Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[RoyalChick]

You could probably get chicks in 2 weeks - while 3 is what most people state, I have had hens accept chicks earlier.....can you get some, vaccinated, for 2.5 weeks. At 1.5 weeks old, if she hasn't accepted them - they aren't as fragile, so wouldn't be as much work. If I remember correctly, you have a really good set-up for your chicks.

I'm not saying 'don't ask - just do it', rather I am saying 'Do ask...as opposed to just assuming 'no.' If you can afford it, maybe offer her a bit extra for the effort of looking after the chicks? I am sure she will just love watching the babies grow up.

If you are nervous about them being with Tassels while she is watching them....can you make a good nest for Tassels IN the brooder you have, so momma can care for them - but in a safe place just in case? You wouldn't have to put her in there with them unless there was a bit of a ruckus (probably won't be, but just in case - as a back-up to the back-up).

[So, to be clear
Best option: Tassels take them on and raises them with no issue

2nd option: Tassels takes them on, but you put her and the chicks in the brooder so all are safe and contained - in the case of any issues while you are home/before leaving is when you make the move - not preemptively, mind you.

3rd option: Tassels doesn't accept them and you put just the chicks in the brooder.]

Yes. I think it is either 1 or 3. If she accepts them she is in an OK place to raise chicks. I would have to move her down to the lower shelf but I think she will accept that.
I assume her acceptance or rejection of chicks would be immediate? I mean she wouldn’t mother them for a week and then kill them would she?
Of course I hate that I wouldn’t be there, but that is just selfishness!
My alternative is just to wait until a bit later in the season. Her pattern last summer was to lay 5 eggs and then go broody again all summer. June/July babies would be nice!

 

[bgmathteach]

Yes. I think it is either 1 or 3. If she accepts them she is in an OK place to raise chicks. I would have to move her down to the lower shelf but I think she will accept that.
I assume her acceptance or rejection of chicks would be immediate? I mean she wouldn’t mother them for a week and then kill them would she?

No, she will either accept them, or not.

Of course I hate that I wouldn’t be there, but that is just selfishness!

But it is absolutely a normal emotion - baby chicks are just so cute - and it is good to bond with them during their first few weeks. Even if they just see you from a distance, they take Mom's cue if she trusts you.

My alternative is just to wait until a bit later in the season. Her pattern last summer was to lay 5 eggs and then go broody again all summer. June/July babies would be nice!

All perfectly reasonable options. Now, later - maybe both? Give her chicks in a couple of weeks. She will be done with them probably early June, then be ready for more in July! Win-win! babies now, babies later!!!!

 

[featherhead007]

Not to worry he had his 6 favourite girls in with him

Yeah, but I said wives.

 

[Ponypoor]

Yeah, but I said wives.

6 is a lot of ‘wives’

 

[bgmathteach]

@rural mouse

I've been hounding my DH for a couple of days to take this picture and send it to me so I could upload for you. (You mentioned hen egg the size of a goose egg)

Bottom to top:
Pullet egg, regular chicken egg (read: large), Duck egg, young goose egg, standard size goose egg.

The 'young goose egg' is from my 9 mo. old goose, it is the equivalent to geese as a pullet egg to chicken.

note also, the 'pullet egg' is after a couple weeks of laying, so not super small, but a bit smaller than a hen medium egg - the angle makes it look a bit bigger than it really is compared to the 'large chicken egg'

Note: it doesn't really show well here - but my average sized duck eggs are a bit bigger than chicken jumbo eggs. (I use jumbo egg cartons - and they sort of fit - the cartons don't quite close right, and if an egg is slightly larger than usual, it won't latch at all.

 

[RoyalChick]

@rural mouse

I've been hounding my DH for a couple of days to take this picture and send it to me so I could upload for you. (You mentioned hen egg the size of a goose egg)
View attachment 4076448

Bottom to top:
Pullet egg, regular chicken egg (read: large), Duck egg, young goose egg, standard size goose egg.

The 'young goose egg' is from my 9 mo. old goose, it is the equivalent to geese as a pullet egg to chicken.

note also, the 'pullet egg' is after a couple weeks of laying, so not super small, but a bit smaller than a hen medium egg - the angle makes it look a bit bigger than it really is compared to the 'large chicken egg'

Note: it doesn't really show well here - but my average sized duck eggs are a bit bigger than chicken jumbo eggs. (I use jumbo egg cartons - and they sort of fit - the cartons don't quite close right, and if an egg is slightly larger than usual, it won't latch at all.

That is a great picture. I have never seen a goose egg. Looks like a one egg omelette to me!

 

[RoyalChick]

No, she will either accept them, or not.

But it is absolutely a normal emotion - baby chicks are just so cute - and it is good to bond with them during their first few weeks. Even if they just see you from a distance, they take Mom's cue if she trusts you.

All perfectly reasonable options. Now, later - maybe both? Give her chicks in a couple of weeks. She will be done with them probably early June, then be ready for more in July! Win-win! babies now, babies later!!!!

I am leaning towards later.
I think going away a week or even ten days after I give them to her feels very stressful. For me I mean!
And this is going to be tricky because I need to give the chicks time indoors for the vaccine to take. There is some data on how long that takes which suggests 10 days. I could do a week maybe and accept the higher risk.
So I will be hoping she accepts week old chicks as newly hatched overnight. My gut says she will accept them just based on her broody behavior where she accepts anything as worthy of sitting on and doesn’t peck me at all when I pull eggs out from under her. But who knows?!

 

[BY Bob]

It is because of the marecks. Most places don't inoculate in the egg. @BY Bob did get some eggs, though - were his vaccinated in the shell? If so, @RoyalChick, maybe you could order from the same place? Who knows what you would actually end up with for pullets, though!

I took the chance. I do not have proven mareks in my flock. It was a "possibility" mentioned in Legertha's necropsy report. I did not get vaccinated eggs rather I took a chance. It seems to have played out fine as Aster seems to be doing well but make no mistake, it was a risk.

Since Legertha was vaccinated for mareks I considered it an acceptable risk. @RoyalChick knows there is mareks in her flock and has to act accordingly.

 

[Ponypoor]

That is a great picture. I have never seen a goose egg. Looks like a one egg omelette to me!

Imagine an ostrich egg!

 

[RoyalChick]

Imagine an ostrich egg!

I actually have a blown ostrich egg. It was my Dad’s.
It is big of course. But what is more striking is how thick the shell is. It would take a lot to crack an ostrich egg!