Bad Luck Bantams

[NatJ]

Wellllll, I was curious too, and despite Dinky's literal *short*comings, she is apparently eating well. I used an old (very old - like I bought it to weigh a certain type of dried plant flowers that are often used recreationally & medicinally - and I haven't partaken since 2008 ) letter scale to weigh her and it said 21oz and some change. Due to the age of the scale, it could be +/- some amount, but I'm actually quite surprised.

Though she be but little, she is a chunker.

I've had a few chickens that were much heavier or lighter than I expected. They can be quite tricky that way

 

[MROO]

I've wondered, since other hatcheries don't sex bantams, and I've read in many places that they're so tiny that it's considered dangerous, is that contributing to them being sickly and weak?

Sexing day-old, non-sex-linked chicks involves squeezing them so that the males' gonads pop out the back -visible to the "professional sexer." That's why there's a 10% error rate. It's hard to hold a wriggling chick just right, especially when they're rolling by quickly on a conveyor belt. It's also why it's not recommended to try this at home unless you're properly trained ... and why most places sell only straight run bantams. Sexed bantams have a significantly low survival rate!

 

[MROO]

I wish. I wish so badly. My true options are:

- put the run over my leach field (bad idea)
- borrow the excavator and start clearing trees and grading
- rip out my pondless waterfall and move them there

I've actually considered the last option several times, but I think we really just need to try and move before resetting again. I do appreciate any and all suggestions. It helps to have another noggin brainstorming. My husband and I have been trying to solve this problem for years.

There's a tight area I could squeeze them into to the right of this photo. Even a 9x9 pen would be pushing it, and the coop would have to be inside. I'll have to go out and measure. It would be temporary until either the neighbor stops work or we get out of here. Of course, winter will be here in 3 months, so it might be more permanent than I'd like.

View attachment 4213822

If you can't go "out" or "over," can you go up? If you raise your coop, you gain the space underneath as extra run. All you'd need is a plywood platform under the coop and some riser legs ... and maybe a ramp.

I have a different two story set-up made from my kids' outgrown playhouse. Part of the run is underneath the playhouse, in what use to be a pair of sandboxes.

 

[thecatumbrella]

If you can't go "out" or "over," can you go up? If you raise your coop, you gain the space underneath as extra run. All you'd need is a plywood platform under the coop and some riser legs ... and maybe a ramp.

I have a different two story set-up made from my kids' outgrown playhouse. Part of the run is underneath the playhouse, in what use to be a pair of sandboxes.
View attachment 4214030

Oh, mine would LOVE something like that! Lots of space to hide under. It always amazes me how people repurpose things in such a smart way.

 

[kattabelly]

I tried sitting out with them for an hour yesterday. Brought special treats to try and get them foraging.

Obvs feel free to ignore if this isn't helpful, but have you tried just being around, either in the run or somewhere close by, and acting like everything's normal and the excavator isn't even there? Bringing special treats and sitting with them trying to be reassuring might actually be having the opposite effect, especially if you're already feeling anxious or upset about either the noise or the chickens' reactions. (This is not a criticism of you personally! People have thoughts and feelings and animals can pick up on those, it's just how life works.)

I even wonder sometimes if they actually like the sound of heavy machinery!

That's been my experience across multiple flocks too, they always want to "help" when someone's using power tools or heavy machinery.

 

[NatJ]

everyone's from Meyer since it's the only source for sexed bantams that I've been able to find.

They're also the only place I've seen for sexed bantams.

I know this was much earlier in the thread, but I wanted to add:
Cackle Hatchery has sexed bantams of some kinds, and has been offering them for several years.

Last time I looked, it was any with the barring gene (black with white barring, plus Crele Old English Game) and some the red/buff ones (examples: Buff Brahma, Rhode Island Red, Gold Laced Cochin, Partridge Cochin).

Based on which ones it is, I think they are sexing by color instead of vent sexing.

So there's another possible source of sexed bantams.

Of course there is always the option of ordering straight run, two or three times as many as the number of pullets you want, and dealing with the males. Rehoming may be an option. Bantams are certainly edible even though they are small (quail are even smaller and people eat them too), or if someone has a raw-fed dog or cat the male bantams can be used that way. Or maybe if you know someone with a large pet snake. Or maybe a local zoo that wants to provide whole-animal food for the carnivores. Getting extras can also give you a choice of which females to keep, because not every female chick grows up to be a healthy, happy hen (this thread obviously contains examples.)

 

[RoyalChick]

That's been my experience across multiple flocks too, they always want to "help" when someone's using power tools or heavy machinery.

Yes! And when they start helping with the table saw is when I have to close my eyes.

 

[kattabelly]

Yes! And when they start helping with the table saw is when I have to close my eyes.

Angle grinder

I'm not sure what they even want to do with it At least an excavator could be used to dig up bugs!

 

[RoyalChick]

Angle grinder

Crazy chickens!

 

[AnneGirlGG]

I know this was much earlier in the thread, but I wanted to add:
Cackle Hatchery has sexed bantams of some kinds, and has been offering them for several years.

Last time I looked, it was any with the barring gene (black with white barring, plus Crele Old English Game) and some the red/buff ones (examples: Buff Brahma, Rhode Island Red, Gold Laced Cochin, Partridge Cochin).

Based on which ones it is, I think they are sexing by color instead of vent sexing.

So there's another possible source of sexed bantams.

Of course there is always the option of ordering straight run, two or three times as many as the number of pullets you want, and dealing with the males. Rehoming may be an option. Bantams are certainly edible even though they are small (quail are even smaller and people eat them too), or if someone has a raw-fed dog or cat the male bantams can be used that way. Or maybe if you know someone with a large pet snake. Or maybe a local zoo that wants to provide whole-animal food for the carnivores. Getting extras can also give you a choice of which females to keep, because not every female chick grows up to be a healthy, happy hen (this thread obviously contains examples.)

Thank you for sharing! Sexing by color is definitely my preferred option when it's possible.

I seem to have gotten pretty lucky with straight run this year. But I'm not clueless enough to think I'll be that lucky every time. My neighbor had awful luck with her straight run RIRs. 7/7 are male, and they are mean.