How Old Do Banties Need to Be Before You Can Tell What Sex They Are?

[Lady Who]

Chicks don’t need oyster shells So you have time but when they start laying then you need it. I just find it easier on my hens and me with Scratch and Peck brand becuase they are smaller and my hens can break it themselves.

I forgot to mention but most Cochins do take a while to start laying, not all but a few of my took a year to lay. Also forgot they love being broody! Haha. If one goes then they all go so keep that in mind if you don’t like broody banties

 

[AmyJane725]

I've never had a broody hen before. I don't really know if I don't like it. I know a lot of people don't like it. What is the issue exactly? And is it somehow worse for a bantie to be broody, or is it the same as LF?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

I've never had a broody hen before. I don't really know if I don't like it. I know a lot of people don't like it. What is the issue exactly? And is it somehow worse for a bantie to be broody, or is it the same as LF?

Broodies are worth their weight in gold when you need/want them....the issue arises in situations where one is not looking to hatch or brood chicks. A broody hen stops laying (problematic for those keeping birds for eggs) and the process of brooding itself is hard on the bird (they restrict intake of food and water and are not active.....all of which are not good for health) do brooding with no hope of the intended outcome (chicks) is a pointless drain on their system... .especially a perpetually broody bird.

 

[AmyJane725]

Hm. Yeah, I don't plan on hatching out any chicks, so I don't really have a reason to want a broody hen per say. Is there anything to do for it, or just let them try for 3 weeks and then give up?

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Bantam cochins were some of my very first birds (wont say how many years ago that was, lol)....they are lovely little things and, honestly, probably the reason that a little girl fell so much in love with chickens.

 

[AmyJane725]

Aw, the babies

And yes, it's incredible how much a good chicken experience during childhood can have on a person's life.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Aw, the babies

And yes, it's incredible how much a good chicken experience during childhood can have on a person's life.

Lol, I deleted the pic, it was the wrong one....had meant to post this.....two of my first flock, my handsome sweet roo and his matching hen (had 3 other cochin bantam hens of other color too, these were my "set")....Champ and Spot (spot actually ended up cast as my sidekick in a "personalized book" my grandma had made for me, that's how obsessed I was with these birds, lol)

 

[AmyJane725]

Aw, that's so sweet. They do make a lovely couple. I bet that book is a precious keepsake to you now. What a beautiful memory.

And yeah, I wasn't quite sure if that first picture was of them when they were chicks or something, but I'm never gonna turn up my nose at baby pictures, lol.

 

[Crazy for Chickens!]

At 6 weeks, post pics of the combs.

 

[MROO]

Before my new rooster, I use to use a dog bowl (the kind with the wide bottom so it doesn’t flip) my Cochin rooster seems to love dance in so I had to change it

As adults I mix my grit. Iv seen them eat both sized.
But baby need chick grit
For me atless my Cochins can’t really eat the big chunks of oyster shells (the kind from TS) so I spend a little bit of money getting the Oyster shells from Scratch and Peck. They are smaller and have never had problems after I switched

You can save a little money by putting the regular grit in a paper bag and lightly smashing it with a hammer. It crushes fairly readily, so don't hit too hard or you'll pulverize it!