Chicks for the first Time

[schimbare]

Thanks all who answered my query regarding brooder dust. I will change the bedding often and get the larger sized wood shavings. And I will put a screen on top. Hopefully that will do the trick.

Schimbare

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Up to this point I've only heard chirping and meeping from my 3-4 week old buff orpington chicks. Late last night I was awakened to the cutest sound...one of my chicks was cackling? She sounded just like a little hen. So my question is this: at what age do they stop chirping and I thought the cackling chick might be a roo. Do roos cackle too?

 

[kynewbchickie]

Up to this point I've only heard chirping and meeping from my 3-4 week old buff orpington chicks. Late last night I was awakened to the cutest sound...one of my chicks was cackling? She sounded just like a little hen. So my question is this: at what age do they stop chirping and I thought the cackling chick might be a roo. Do roos cackle too?

Anything is possible! I've got nearly-8-weekers that some cackle, some meep and chirp, some sound much more mature and raspy in their vocalizations! My Buff Orp roo, Duke, still just cheeps and chirps - while my Jersey Giant roo, Frisch's, actually tries his hardest to crow!

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Anything is possible!  I've got nearly-8-weekers that some cackle, some meep and chirp, some sound much more mature and raspy in their vocalizations!  My Buff Orp roo, Duke, still just cheeps and chirps - while my Jersey Giant roo, Frisch's, actually tries his hardest to crow!

Its just the cutest thing!

 

[kynewbchickie]

Quote:
Agreed! They're growing up. ;-)

 

[Lori S]

Schimbare, I have read that the fine pine shavings or sand is are poor choices for chick bedding because they may eat too much of it. The coarse shavings have worked well for me, but I have the girls in my garage so dust is no concern. The TSC checker didn't hesitate to ring up "coarse" vs fine shavings when I told her it was for chicks. I have an old window screen on the top also... I hope it will hold them in for a while yet. They are 11 days old now and flapping around enough to reach the top of the box.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

Schimbare, I have read that the fine pine shavings or sand is are poor choices for chick bedding because they may eat too much of it.  The coarse shavings have worked well for me, but I have the girls in my garage so dust is no concern.  The TSC checker didn't hesitate to ring up "coarse" vs fine shavings when I told her it was for chicks.  I have an old window screen on the top also... I hope it will hold them in for a while yet.  They are 11 days old now and flapping around enough to reach the top of the box.

Mine roost on the sides of the brooder box. Occasionally I will have one get out on the floor but they just cry until I put them back in. I moved the food and water to the end they cannot roost on and lined the floor around the box with paper towels to catch the droppings.

 

[one old chick]

Up to this point I've only heard chirping and meeping from my 3-4 week old buff orpington chicks. Late last night I was awakened to the cutest sound...one of my chicks was cackling? She sounded just like a little hen. So my question is this: at what age do they stop chirping and I thought the cackling chick might be a roo. Do roos cackle too?

yes, roosters can cackle. a good rooster will call his hens with cackles and clucks to show them where food is for them to eat. roosters don't ususally do any crowing until about 4 months and that's an even stranger sound a rooster finding his crow. LOL you might have heard a squawk sometimes hens will squawk if they are aggravated with another hen. you will probably hear all kinds of strange noises until they find thier voices. i was watching my rooster strut around the brooder tonight he is three weeks old and is the size of a full grown cornish. there he was strutin his stuff around the brooder head movin back and forth, so funny to watch them.

 

[Jeanna Marie]

yes, roosters can cackle.   a good rooster will call his hens with cackles and clucks to show them where food is for them to eat. roosters don't ususally do any crowing until about 4 months and that's an even stranger sound a rooster finding his crow. LOL  you might have heard a squawk sometimes hens will squawk if they are aggravated with another hen.  you will probably hear  all kinds of strange noises until they find thier voices.  i was watching my rooster strut around the brooder tonight he is three weeks old and is the size of a full grown cornish.  there he was strutin his stuff around the brooder head movin back and forth, so funny to watch them. 

I've never had rooster chicks before so I wasn't sure about the cackling. It was acackle though. I watched him/her for a good three or four minutes. It was very cute. But not a cackle to be heard today...sigh

 

[heby]

Anytime! You mention having a Boston Terrier - they're varmint dogs, so they're good to have for varmints that can cause issues for your chickens. The husband says varmint dogs like terrier breeds may be harder to break of the habit than pits...he had Jacks growing up, too...let's hope he's wrong. I wish you the best of luck in training!

Uggg!! I hope not!

Our poor rooster lost an eye in the attack. He seems like his head and comb are scabbed over and healing but he is very unsteady and moves very slowly. I figure it is because he is not used to only have vision on one side. He has been staying in the rafters of shed but came down to eat today. When we got home from church we noticed that our younger roo is expressing his dominance and had him pinned down to the ground. So my hubby put Steve (injured rooster) into the pen but he didn't stay. He preferred the rafters and flew out. haha. The younger roo is about a yr old now so he is enjoying having full control of the ladies.