Confounded by Sicilian buttercup chicks shunning their heat cave

[ColtHandorf]

She goes around picking fights with other birds (she's pretty much the only bird that has ever challenged my head hen more than once), then the flock all turns on her and chases her around and she can't figure out why everyone's so mean to her.

For the most part, mine were only with other Buttercups, but they are spicy little birds. Not aggressive per say, but definitely spicy.

 

[BleuSaphir]

I’m enjoying seeing the Buttercups!

 

[azygous]

My Buttercups are blossoming. Pun intended. Their little personalities are unfolding. One is super bold and demanding of lap time. The other belatedly follows her lead but is also friendly and mostly trusting.

I have a eight-year old Welsummer hen with gout that I have been allowing to spend days in the chick pen. Lo and behold, she is now going particially broody from exposure to these young chicks, and has "adopted" them. She gives them every meal worm I give her. She is constantly chattering to them. They climb all over her and nibble her face which she seems to enjoy.

The only reservation I have to this is she carries lymphoid leucosis and a previous hen with this virus had covered similar aged chicks last year and they contracted the full symptoms of the disease and finally had to be euthanized when they became completely paralyzed. So I'm trying to discourage the chicks from getting under Millie by removing her when it's chilly enough to provoke the chicks to seek warmth under her.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

My Buttercups are blossoming. Pun intended. Their little personalities are unfolding. One is super bold and demanding of lap time. The other belatedly follows her lead but is also friendly and mostly trusting.

I have a eight-year old Welsummer hen with gout that I have been allowing to spend days in the chick pen. Lo and behold, she is now going particially broody from exposure to these young chicks, and has "adopted" them. She gives them every meal worm I give her. She is constantly chattering to them. They climb all over her and nibble her face which she seems to enjoy.

The only reservation I have to this is she carries lymphoid leucosis and a previous hen with this virus had covered similar aged chicks last year and they contracted the full symptoms of the disease and finally had to be euthanized when they became completely paralyzed. So I'm trying to discourage the chicks from getting under Millie by removing her when it's chilly enough to provoke the chicks to seek warmth under her.
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Oh the cuteness! My eyes! Lol

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My Buttercups are blossoming. Pun intended. Their little personalities are unfolding. One is super bold and demanding of lap time. The other belatedly follows her lead but is also friendly and mostly trusting.

I have a eight-year old Welsummer hen with gout that I have been allowing to spend days in the chick pen. Lo and behold, she is now going particially broody from exposure to these young chicks, and has "adopted" them. She gives them every meal worm I give her. She is constantly chattering to them. They climb all over her and nibble her face which she seems to enjoy.

The only reservation I have to this is she carries lymphoid leucosis and a previous hen with this virus had covered similar aged chicks last year and they contracted the full symptoms of the disease and finally had to be euthanized when they became completely paralyzed. So I'm trying to discourage the chicks from getting under Millie by removing her when it's chilly enough to provoke the chicks to seek warmth under her.
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Carol, they are just adorable!

 

[azygous]

Millie and one of the chicks. She is perfectly okay with them climbing all over her.

 

[azygous]

These two little twerps still won't go under the heating pad on their own. No, not one single time have they ducked under on their own since they came home from the store.

This is a problem because we're having a cold front moving through currently, lasting four or five days, staying in the 40s most of the day, down from the steady 80s. Since the chicks refuse to use the heating pad cave, they are sneaking under Millie and scaring me that they're being exposed to her viral shed.

Well, I think I solved that problem by hanging a (shudder) heat lamp. Millie immediately parked herself under it, followed by her adoring little charges. They are warmed by the lamp, and so is the sand under it, so no need for them to slip under Millie. In fact, another hen has been joining the trio the past two days that has been sick.

The "jail" is often used as an infirmary for sick chickens that are picked on for being sick, and they are more apt to eat and drink in this pen than when left to fend for themselves in the main run. Opal, a two-year old Golden Sex-link is not feeling her usual ornery self, so she pretty much ignores the chicks. And Opal isn't letting the heating pad go to waste. She is perfectly content to plant herself on top of it, and spends most of the day there. Not a problem since the chicks sure aren't using the thing.

I shall post a photo or two tomorrow of this little troop. Stay tuned.

 

[Weeg]

Just saw this thread! How cute and hilarious!
I wanted to pop in and ask about your heating pad cave? I'm interested in trying some alternatives to heat lamps, and a heating plate didn't work for me so these ideas are intreating.

 

[azygous]

You will want to read this thread, or at least the first ten pages. It's up to a thousand now. https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...d-in-the-brooder-picture-heavy-update.956958/

 

[azygous]

Forgetting to close the gate resulted in a hostile takeover and the chicks being forced to flee the mob.

Millie is quite content with the solution to heat the chicks. Opal has been evicted this morning due to her feeling well enough to deliver a painful peck to a chick sending the chick fleeing in painful, screeching outrage.

Never a dull moment in the Azygous Flock.