Fermenting Feed for Meat Birds

[Triple Willow]

We had a bantam wander out from under the shed with her babies following her. First chicken we have had to hide her eggs and hatch a clutch. By the time I saw her out of the window and got outside, I had a full size chicken run past me with a dead chick hanging from her beak. I think tiny babies look like tasty snacks to some chickens. We caught mama and her 6 remaining babies and isolated them in a brooder box for about 10-14 days. They are now feathered and look less like little golfballs running around, none of the other chickens are bothering them

Boy don't that tick you off!?! You would think they were a little smarter than that. I guess not. But they are about mouse-sized.

 

[RoseMarie1]

It is nice to let a broody hatch/raise them. The other day I saw the broody walk off just a little ways and caught a bug. Those chicks all came running! One of them snatched it out of her mouth, turned its back to the rest of them and chowed down. lol

The broody still looks good. I kicked her off the nest twice/day to eat and drink. She grumbled about it but was pretty cooperative. I had to check her nest anyhow because one of them kept laying eggs in her nest.

Watching chickens with all of their natural instincts sure does give me an even better picture of just how amazing their Creator is. Things like that assure me that things are not "an accident".

Amen sistah!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Indeed, there is a divinely inspired order to this earth that can't be denied. I found a big worm and put it in with mama and her brood She picked it up, and one of the little ones grabbed it and took off with the others chasing behind. I think it got eaten in pieces, because one would carry it, the another would grab it and tear it leaving the first with a bite, etc. The worm kept getting smaller and smaller with each pass of the baton....LOL.

THAT is too cute! I could even visualize that one. lol

 

[RoseMarie1]

TW you could always lock her up to check and see just how many she is laying. Put an old milk crate in with her for a nesting area.

 

[Triple Willow]

Sometimes new hatchlings look like mice to the younger, inexperienced birds.  Plus, they "squeak" too!  After they get some feathers and look more like a bird, they'll leave them alone.  I would agree that you have a predator problem, most likely a house cat that got the chick.  But if you're positive it was that pullet, just cage the mama and babies for a couple weeks and let the pullet back with the flock as it will be much harder on her to blend back in if you keep her separated.

Hi Lacy. Yep, mouse-sized snacks. I guess I wouldn't ever have to worry about mice unless they came out at night. I really don't think it was a predator. I thought about that pullet having a hard time when I put her back with the flock. I hate that, she's always been my favorite ...if I'm gonna have one. I got her and the babies out this morning when I found the one dead. Got to fix them a better place tomorrow. I thought about putting one of the nicer pullets with them. I don't know how that would work. Thought about bringing her and the chicks in for the night. Wish I lived close to Bee, I bet she's got some extra chicken diapers. HAHAHA!

 

[RoseMarie1]

Hi Lacy. Yep, mouse-sized snacks. I guess I wouldn't ever have to worry about mice unless they came out at night. I really don't think it was a predator. I thought about that pullet having a hard time when I put her back with the flock. I hate that, she's always been my favorite ...if I'm gonna have one.

I got her and the babies out this morning when I found the one dead. Got to fix them a better place tomorrow. I thought about putting one of the nicer pullets with them. I don't know how that would work. Thought about bringing her and the chicks in for the night. Wish I lived close to Bee, I bet she's got some extra chicken diapers. HAHAHA!

if you'll put her on the roost at night time with them they say it's like they've always been there. Also folks say to put them in a cage where the others can see them all the time for a few days and then put on the roost at night time and they do fine.

hee heee yeah I bet Bee keeps those and she might even make em for her chickies.

I think having that little silkie pants got her started with this.

 

[Triple Willow]

TW you could always lock her up to check and see just how many she is laying. Put an old milk crate in with her for a nesting area. 

That's an idea. I'd like to see how several of them are laying. I've got some slackers in the bunch!

 

[Triple Willow]

if you'll put her on the roost at night time with them they say it's like they've always been there. Also folks say to put them in a cage where the others can see them all the time for a few days and then put on the roost at night time and they do fine. 


hee heee yeah I bet Bee keeps those and she might even make em for her chickies.   I think having that little silkie pants got her started with this. :/

Yeah I will keep that in mind.

Yep I think little puffy drawers got to her. hehehe

 

[RoseMarie1]

Yeah I will keep that in mind.

Yep I think little puffy drawers got to her. hehehe

She must be busy reviving that roo again after hitting him again with her cane.

 

[Darkangael]

I do my art on and off haven't been working on it for awhile since my computer is currently broken and I lost my pen for my wacom tablet I got for my birthday. Will do more ehen my finacial situation improves and I can replace the pen and defective computer parts. I also occassionally do commissions.