Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[ManueB]

Not to worry. I bought chick starter yesterday.

A new question though. The crate set-up I have right now isn't great for a number of reasons. I have this:View attachment 3576674

I've put 1" netting at the bottom to keep the chicks in. It's about 2' x 4'. I plan on putting a plywood piece on top, secured so it can't fall in, of course, and using it for mom and chicks in the coop. I don't know if she'll still need "privacy" but I had the box the right size. I thought I'd put the original nest in it so babies and mom feel "at home". It has a gate so I can put food and water.

How do you think this will do for a few weeks? I was thinking after 3 weeks or so, I could turn the box around and put chick-sized door, so babies have a place to hide if they're being picked on.

You will get opinions from more experienced people, I hope, but here's my two cents. I had four chicks and a bantam broody last year in a crate about that size, maybe a bit smaller (80 cm x 60), in the coop's run. Be aware that the chicks make an awful mess with food and water (think poop in it) so you will need to clean more than once a day. It's best if you can access food and water easily.

Do you intend to not let them out at all ? Mine were out after five days. I think after ten, the crate would definitely have been too small. When they were three weeks their broody brought them to roost in the main coop, in one of the higher nest. So no, I don't think you will be able to keep them only in this space for three weeks - they grow fast !
It depends on the broody. But once they're out, they're out for the day - they won't come back before sleep time (which in the beginning is earlier than for the adults).

I also had a "box" shown on the picture and they loved it, they all nested under it. If heat is an issue however I would make yours more open / ventilated, because it will get hot under there.

If they are not on medicated feed you can try to put a bit of soil in a small plate, it's supposed to help build immunity for when they will come out.

This year our chicks were in a small coop about twice the size and the broody still took them out after a week. The difference was, she used it as a place to bring them in to rest during the day or when it was raining. After two weeks though she took everyone to the main coop .

 

[RebeccaBoyd]

Yes, mine were from TSC, hence Hoovers. I got 'marans' , BR, and Prairie Blue Bell (2) straight run. But, I picked a light one ( white versus yellow fluff, with spots of black) and a charcoal grey one, just because they were so cute. And, I like diverse colors in my flock.

Note the 'marans' is in quotes because I think they are either cuckoo marans and/or marans mixes. Based on the coloring coming in - NOT straight BCM, for sure. Though I was sure when picking them that some were definitely CM, as they have the classic BR and fuzzy legs. Others were black with white/pale bellies - but without leg fluff.

Of the 4 marans, 2 are defintely boys - and they are only 2 weeks old! But, those 2 combs have really popped, and there is clearly one dominant roo! Another of the marans is iffy. I will wait another two weeks before I start counting m/f, but I have found (with my limited experience with Marans), that the boys pop QUICK with the combs. Much quicker than my BR boys do.

I also forgot to mention. Clean legs do not necessarily mean Marans mixes. We have both French and British varieties here in the states. I have both. You can actually get both even from both parents who have feathered legs. I prefer the feathered legs we all know that. My clean leg girls have had the better hackle markings though dang it. It has taken time, but I finally got a girl with decent hackle markings AND feathered legs. Thank you Lilly.

 

[ChicoryBlue]

Not to worry. I bought chick starter yesterday.

A new question though. The crate set-up I have right now isn't great for a number of reasons. I have this:View attachment 3576674

I've put 1" netting at the bottom to keep the chicks in. It's about 2' x 4'. I plan on putting a plywood piece on top, secured so it can't fall in, of course, and using it for mom and chicks in the coop. I don't know if she'll still need "privacy" but I had the box the right size. I thought I'd put the original nest in it so babies and mom feel "at home". It has a gate so I can put food and water.

How do you think this will do for a few weeks? I was thinking after 3 weeks or so, I could turn the box around and put chick-sized door, so babies have a place to hide if they're being picked on.

1 inch netting is big for chick's heads, they could get tangled in there. You could put something like a baseboard of cardboard along all the bottom sides. Even wet it will work okay and is easy to replace.

 

[Gigachad poultry]

Good afternoon everyone! I just made a minnow trap and I'm going to see how it works! I will update you all later and what I catch with the ones I use as bait!

 

[Gigachad poultry]

This is the minnow trap

 

[Ponypoor]

Well I could cry right now. The white silkie chick hatched out overnight or early this morning. It has already passed, it did not fully absorb the yolk sac before hatching. 2 of the remaining eggs are pipped and I heard cheeping coming from them. All I can do now is monitor the situation and pray for no more disasters.

So sad to hear this. Have my fingers crossed for the other eggs.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yes, mine were from TSC, hence Hoovers. I got 'marans' , BR, and Prairie Blue Bell (2) straight run. But, I picked a light one ( white versus yellow fluff, with spots of black) and a charcoal grey one, just because they were so cute. And, I like diverse colors in my flock.

Note the 'marans' is in quotes because I think they are either cuckoo marans and/or marans mixes. Based on the coloring coming in - NOT straight BCM, for sure. Though I was sure when picking them that some were definitely CM, as they have the classic BR and fuzzy legs. Others were black with white/pale bellies - but without leg fluff.

Of the 4 marans, 2 are defintely boys - and they are only 2 weeks old! But, those 2 combs have really popped, and there is clearly one dominant roo! Another of the marans is iffy. I will wait another two weeks before I start counting m/f, but I have found (with my limited experience with Marans), that the boys pop QUICK with the combs. Much quicker than my BR boys do.

These are the chicks I got. I was told the light ones were the blue Bells (but the lady called them Azure Blues…? I know Hoovers doesn’t have Azures though I think she meant bells), and the others are supposed to be Bielefelders.

The two lighter ones

The two darker ones

The one in the front

 

[Ponypoor]

Sorry for the late reply...
No, they aren't from my eggs, I got them from my local Ace Hardware store.

So you know what breeds they are?

 

[featherhead007]

Jaffar might be blind in one eye.

 

[Ponypoor]

This is the minnow trap
View attachment 3576854

Are these minnows for your chooks?