Do Chickens Get Married?

[centrarchid]

When concern expressed about dealing with chick, keep that in light of all the other contraptions already considered normal to chicken keeping that flat out are not considered normal to people outside our culture.

Popdoors
Nesting boxes suitable only for egg deposition
square roost
roost very low
roost with soft landing
feed always available as a pre-ground meal
buying hatchery chicks more practical than using landrace strains
flocks without roosters
confinement to point complete feeds are essential
etc.

 

[aart]

No for second.

Kinda surprised that mama didn't make a 'nest' on ground to stay with chicks.
But maybe area to exposed?

 

[centrarchid]

Kinda surprised that mama didn't make a 'nest' on ground to stay with chicks.
But maybe area to exposed?

Imprinting. Huge deal. Not just between birds, also like bees where location is extremely important.

 

[centrarchid]

Looks like hen decided to adopt new location to roost for night. About two feet into high weeds in woodlot behind house. Dogs know where she is. I think she and chick will be safe for night under watchful eye of three dogs.

Hen and chick moved very little while foraging today. Hen dug deep into clover patches getting some sort of insect that was very abundant. Entire area she scratched up was barely a square yard.

She is going to get back into breeding weight almost as fast as if she lost entire brood. We will have to see to chick if she comes back into lay. Kids and I will upgrade nest in same location used for previous brood. We will leave is open so she can deposit eggs at her leisure. Rooster will be put out on a tie cord so she can produce fertile eggs. This time I bet clutch will be larger because she will be running free getting more and better eats.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Make sure you move her at night, then it's more likely that she'll stay with the eggs.

 

[centrarchid]

Make sure you move her at night, then it's more likely that she'll stay with the eggs.

She has no eggs currently. I think when she comes back into lay she will use same location as before. Things went reasonably well except for temperatures eggs were exposed prior to start of incubation. You may not have read entire thread.

 

[Friendly_Lurker]

Good luck!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Looks like hen decided to adopt new location to roost for night. About two feet into high weeds in woodlot behind house. Dogs know where she is. I think she and chick will be safe for night under watchful eye of three dogs.

Hen and chick moved very little while foraging today. Hen dug deep into clover patches getting some sort of insect that was very abundant. Entire area she scratched up was barely a square yard.

She is going to get back into breeding weight almost as fast as if she lost entire brood. We will have to see to chick if she comes back into lay. Kids and I will upgrade nest in same location used for previous brood. We will leave is open so she can deposit eggs at her leisure. Rooster will be put out on a tie cord so she can produce fertile eggs. This time I bet clutch will be larger because she will be running free getting more and better eats.

This is Love Heart and chick?

 

[centrarchid]

This is Love Heart and chick?

Yes, they sleeping in weeds now.

 

[aart]

Rooster will be put out on a tie cord so she can produce fertile eggs.

Those blue barrels discussed in another thread could be a good shelter for tied out birds.
Set upright with entrance hole low.
You probably already know this.