My 7 wk old Barred rock Big Mama sitting on 10 baby chicks

[ntvangel]

Im a 1st time chicken owner and i dont think this is normal as far as ive read but this is our 7 wk old Barred Rock named "Big Mama" we got from local feed store and she has been playin mama to 10 various (4 barred rock, 2 white silkies, 2 silver laced cochins, 2 buff orpingtons) breed chicks since we got them when she was about 5 wks old. She took a few days to get used to them but now she sits on them to keep warm when they are scared they all hide under her and she even tried taking on a stray cat the other day for them. She was making a loud noise i had never heard before and i looked up from the garden and she was puffed up standing in front of her chickies and staring down a big gray cat and the cat was thinking twice about coming in the yard! I then intervened with the garden hose and soaked the cat and havent seen it since but have been keeping my eye out . She teaches them things with different sounds she makes. One day i was outside watching them letting em out in the sun and she mustve been practicing teaching them to hide because she would randomly make a certain noise and they would all run and hide. Poor lil George the silkie wasnt fast enough though and he decided if he cant see danger they cant see him either and stuck his head in a pile of weeds with his lil butt in the air!! It was one of the funniest things i have ever seen. Every day is an adventure with our chickens and i see now why there is this website and so many others for that matter just

for talkin chicken! I never knew they had such personalities and were so entertaining! Better than dogs or cats in my opinion! !

 

[trailrider330]

That's quite an amazing barred rock pullet you have there! None of my barred rocks have ever even gone broody and they tend to be at the top of the pecking order.

I agree with you about chicken personalities. I never knew chickens could have such vastly different personalities and be so entertaining!

 

[ntvangel]

Yes i have read and read since we got our first chicks and never read anything about a 5 wk old chick behaving this way to other chicks. We had gotten 2 others when we got her but the other two disappeared out of their pen a couple wks after we got them i later found out that squirrels eat baby chicks?? We got a big squirrel that has been watching Big Mama and her chickies when we are out in the yard and i thought oh just a curious lil squirrel. Big Mama was acting weird around him and then my mother in law told me he was probably watching them trying to steal baby chicks. At her work they had bird houses up in the trees and seen a squirrel go in a come out with baby bird in mouth as the parents were dive bombing it. It kept going back til they were gone!! So needless to say my mother in law and i got the bb gun out while my hubby was at work and we scared the squirrel away. My hubby shot him when he got home from work because if that squirrel would get one of the chicks it would be our silkies because they are so much smaller and slower than the rest (also not very good hiders if you read my story above

) and they are our 2 yr olds babies. They love her and she loves them. They are both named George according to her lol. But my 2 yr old has daddy wrapped around her finger and he would not allow a squirrel the chance to eat her baby George!!!

 

[islafarm]

What a lovely story! Yay Big Mama

I've had an 8 week old and a 6 week old brahmas take care of younger chicks, but not to the extent that Big Mama has. I'm sure if one of your 10 is a rooster she'll make a great mama to her own someday. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ntvangel]

Sorry just got to rambling lol. Im a stay at home mom and hang out with my 2 young girls and our 11 chickens all day!! I've got to say between the kids and the chickens and the hubby our life is quite an adventure even if we barely leave the house

 

[ntvangel]

Thank you for reading!!

 

[ntvangel]

How are Brahmas? Im still learning lots and eventually (as soon as i can talk my hubby into turning the shed into a bigger chicken coop) i would like to get more chickens. I just dont know if you should mix so many different breeds together in flock or if it matters.

 

[Blooie]

I have in my flock:

8 Easter Eggers
2 Cuckoo Marans
8 Buff Brahmas
4 Light Brahmas
5 Red Sex Links
1Buff Orpington

As a general rule, mixed flocks do very well together, and it's nice to have an egg basket full of multi-colored eggs! Never had a 7 week old take care of younger chicks, though - that's a first!

 

[islafarm]

Brahmas are lovely, big docile creatures, beautiful to look at with their feathered legs and feet and heavy brows. Nice light pink egg. Calm and friendly.

 

[ntvangel]

Well thank you i think im going to have to try and get some of that breed next time i get chickens Ive just been trying to get breeds that are usually gentle natured but also since we are in Montana and have fairly cold winters ive been trying to get bigger breeds that can survive the cold. We are all kind of expecting a hard winter this year here.