Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[MyHaven]

Lol, I used to do head counts, gave up at 50.

I'm at 50 now, I must be due to stop that.

No, I'm on the downward as the roos and non keeps go. I count in pairs, two Aussies, two Barnies etc

 

[Teila]

If I have time for it, I do a roll call, check by name .. if I am in a hurry; two buffs ‘tick’, two blacks ‘tick’ one ginger ‘tick’

 

[MyHaven]

My 8 week old aussie started to crow today. I didn't think they started for a long time. I let all the chooks free range today and Lucky (15wks)  pecked at the little roo and it stood its ground and flew up at her with his neck feathers all out. Very impressive.

This is the fifth time I'm typing this response. Between iPads going flat and phones jamming. Hopefully I'll remember everything I was going to say.

Eight weeks is young and it does happen. I had a Barney pullet lay at 13 weeks once. (She's the one that crows now)

I believe it is more likely to happen when they are on feed that contains hormones. I was horrified recently when I was told that provided the levels aren't over a specific level hormones don't have to be declared on the packaging.

I was alerted to this recently when I had too many eggs and gave a couple to a friend. She returned them as chicks twice the size of mine and acting older. Bumping chests at a few weeks.

These chicks are the same gender and have the same parents, hatched the same day. The only difference was the feed.

When I made enquiries at the produce I learned about the difference in the feed we were providing.

She had been using it for a long time and had roosters crowing early and having to be dealt with before they were grown. She changed to another premium feed and hasn't had the "problem" since.

Interestingly, after a couple of months on my feed the ones I hatched were noticeably heavier than the fostered ones.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, but you might want to look at the feed you're using.

 

[MyHaven]

july. Cant remember exact date

Let us know when. Do you mean your local show?

 

[MyHaven]

Multiplication is maths.  Multiply, multiply multiply!

Lol good one.

 

[LuckysMum]

This is the fifth time I'm typing this response. Between iPads going flat and phones jamming. Hopefully I'll remember everything I was going to say.

Eight weeks is young and it does happen. I had a Barney pullet lay at 13 weeks once. (She's the one that crows now)

I believe it is more likely to happen when they are on feed that contains hormones. I was horrified recently when I was told that provided the levels aren't over a specific level hormones don't have to be declared on the packaging.

I was alerted to this recently when I had too many eggs and gave a couple to a friend. She returned them as chicks twice the size of mine and acting older. Bumping chests at a few weeks.

These chicks are the same gender and have the same parents, hatched the same day. The only difference was the feed.





When I made enquiries at the produce I learned about the difference in the feed we were providing.

She had been using it for a long time and had roosters crowing early and having to be dealt with before they were grown. She changed to another premium feed and hasn't had the "problem" since.

Interestingly, after a couple of months on my feed the ones I hatched were noticeably heavier than the fostered ones.

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it, but you might want to look at the feed you're using.

I will look at the feed. But so far he is the only one crowing and he is big. In the same hatch I think I have 3 others who have larger combs than the other hatchlings, but they are not as big as him and they bump chest too. I didn't know that was a roo thing. I will look at the feed bag and see what's in it, it was recommended by the feed place and they have a small farm. I sort of depend on her of feed advice. Maybe someone could tell me what Lucky should be eating now she is 16 weeks today. The feedstock place said leave her on the chick starter for a bit longer is that right.

I check all the time to see if everyone is there especially when their free ranging. A magpie flew a bit low yesterday and they all ran for cover even the silkies and 8 weeks olds.

I let Lucky free range with them so she will get used to them. She has stopped annoying the 13 weeks olds (they are the same size as her) but she still pecks at the silkies and the 8 week olds.
I thought the bigger girls would protect the littler ones. Does anyone think its safe to put them in the same coop and run all the time? As you can see in the photos earlier the main coop has 2 sections with the open door between them and the covered run is 4 x 5 metres roughly. She just sort of pecks them and they run away sometimes she follows but not always. Though one of the little roos stood his ground yesterday.

Teila have a good day. I would tell you not to worry, but I know I would too. Chickens are pets too and members of the family. But I can understand people who have large numbers for eggs and breeding may not get upset if they lose a chicken as they would probably be upset all the time. I'm sure its the same for anyone who has farm animals for pets. We get to know and love all our girls and boys little quirks.

 

[User395221]

But I can understand people who have large numbers for eggs and breeding may not get upset if they lose a chicken as they would probably be upset all the time.

I used to keep bettas (fish). They don't have long lifespans and each is an individual. I couldn't take it when I lost them. I got tetras and shoaling fish in my big aquarium. It was less upsetting if/when a tetra died (if I even noticed, sometimes they'd be eaten and it was hard to count everyone when they are constantly moving.) It's hard losing pets/animals, but personally I find it less upsetting when the one who goes is more anonymous than when they are a "character". I like my cats and dogs, at least I'll (hopefully) get 20 years out of them before I have to say goodbye.

 

[LuckysMum]

I used to keep bettas (fish). They don't have long lifespans and each is an individual. I couldn't take it when I lost them. I got tetras and shoaling fish in my big aquarium. It was less upsetting if/when a tetra died (if I even noticed, sometimes they'd be eaten and it was hard to count everyone when they are constantly moving.) It's hard losing pets/animals, but personally I find it less upsetting when the one who goes is more anonymous than when they are a "character". I like my cats and dogs, at least I'll (hopefully) get 20 years out of them before I have to say goodbye.

I had a very big aquarium now I have 2 small ones. I was the same about the little fish. But I had a black ghost knife fish for 2 years and it was 1 foot long and it just died one night the shop were I got it looked at it and couldn't see anything wrong. I now have 2 small ones and I'm not going to get attached. haha

My girls all went in the coop last night they didn't all perch 2 went in the boxes some perched and 1 sat in the door way again. So I think I will just let them sort it out.
Thanks everyone for all the great advice.

 

[Fizzybelle]

Edited to add: When I did backtrack to the Minutes of the Meeting I remembered the whole ‘dried cricket’ trial … They are the only thing ‘different’ that we have done of late and I can not help but wonder if they may have had something to do with KiKi’s demise? I doubt it very much and I know it is silly but I kinda feel like I do not want to give them any more. Any thoughts and input would be appreciated.

My girls hoovered a whole bag a week ago, and are happily digging into a pile of lawn clippings atm. Plus you know the quality of Martyn's items,it wouldn't have been the crickets. If she'd got one caught in her throat or something like that, she'd have shown signs of trouble sooner. But I get that they have some sort of tie to KiKi, so if you feel better throwing them, that's understandable

 

[Fizzybelle]

You are nuts! Fancy thinking you're the only one ha ha. I taught my little one to count doing that when he was two or so.

Omg, I feel a bit better now about my growing OCD tendancies. I spend ages making sure the locks are ok on the coop.

Myhaven, that's very interesting to know about the feed, I didn't even think about if the feed I use had hormones. Thankfully after checking it doesn't, I use Jenco brand, after trying some others I like it best. I also use Watson and Williams layer crumbles, though no info available on those that I've found. I think it's ok, as none of my girls started laying early. They're just layer pellets crushed up smaller, but for some reason my girls think they're the greatest thing since mealworms. I sometimes mix it up with some water if it's hot as the foods dry. I shall definitely be more mindful though of future feed purchases should I decide to try something different. Thanks for mentioning this.