How on earth would she know to do that at such a young age? I tried to get a pic but of course they saw me come out and everyone starts running around.
What a sweet pea. Maybe I'll name her that.
