Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

Aw, poor Dusty! I've heard it's very hard for chickens to be alone. Teila, I also share your concern about introducing a new hen while the chicks are still young, though. I wonder if it would go better for you, though, since there is just the one hen and she will want a new friend? Cilla should be joining her on the roost soon, though. Are your babies 3 weeks old now? I don't know the timing, but I imagine she would start weaning them soon. Anyone else know when?

From everything I've read, there can be serious problems with chicks being fed layer mash. Can you just feed everyone chickstart? That won't hurt Dusty. She can get her calcium from oyster shells. The chicks really shouldn't eat layer until they're at least 3-4 months old, from what I've read, and getting closer to laying. When I got mine as 7 week pullets originally, I think I gave everyone chickstart for a couple weeks, and then "finisher" feed, plus oyster shells for the one adult hen I had. The Storey's Guide says to start reducing protein to 16-18% at 6 weeks, and to not do layer feed until 20 weeks. So, you could probably look for a finisher feed (which is lower protein that chickstarter, w/out extra calcium) for everyone soon, or gradually mix it in. It's probably going to be awhile before I dig into my 50 lb bag of layer feed I bought back in September.
I don't think you'll have problems with integrating everyone, including feed time. When I give everyone treats, it seems to work out fine. The little ones have learned to stay away from Grace if she's getting pecky. No one gets hurt, and everyone gets something.

Carrie, to answer your question from yesterday - your chicks shouldn't have any trouble with the ramp. Mine were jumping 18 inches at 3 days old (not by design)!

 

[tommysgirl]

Quote: We get it Teila no need to apologize.

Regarding the feed, when I don't have new chicks I feed a 20% multi purpose poultry feed with calcium on the side to everyone, layers, non-layers juveniles and roosters. The babies and the roosters shouldn't eat the calcium enriched layer as it can actually poison them if they eat enough of it. When I have little littles like I do right now they all get the chick starter with calcium on the side. Everyone likes the starter so I buy a bag of it and feed it to everyone until it is gone then the babies are old enough for pellets so they get the multi-purpose stuff that I give the rest of the time.

ETA I just saw liz's post and so now mine is redundant

 

[Pooman]

That's sad Teila, I'm sorry to hear.

 

[lizgarf]

Regarding the feed, when I don't have new chicks I feed a 20% multi purpose poultry feed with calcium on the side to everyone, layers, non-layers juveniles and roosters. The babies and the roosters shouldn't eat the calcium enriched layer as it can actually poison them if they eat enough of it. When I have little littles like I do right now they all get the chick starter with calcium on the side. Everyone likes the starter so I buy a bag of it and feed it to everyone until it is gone then the babies are old enough for pellets so they get the multi-purpose stuff that I give the rest of the time.

ETA I just saw liz's post and so now mine is redundant

Not, too redundant, TG. I think it's helpful to hear what works for others. As for your future red star offer - I might be interested. I'll have to see how things are in the coop and what my options are the next time a girl goes broody.

So, I finally caved today and bought eggs, for the first time in about 16 months! The usually sweet brahma Bettina has a bald bottom and is taking it out on everyone in the coop. I don't think I'll be getting any eggs from these molters any time soon.

 

[Teila]

Good morning Team Broody

Thank you Pooman!

I think today is going to be a good day .. the sun is shining and once I get my necessary chores out of the way, the rest of the day has been allocated as spoil-my-girls (and, who knows, maybe boys also .. lol)

Thank you so much Liz and TG .. very helpful!

Looks like Dusty is going to be having a second childhood and reverting back to chick-start .. tee hee.

Liz, the little guys are 3 weeks old today, happy b'day bubbies (lol) so I am swaying towards integration as of today and hoping that this will be enough for Dusty until Cilla starts weaning. Cilla and Dusty were pretty good pals before and I am sure everyone will get along soon. Bringing in a stranger might just complicate/extend the integration but, if Plan A does not seem to be working, that could be Plan B

Thanks again everyone .. time to get this show on the road and commence Plan A!

 

[Teila]

Not, too redundant, TG. I think it's helpful to hear what works for others. As for your future red star offer - I might be interested. I'll have to see how things are in the coop and what my options are the next time a girl goes broody.

So, I finally caved today and bought eggs, for the first time in about 16 months! The usually sweet brahma Bettina has a bald bottom and is taking it out on everyone in the coop. I don't think I'll be getting any eggs from these molters any time soon.

Totally agree Liz .. all advice is helpful. This chicken-thing is definitely not an exact science and by sharing experiences, we gain experience of our own and I certainly have changed things here and there on the Team's advice

I confess to having a little chuckle at your predicament Liz, even though it is not really funny that you had to buy eggs, just ironic! I remember back before my girls started laying, I nicknamed them the chicken-imposters because even though they looked like chickens and acted like chickens, they were missing a tell-tale characteristic

Dusty still gives me one little bantam egg every day or two but as I previously mentioned, these normally get cooked up and fed back to them. Just lucky that we don't use a lot of eggs ourselves.

 

[lizgarf]

Dusty still gives me one little bantam egg every day or two but as I previously mentioned, these normally get cooked up and fed back to them. Just lucky that we don't use a lot of eggs ourselves.

Alrighty, Teila, I'm a pretty indulgent chicken owner, but you clearly take the cake. I couldn't possibly bring myself to feed my only eggs back to their layers. I'm even regretting feeding some of Bettina's last eggs to my dog. The chickens get homemade organic yogurt, as well as my heart and soul. I get their eggs! ;-)

But, here's an interesting update and a tribute to the value of letting two broodies hatch together: Frida has left the nest and is on the roost tonight! Rousseau is still sleeping in the nest with the 2.5 week-olds. Who knows how they worked this out and why Frida thought it was time to move on. I suspect it would be too early for most broodies. But, it's an unseasonably warm night tonight, and maybe she just wanted a big girl's night out. Who knows. But, thank goodness for co-moms! Single moms sure must have it rough!

 

[Pooman]

So we candle the remaining 2 eggs tonight for the last time 7 days out. Ill update afterwards.

The big boy Goliath, old mister cant be bothered even when the girls are submitting in front of him (pfft, saw that last night lazy bugger) looks like he is moulting which explains his lethargy... Going to pen him up then, bring the other roo and hen into the flock and have one flock again and roos in standby to switch in and out. So have "cock boxes" to build x3 and 1 new coop for the young 'uns and moulties, ill post pics of the setup when done.

Also in other news with Dot. We have opened up the end area that I had sealed off and keep her box open during the day. No extra eggs laid in there which is good. So the team is playing nice, this is just so she can get out if she wants.

My missus saw a small snake curled up against the inside of the western wall last night too, but it was gone before I got home... Cue dramatic music, dum darr


Mmmm chickens lol

 

[Teila]

Alrighty, Teila, I'm a pretty indulgent chicken owner, but you clearly take the cake. I couldn't possibly bring myself to feed my only eggs back to their layers. I'm even regretting feeding some of Bettina's last eggs to my dog. The chickens get homemade organic yogurt, as well as my heart and soul. I get their eggs! ;-)

But, here's an interesting update and a tribute to the value of letting two broodies hatch together: Frida has left the nest and is on the roost tonight! Rousseau is still sleeping in the nest with the 2.5 week-olds. Who knows how they worked this out and why Frida thought it was time to move on. I suspect it would be too early for most broodies. But, it's an unseasonably warm night tonight, and maybe she just wanted a big girl's night out. Who knows. But, thank goodness for co-moms! Single moms sure must have it rough!

Tee hee Liz .. your kidding aren't you? No work involved in my giving them eggs; they lay them, I scramble or boil them and feed them back .. that is nothing compared to homemade organic yogurt .. now that is devotion! lol
As I mentioned, we are not big egg consumers so it really is no big deal for me; having said that, I also would balk at having to buy eggs when I have chickens!

Wow .. that is a tribute to co-mothering .. maybe Frida IS having a girls night out tonight and it will be Rousseau's turn tomorrow

 

[Teila]

So we candle the remaining 2 eggs tonight for the last time 7 days out. Ill update afterwards.

The big boy Goliath, old mister cant be bothered even when the girls are submitting in front of him (pfft, saw that last night lazy bugger) looks like he is moulting which explains his lethargy... Going to pen him up then, bring the other roo and hen into the flock and have one flock again and roos in standby to switch in and out. So have "cock boxes" to build x3 and 1 new coop for the young 'uns and moulties, ill post pics of the setup when done.

Also in other news with Dot. We have opened up the end area that I had sealed off and keep her box open during the day. No extra eggs laid in there which is good. So the team is playing nice, this is just so she can get out if she wants.

My missus saw a small snake curled up against the inside of the western wall last night too, but it was gone before I got home... Cue dramatic music, dum darr


Mmmm chickens lol

Hoping for some good news on those 2 remaining Pooman!

I am in awe of your enthusiasm ... my day was all about chickens and full on; I'm exhausted and only have 2 adults and 5 babies .. lol

Eeek at the snake! I think I would freak if I saw one in my yard. A colleague's daughter had her guinea pig eaten by a snake and he had the cheek to curl up in the guinea pig hutch to digest it .. very sad for the little girl :-(