Twelve went out to free range for the first time today, and twelve put themselves to bed--eight in their old little coop above and four in the bigger coop with the rooster, two Polish, a bantam Plymouth Rock and a broody Ameraucana who can't be pleased. The broody is on eggs that I hope will hatch this weekend. Fingers crossed, but I'm not expecting anything.
That is such a relief when they all return for the night. I think your splash hen is beautiful. I think out of my three splash, only one will be a hen, but we will see. My favorites so far are the splash and the blue wheaten. Not sure the hen is blue or just wheaten, but I will put a picture on here soon. They are 8 weeks now.
It sure is a relief. This morning I went out really early to let the free range group out knowing they would be stomping around eager to get out and probably frightening the four new babies that had been brave enough to roost with them. I couldn't find any babies. I looked everywhere, including in the nest boxes. They must have been squished under the boxes in a corner. It took about five minutes for them to come out of hiding. It was like magic--no chickens anywhere and then they appeared one by one. Hopefully I'll get more to roost with the free range flock, which has been quite good about the new ones. I hope the rooster starts considering them "his" soon.
I now consider myself an honest-to-goodness chicken keeper--I have chicks!
I honestly did not believe any of these eggs would hatch when I put them under a broody lavender Ameraucana. I was shocked when I candled them and found all seven were developing. Still, I had no faith in mother nature.
I was shocked to find six hatched chicks and one that is pipping or whatever you call it when it is trying to hatch--so far, it has managed to chip off a bit of egg shell.
These chicks are from my favorite splash hen who has been so sick all this year and my blue cockerel. So far, four blue and two splash with one egg still trying to hatch. I would love another splash, but a live, hatched chick is all I care about.
Any suggestions on how to raise them? I really didn't think any would hatch. I had intended to let them out and free range with the existing free range flock. They were hatched in a nest box in the coop. I'm also integrating my twelve juvenile Ameraucanas into the group. The rooster, although nasty to me, is a great rooster for the flock.
Thanks for any suggestions.
I was always going to let her raise them. I've just decided they are just a little too special to risk losing--my very first chicks and from my favorite hen. I'm going to move them to a small coop and pen in my back yard. They'll be safe AND I'll get to see them all the time. I hope I can let them out a bit in the yard while I'm there to supervise. I have the little Silkies in my back yard, which shouldn't bother the mama who is quite a large hen.
I would move them as soon as they are all done hatching and dried offI was always going to let her raise them. I've just decided they are just a little too special to risk losing--my very first chicks and from my favorite hen. I'm going to move them to a small coop and pen in my back yard. They'll be safe AND I'll get to see them all the time. I hope I can let them out a bit in the yard while I'm there to supervise. I have the little Silkies in my back yard, which shouldn't bother the mama who is quite a large hen. When should I move them? Right now they are in a nest box in the little coop with all the free range chickens--an Ameraucana rooster (the father), two Polish, a bantam Plymouth Rock and now twelve juvenile Ameraucana chicks. One chick is taking its sweet time hatching but seems to be progressing after a little break this morning. I checked on the hen this morning and six of seven were hatched, two were still quite wet. The last egg had a small piece chipped out of it. Nothing changed for a few hours, but now whenever I check, there is more cracks so I am not worried that the chick will eventually hatch. I know, I should probably not look but I just can't resist. I'm a bit worried with the juveniles going into the little coop and really want her and her chicks out of there as soon as possible. Here's a picture of what she is in right now. Below is a couple of pictures of the little coop she and the chicks will go into. It is just a big dog house that has been made into a little coop. I'll also add a little covered pen. What should I bed it with? They hatched on hay so I thought hay would be the best.. I was thinking of using one of those shallow round rubber feed tubs as a nest box. I think the little nest box liner pictures is a bit too small. I really appreciate any advice you can offer me. Thanks.
