Our initial very small flock of young free ranging banties had to learn for itself from instinct and experience.
The hens seemed to know instinctively that they should lay off the ground. Most commonly used locations were tree stumps which we have placed on the land under trees to grow ferns. That worked well for them until the first seasonal rains came and then problems began. The hatch rate fell and the mortality rate of chicks shot up to around 90%.
There is nothing that we can do about it because the birds are semi-wild and will do what they want to do. However, they are now learning. We have two sitters and two new clutches in an open sided structure on the land at home. It provides excellent shelter from the rain for hens, eggs and chicks. The two sitters are in a slat-sided cupboard where they are perfectly safe. The two clutches are on the top of the same cupboard. There are some abandoned single eggs in various other places in the same shelter where hens seem to have been looking around for a good spot to lay.
The losses that came with the rains were regrettable but it's been fascinating to see how the hens have learned and adapted their behaviour to suit circumstances.
The hens seemed to know instinctively that they should lay off the ground. Most commonly used locations were tree stumps which we have placed on the land under trees to grow ferns. That worked well for them until the first seasonal rains came and then problems began. The hatch rate fell and the mortality rate of chicks shot up to around 90%.
There is nothing that we can do about it because the birds are semi-wild and will do what they want to do. However, they are now learning. We have two sitters and two new clutches in an open sided structure on the land at home. It provides excellent shelter from the rain for hens, eggs and chicks. The two sitters are in a slat-sided cupboard where they are perfectly safe. The two clutches are on the top of the same cupboard. There are some abandoned single eggs in various other places in the same shelter where hens seem to have been looking around for a good spot to lay.
The losses that came with the rains were regrettable but it's been fascinating to see how the hens have learned and adapted their behaviour to suit circumstances.
