Delawares from kathyinmo

[kathyinmo]

My dad is all freaked out that the Delaware Roo is going to kill these chicks. They are brooding in the Delaware coop, and once those chicks get up I'll be taking away the broody cage so they can explore and mom can stretch out. In the other coop, where I have multiple Roos and over 100 hens, I'd have done that already. But Dad is so worried!

My roosters have always protected the hen and chicks. I have never ever had a rooster be mean to chicks. As a matter of fact, I once had a rooster that raised a clutch of chicks after the mama abandoned them. It was a Silkie, but still.....

These chicks I have hatching now, under broodies, are ALL in the layers coop. Everyone is all together.

This works for me. It may not work for everyone, but I have not had a problem. I do not foresee a problem. If I do, I will move them out.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

My roosters have always protected the hen and chicks. I have never ever had a rooster be mean to chicks. As a matter of fact, I once had a rooster that raised a clutch of chicks after the mama abandoned them. It was a Silkie, but still.....

These chicks I have hatching now, under broodies, are ALL in the layers coop. Everyone is all together.

This works for me. It may not work for everyone, but I have not had a problem. I do not foresee a problem. If I do, I will move them out.

That's how I hatch all my mutts ... if I get a serious broody, I select eggs from that day and set her up in a brooder cage on the floor of the laying coop. And as soon as the chicks hatch, I take the cage away. We haven't lost a chick that way yet. But Dad wasn't involved in that and is all protective of these particular chicks.

I think he'll have a change of heart when he sees how eager they are to explore in a day or so.

 

[rancher hicks]

My roosters have always protected the hen and chicks. I have never ever had a rooster be mean to chicks. As a matter of fact, I once had a rooster that raised a clutch of chicks after the mama abandoned them. It was a Silkie, but still.....

These chicks I have hatching now, under broodies, are ALL in the layers coop. Everyone is all together.

This works for me. It may not work for everyone, but I have not had a problem. I do not foresee a problem. If I do, I will move them out.

I have to agree.
I've never had a problem with my Del roosters bothering the chicks. My little frizzle Frenchy is in there too. She is not bothered by this runt of a rooster. She's 6 now and brooding more eggs. Not hers but she doesn't care.

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

So the Delaware chicks and their foster hen are out and about in the coop today. She is showing them how to scratch. Broodies are the best scratchers. There are craters all over the Delaware coop now. And the two Delaware hens and DelaRoo are being perfectly fine with it, as I knew they would be!

MEANWHILE ... TOTAL SURPRISE!

Under the lilac bushes, THIS has been happening:





That makes 10 chicks from Team Delaware and 18 chicks for team Mutt!

(the hen in those photos has 17 chicks with her, I found her nest and there is one unhatched egg in it, and I found one struggling chick near that nest that I've got in a brooder in my office to see if I can get it running around as fast as the others so it can keep up)

 

[kathyinmo]

17 chicks? ! ! ! Amazingly wonderful !

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

17 chicks? ! ! ! Amazingly wonderful !

Freaky! We've put her inside the run ... with babies ... twice today. That hen is one of our "independent" birds. She's so independent we didn't even know she was part of the Freedom Ranging flock. Dad is all concerned about her babies now. So ... to make him happy we'd have to make her miserable by caging her ...

The broody is bedded down with them in the middle of the back yard. Just one little bum sticking out the back of her right wing. I can't believe they all fit.

The little guy inside has eaten a bit when I hand-feed him ... and he is able to move both wings and all 4 legs, he is alert and talking to me and sleeping ... but he isn't running around. I'm not used to that.

I wanted to post a video of the adorable little Delawares learning to forage in the Delaware coop, 'cept I've been distracted.

 

[kathyinmo]

4 legs ?

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

4 legs ?

Wouldn't that be something. Can you tell I'm frazzled? They all only have 2 legs. Delawares, Freedom Mutts, and even the little guy inside!

 

[kathyinmo]

I am thinking of this picture now..........

 

[LeslieDJoyce]

I am thinking of this picture now..........

Your next project?