BYC Café

I can only hope for you she catches up Dobie
I think it's in with a better chance than it would be here given you can keep them all in a run until and if the chick catches up with the rest. Mums just leave chicks that can't keep up here. It's not instant desertion, but once the chicks reach a certain level of mobility, mum doesn't go back for any that can't follow her. Moon was a bit like that. She would wander off a bit and Mel would move on leaving Moon behind. I did help Moon catch up on a few occasions but there is bound to come a time when I'm not there and may not even find a missing chick. Luckily Moon made it, but it was touch and go for a while.
Anyway, that was an excellent hatch.
I definitely micromanage my flock more than you, Shad, but I can't free range them here. They have their 1/3 acre pen that I've put lots of plantings in, their run and their beloved Quince bush. They seem happy. And, yes, I designed a brooder with it's own run into the coop so that the flock can watch the chicks and mom has some space to start teaching them while they get strong enough to stick with her when I do open the door to the maternity ward.
She's bopping around with the others now. I think she is going to make it. I opened the door to the brooder run so Kerrie can take them out there if she wants to. I made sure there were little steps so the chicks can get in and out with just a little jump.
2CAA8E144C7F_1588505987125.png

She's taught them the baby bottle and, as it was with Barb, she feels scratching is the very first thing they must master. She's scratching like a mad girl in there!
She's working her way to the run.
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Both of the fathers were wound up this morning. Fabio had a go at the bottle brush, the poop bucket and the toe of my boot. After I caught him and sat on a stool with him, Cap came up and started to challenge him. Big brave boy thinks he's tough stuff while Big Daddy has both wings tied behind his back!
I think they are just acting more protective because of the chicks.
 
I opened the lid to the brooder run to remove some stones and add some wood ash for Kerrie to bathe in. While the lid was up Big Daddy jumped up and into the brooder and marched straight into the maternity ward to meet his kids. Not one peep out of mom. And he immediately started tidbitting the kids with some food. He's such a good dad!
Rhoda then came in and she did not receive a warm welcome.
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I definitely micromanage my flock more than you, Shad, but I can't free range them here. They have their 1/3 acre pen that I've put lots of plantings in, their run and their beloved Quince bush. They seem happy. And, yes, I designed a brooder with it's own run into the coop so that the flock can watch the chicks and mom has some space to start teaching them while they get strong enough to stick with her when I do open the door to the maternity ward.
She's bopping around with the others now. I think she is going to make it. I opened the door to the brooder run so Kerrie can take them out there if she wants to. I made sure there were little steps so the chicks can get in and out with just a little jump.
View attachment 2120253
She's taught them the baby bottle and, as it was with Barb, she feels scratching is the very first thing they must master. She's scratching like a mad girl in there!
She's working her way to the run.
View attachment 2120254
Both of the fathers were wound up this morning. Fabio had a go at the bottle brush, the poop bucket and the toe of my boot. After I caught him and sat on a stool with him, Cap came up and started to challenge him. Big brave boy thinks he's tough stuff while Big Daddy has both wings tied behind his back!
I think they are just acting more protective because of the chicks.
Nice!
 
It's 88.9° out there today! Time to be indoors.
Yes. It was time to be indoors 9 degrees ago!
It's 75 here and just fabulous! I've spent a bit over 4 hours working on Dad's house and now I've got to get some work done at home.
 
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