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I never seen hen take food to chicks, she took them to the food. Once hatched never had hen leave chicks until at least 4 weeks post hatch and usually closer to 12 weeks with some going longer yet.
Feather piles we had were caused by hogs catching sick birds on ground at night or roosters fighting (and caught by hogs). Come to think of it hogs ate as many chickens as we did in terms of numbers. Virtually all our brood fowl, excepting males, where not confined. Many either chose or had to roost in trees, otherwise rafters and hay ropes used as roosts. Hens with chicks settled at night either in mangers or even in dog house with dogs until chicks ready for elevated roost. For us breeding most reliable with free ranged birds. Chicks very vulnerable to social strife of cock yard where hens were greatest threat to each other offspring. Free ranging hens did not seem inclined to harm each others bitties so much.
Dogs seemed to have kept virtually all predators away. Did not have problems with predators until keeping chickens without dogs. Now having to do the Fort Knox thing with non-game breeds until dogs trained up. Dogs also interfered with fighting stags but resulted in slobber covered birds that were nasty to pickup.
Interresting thread, I think Lydia was saying the hen would leave WITH them in the morning and BRING THEM in to eat during the day, at different times.
The Key West Chickens are of Spanish Game descent. Over the years, huricanes have allowed them to escape their pens and mingle with other domestic fowl. They do roam freely in down town Key West and are a nuisance to the extent that KW has hired a trapper to remove as many as possible. It is quite quaint to have them roaming everywhere, even in open air restaurants, often even on the tables and chairs while you enjoy your meal. There was a couple ladies, one local and one in Loxahatchee, FL that were doing a rescue operation and even attempting to have them established as a recognized breed. Can`t remember the name they were using. Anyway, prdators in KW are non existant, unless you count the trapper and an occasional automobile.
I agree with most all that has been said here. Just wanted to shed some light on the KW Chickens.........Pop
I never seen hen take food to chicks, she took them to the food. Once hatched never had hen leave chicks until at least 4 weeks post hatch and usually closer to 12 weeks with some going longer yet.
Feather piles we had were caused by hogs catching sick birds on ground at night or roosters fighting (and caught by hogs). Come to think of it hogs ate as many chickens as we did in terms of numbers. Virtually all our brood fowl, excepting males, where not confined. Many either chose or had to roost in trees, otherwise rafters and hay ropes used as roosts. Hens with chicks settled at night either in mangers or even in dog house with dogs until chicks ready for elevated roost. For us breeding most reliable with free ranged birds. Chicks very vulnerable to social strife of cock yard where hens were greatest threat to each other offspring. Free ranging hens did not seem inclined to harm each others bitties so much.
Dogs seemed to have kept virtually all predators away. Did not have problems with predators until keeping chickens without dogs. Now having to do the Fort Knox thing with non-game breeds until dogs trained up. Dogs also interfered with fighting stags but resulted in slobber covered birds that were nasty to pickup.
Interresting thread, I think Lydia was saying the hen would leave WITH them in the morning and BRING THEM in to eat during the day, at different times.
The Key West Chickens are of Spanish Game descent. Over the years, huricanes have allowed them to escape their pens and mingle with other domestic fowl. They do roam freely in down town Key West and are a nuisance to the extent that KW has hired a trapper to remove as many as possible. It is quite quaint to have them roaming everywhere, even in open air restaurants, often even on the tables and chairs while you enjoy your meal. There was a couple ladies, one local and one in Loxahatchee, FL that were doing a rescue operation and even attempting to have them established as a recognized breed. Can`t remember the name they were using. Anyway, prdators in KW are non existant, unless you count the trapper and an occasional automobile.
I agree with most all that has been said here. Just wanted to shed some light on the KW Chickens.........Pop
