Ohiki Chicken Thread

[chucksohiki]

as far as the hen herself goes. It doesnt matter how high. If she wants a raised next box, she'll get in. Now for the chicks, they aint going back in the nest after they hatch, especially off the ground, no breed will til they can fly, but I have never had or heard of any that needed to. Just keep a good clean coop, maybe move other birds out so she can have it to her self and that's good enough. Some good bedding on the ground will be plenty for her to "bed up" with them in at night. You could try the ladder thing, but I highly doubt if any would try to go up.

I always just let my broodies raise them on the ground in the breeding pens and they do just fine. They nest on the ground here too.

That's the same with my birds. I been working with the breed for years now and have tried nest boxes on and off the ground and mine do much better on the ground. I just put one or two 5 gal. buckets in the pen and that is where mine lay and set. After the chicks hatch I just pick them up and put them running around with there mom in the pen. That way I can get a good look at the chicks legs for color and length and over all health of the chick. I even have hens that will just lay on the ground of the pen and will not lay in a nest box at all on or off the ground.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

same here, most all mine just lay in a ground nest usually in the back corner of the pen. I finally just stopped putting buckets in them, virtually none of them used them anyway.

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

Thank you, I was worried there might be a problem with the hen trying to get the chicks back into the nest. This is good to know that she will settle in with her chicks on the ground without any stress.

Here is a picture of my favorite Ohiki roo.

oh yes, she'll be just fine like that. I usually brooer mine after they hatch just cause I dont want nothing getting them. Bunch of wild stuff here and as tiny as they are they can walk right threw my wire. Something gets them then or they get on my electric fence critter repeller. But as long as they are secure, she'll raise them just fine they just use the nest for incubation is all anyway.

good hay bed or wood shavings does seem to help on the ground of the pen too.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Some updated pictures of some of my hens.

Love that silver hen on the bottom

 

[chucksohiki]

Love that silver hen on the bottom

Thanks!

 

[chucksohiki]

Update picture of one of my young Barred project males.

 

[onagadori]

Update picture of one of my young Barred project males.

Looking Fantastic chuck! stunning color!

 

[chucksohiki]

Thanks Amanda! I am very happy with the way he is looking! My best Barred yet!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

I like how 'clean' he looks. Hes not smudgy like in the first pictures and very sharp and clean, if it makes any since, lol. Very pretty!

 

[Treatsrule]

oh yes, she'll be just fine like that. I usually brooer mine after they hatch just cause I dont want nothing getting them. Bunch of wild stuff here and as tiny as they are they can walk right threw my wire. Something gets them then or they get on my electric fence critter repeller. But as long as they are secure, she'll raise them just fine they just use the nest for incubation is all anyway.

good hay bed or wood shavings does seem to help on the ground of the pen too.

I’m going to have to create an intermediary area for when they get too big for the nursery coop. The nursery coop has ½” square mesh all around and underground so they aren't getting out of there or many critters getting in, but now you have me thinking what tiny things can get in that would hurt the chicks. They can definitely get out of the larger pen here. We had an Ohiki chick safe pen set up earlier in the year, but it’s been deconstructed. I’m not quite sure where to best locate a new one yet, but it’s a must for sure.

What is the benefit of using wood shavings or hay in the pens? I think I've read its for keeping the tails clean? There are two roosters here whose tails are growing faster than the others and one’s tail is already dragging the ground a few inches, but it looks fine to me. Lots to ponder!