I NEED HELP...NEW GRANDPARENTS OF 5 LITTLE BANTAMS

[PADuckrunner]

I was coming in to give some great news!!! My daughter just come in from helping one of her ambulance partners whos ambulance truck broke down, and the lady she helped to her to get the amount she would need to build a coop, and her uncle will deliver it for free, and the lumber will be free too!!!! OMGosh, we have been praying for this for so long, and after posting this online, she comes in to give this great news. What a blessing



Now, as for the babies, we have decided not to move the babies at all. I tried, and momma was so angry, and demanded me to put the baby back. Earlier when her baby fell to the floor from the nest the daddy/s huvered around it, as to protect it from getting hurt. So, as much as I want to do what is recommended Alice just won't let me near her babies. So hubby is building a huge porch around the nesting box, and adding a rail so they won't fall out, so if they do get out, they won't be able to go any further than the porch itself.



The food; we put starter in a bowl, that was watered down, and momma ate it, while babies watched her, then they copied what she was doing, She is trying to teach them how to drink water. That is so cute, they dip their whole head in the water, then momma goes under them to pick them up. It is so fun watching nature take place. She is a wonderful mommy, I am going to keep a close eye on them, and if it seems the porch won't work, I will seperate them. I just hope it will work, due to the fact she is so protective, and the daddies are staying at a distance. I have never heard my roosters crow as much as they are today. OMgosh, all of them, even the big roosters are crowing, causing the neighbors chickens to crow also. It is so funny.



Well off I go, I just wanted to update what is happening, and thank you for the advice, and allowing me to give oyster to the mother. AND PRAISING GOD, and thanking you all for everything. WE are going to get free lumber afterall. I am so full of joy today.



God Bless all of you people!!!!

PADuckrunner

 

[PADuckrunner]

No, you don't need fancy feeders or a fancy place. I you have a garage you can simply put up a Cardboard Corral (if you can find the cardboard!). You don't have to have the wooden brooder, and always be careful with your heat lamp.





My chicks were happiest eating out of this:
Yep, a simple box. You should have heard them scratching and peeping excitedly. The metal contraption normally sold as chick feeders was not safe-I've seen chicks panic when inserting their head into the feeder. And I've seen some chicks refuse to eat from them. Note I used shredded paper as bedding. This worked well for me, but occasionally a chick ate a piece. Fortunately no one became sick.





They still eat out of this rubber feeder and it's been two years.




You can make the Cardboard Corral as big or small as you want. I used a cheap tarp (1.99 on sale at Harbor Freight) to protect the floor and clean up was easy. I still have that cheap tarp and comes in handy when making a 'hospital cage'. The wire cage (GoGo Pen) was purchased at Amazon.com and is NOT suitable for small chicks.




You can use scrap chicken wire on top of the corral if needed. You'd be amazed at what us Rednecks can do with chicken wire, cardboard and duct tape.

If you don't have a garage any room in the house will do, but chicks make an incredible amount of bird dust. And you'll be ready to put them back outside.


Good luck!

I must be redneck too LOL, you should see my brooders, I am using a rabbit cage for the 17 peeps, and plywood box for the runners. I love duct tape too, it mends alot of stuff. My daughter ducttaped her shoes together, because she loves them so much, she doesn't want to throw them away, so that's what she wears in the yard when she is farming the chickens and ducks. Boxes/cardboard is great for putting baby chicks in too, I love your setup, and will copy it. I would ask for a blue print, but I don't think it's necessary LOL

. I would use my garage, but it's way too dark, so the play pen hubby is building for the chicks will go in the yard and they will play there, and come in at night. At least til we get our coop built. Looks like we are going to get one afterall. Thanks to my daughters friend at work. Your chickens are beautiful by the way. I use a metal pan like your rubber pan. The 6 runners will actually lay in the pan, that's full of water, and go to sleep, it is so cute, and I am trying to get a picture of it, but they jump out everytime I get the camera ready to shoot pics. Oh well someday. I have videos and pics coming soon, so all of you can see our babies etc...Ok, off I go to the wild blue yonder to see our babies again. Thanks again for everything, including your pics

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[RonC]

The oyster shell will be fine. Like I explained you can brood the chicks yourself but mom will also do a good job. You stand a chance of losing some either way. Don't let the wet food lay there long, it molds really quick and it's not necessary to wet if for the little ones.

 

[PADuckrunner]

The oyster shell will be fine. Like I explained you can brood the chicks yourself but mom will also do a good job. You stand a chance of losing some either way. Don't let the wet food lay there long, it molds really quick and it's not necessary to wet if for the little ones.

Ok, I do see that she took some of the food and layed it on the floor of the nest. I will go out now and clean it up, and put dry food in the dish. I hope I don't lose any, but I will be prepared for the ultimate. Hey, I was just thinking, I have 2 little bantams, that we bought at Tractor supply, would I be able to take them out to the coop, and allow her to take care of them? They are more than a couple weeks old, maybe a month old this week. They are past the dangers of dying. I had 4, but 2 of them did die.I was just curious if I could unite them with Alice?

 

[RonC]

If you put them under her at night she might accept them but I wouldn't try it since they might hurt the newborns. Just brood them a couple of weeks longer and integrate them into the flock.