My next question.......

[SJ]

Audrea may be BBR Kraienkoppe cause I see very little comb.

 

[pamelakay]

Thank you Cayuse! The photo you posted looks the most like Audrea of any I have seen.





Here are a few other views of my Audrea.

 

[CayuseRanch]

Pamela, I think you need to enter the picture of all your hens eggs under the shed in this contest.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ch-a-long-contest-7-natural-egg-photo-contest

 

[pamelakay]

Ok. The Goodyear all-weather radial eggs are in the running! Hope the chicks don't get "tired" Boo hiss. Sorry I couldn't help myself.

 

[pamelakay]

I have a definative breed type for Audrey. She is a Black Breasted Red Cubalaya Bantam. I told her the good news.....and she just looked at me

 

[CayuseRanch]

Hmmm. Its possible but I'm sticking with red jungle fowl. Her tail and wings don't match the cubala and she is bigger than them.

 

[pamelakay]

Well, whatever she is, Audrey is a good mom. I would like to post a video but don't know how. I have never been around chickens, any birds, really. Watching her be a mom is amazing to me, and my family. Audrey lets her two chicks know when there is food, water. She calls them to her and they come right away. She has a perfect warm spot for them when they need it. I wish my parenting was as effective!

 

[pamelakay]

Oh, I have a question....Since Audrey has been sitting her nest indoors, in a 65F or higher temp, I would like to know how old the chicks need to be to move out into the chicken garden. And do I need to somehow recondition Audrey to the cool temps, too. I will have a broody house made up for them and fencing sides and top. This will all be inside the main chicken fenced area. It is 28 degrees here in NC at the moment. The high runs in the 40's now. Our last frost date is April 15th. I have warming lamps that I could use too. I guess I want to know what is more important, keep them inside safe and warm, or let Audrey have her chicks back in their natural habitat? Thank you for any advice.

 

[CayuseRanch]

Videos are kind of a pain. You have to upload them to Youtube then insert the link.
As far as temp goes. The theory is that chicks can withstand a 5 degree decrease in temp per week of age down to 75 degrees then they are good. At the same time, those chicks have mom to go to when they get cold so I wouldn't worry to much. If it were me, I would put mom and babies somewhere that I could put a heatlamp up for them to go under as they want it. You will be surprised but momma will have those babies out a lot earlier than we do.

 

[pamelakay]

Earlier I was speaking to the cross of my light sussex roo with my bard rock hen.. Here are a few picks of the new babies!