- Oct 16, 2012
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I thought I'd post this short story as it will be the last clutch our broody bantam hatches.
We purchased two full size breed chicks in May. Both one week old hens, a Speckledy and Bluebell. They were kept indoors.
Around the same time we purchased twelve bantam hatching eggs as our Bantam had gone broody again. Only four hatched but everything was fine.
When the new chicks were around 1.5 weeks old we decided to put the two older chicks (approx 3 weeks) in with them to see what happened. Obviously we were relying on Mum to sort out any issues. She put the older chicks in place straight away and the older chicks didn't seem to bother with the younger ones. Mum only stepped in when needed. She didn't bother with the older chicks in general.
It took a few days to get the older chicks to join the others in the coop at night. We had to chase and catch them a few times. Once they were going in of their own accord, the confidence of the older chicks increased and they started to peck at the younger chicks. Nothing too bad and the younger ones could easily out maneuver them and Mum was there if needed.
Around this time (2.5 weeks) Mum started to look sluggish and was breathing differently. We new immediately that she was not going to make it, as we've seen it before with similar aged chickens. She still seemed comfortable enough, feeding and going in and out of the coop as normal. On Monday, Mum didn't come out of the coop and passed away in the afternoon. The young chicks were still trying to stay with her. We took her away and had the decision to make as to whether to remove the younger bantam chicks or see what happened. The older chicks are now aroung 6.5 weeks and the younger ones 3.5 weeks, give or take. As the older chick are large breeds there was a real possibility of them hurting the younger bantams. We decided to leave them but we were also worried that the smaller chicks may get cold.
The first day the young chicks spent most of the time in the coop huddled together. The next days they were all mixing together but we were still concerned about the warmth of the young ones. By Thursday all four had some how manged to get under the older BlueBell. At first I thought two were back in the coop, then extra heads and feet popped out.
So it seems we have two full size breed chicks fostering the smaller bantams. We went from losing Mum and worrying about the young ones, to not believing how well things turned out.
A good start, sad middle and happy ending!
The first four pics are when Mum was around. The last two were taken today.
We purchased two full size breed chicks in May. Both one week old hens, a Speckledy and Bluebell. They were kept indoors.
Around the same time we purchased twelve bantam hatching eggs as our Bantam had gone broody again. Only four hatched but everything was fine.
When the new chicks were around 1.5 weeks old we decided to put the two older chicks (approx 3 weeks) in with them to see what happened. Obviously we were relying on Mum to sort out any issues. She put the older chicks in place straight away and the older chicks didn't seem to bother with the younger ones. Mum only stepped in when needed. She didn't bother with the older chicks in general.
It took a few days to get the older chicks to join the others in the coop at night. We had to chase and catch them a few times. Once they were going in of their own accord, the confidence of the older chicks increased and they started to peck at the younger chicks. Nothing too bad and the younger ones could easily out maneuver them and Mum was there if needed.
Around this time (2.5 weeks) Mum started to look sluggish and was breathing differently. We new immediately that she was not going to make it, as we've seen it before with similar aged chickens. She still seemed comfortable enough, feeding and going in and out of the coop as normal. On Monday, Mum didn't come out of the coop and passed away in the afternoon. The young chicks were still trying to stay with her. We took her away and had the decision to make as to whether to remove the younger bantam chicks or see what happened. The older chicks are now aroung 6.5 weeks and the younger ones 3.5 weeks, give or take. As the older chick are large breeds there was a real possibility of them hurting the younger bantams. We decided to leave them but we were also worried that the smaller chicks may get cold.
The first day the young chicks spent most of the time in the coop huddled together. The next days they were all mixing together but we were still concerned about the warmth of the young ones. By Thursday all four had some how manged to get under the older BlueBell. At first I thought two were back in the coop, then extra heads and feet popped out.
So it seems we have two full size breed chicks fostering the smaller bantams. We went from losing Mum and worrying about the young ones, to not believing how well things turned out.
A good start, sad middle and happy ending!
The first four pics are when Mum was around. The last two were taken today.
