***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Matt in Okla]

Hi new to byc , even though I've been coming here for over a year to get advise. It was suggested I join the Oklahoma thread. I think I'm doing this right. I only see posts from 2011. How do I see the newer posts?

Welcome and I'm not sure what's up with that

 

[Matt in Okla]

​This thread USE to be so helpful. 

If I dunno I dunno
Dont get rude over the speed of free advice on a forum of people on their own time

 

[greenbeetle]

 

[Fallenone05]

OKAY so I've had a hen hatch out babies twice this year and I'll answer what I can, with my (limited) knowledge.

Generally around 5wks old, the hens do start distancing themselves from their chicks. 5 weeks is a good age for chicks to fend for themselves, especially if you let them free range. I had her raise 3x chicks and then another 3x to start (as these were her first two broods), and around 5wks, once she starts laying again, she distances herself by chasing them off or simply leaving them behind.No amount of the scared, shrill baby cheeping got her attention once she unattached herself.

My second batch of babies got left behind right as soon as my hen started laying eggs, and she wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with them once they were away from her, and those three babies were huge and could free range with the best of them at 5wks of age... plus they were master escape artists and knew our yard like the back of their wings.

If baby chicks are outside, their feathers come in faster and they'll stay warmer, but they will need an area to go to that's their own, so they can bundle up and stay warm. Start getting them roost trained ASAP, so they stop sleeping and pooping in nests. The older they get, the harder it is to break that cycle of them wanting to sleep in nests. If they're already separated from the flock in a hen/chick enclosure, keep them in there until they're large enough to stand their own against the other hens - the other hens can and will kill small chicks.

If you're unable to keep the chicks away from the large hens due to not having a brooding area, you might have to bring them in! But I'd invest in a brooding coop (it doesn't have to be big - a rabbit hutch sized one would do fine for a hen and a couple babies) this coming spring, if at all possible!

I hope this helps you out somehow!

 

[miohippus]

She's one of 3 Silver laced Wyandottes. I'm guessing a lot of my flock issues have been directly or indirectly my fault due to beginner's folly. If I were to do it over, I'd have done it all differently. Things like making sure they would be able to free range, purchasing my stock from a reputable breeder instead of a hatchery, making sure everything was ready before buying them. I'm learning a lot, but at the expense of my birds, which I feel bad about. My hubs and I are still in deliberation about what to do about everything.

Not trying to criticize or anything some things can be taken the wrong way when it is in type form. i just wanted to share my experience with you, I got my first chicks in 2010 i'm definitely not an expert, i have learned as i have gone like you and i have gotten most of my chickens from hatcheries except a few. No one i knew of around me breed chickens when i first started out (i think there is one close now that i know of) so that was the only choice i had then but i think hatchery birds are fine if you are not trying to show them and just want some eggs and pets, none of my hatchery birds have had the same issue as your girls seem too i'm not sure what the issue is with yours. i also don't let mine free range they are always cooped up to many predators here my dogs included. So i wouldn't give up totally on chicken keeping or feel bad about how you have done things doesn't sound like you have done anything wrong to me. don't get me wrong free ranging is wonderful if you can do it but sometimes its not possible. mine seem perfectly happy and the only issue i have had lately is one too may roos. The only thing i can think of is maybe it has to do with the size of your coup how big is it? This is a picture of mine right after we built it. i have 6 silkies(3roos), 2 polish, 2 cochin and 2 EE.

 

[Fallenone05]

Not trying to criticize or anything some things can be taken the wrong way when it is in type form. i just wanted to share my experience with you, I got my first chicks in 2010 i'm definitely not an expert, i have learned as i have gone like you and i have gotten most of my chickens from hatcheries except a few. No one i knew of around me breed chickens when i first started out (i think there is one close now that i know of) so that was the only choice i had then but i think hatchery birds are fine if you are not trying to show them and just want some eggs and pets, none of my hatchery birds have had the same issue as your girls seem too i'm not sure what the issue is with yours. i also don't let mine free range they are always cooped up to many predators here my dogs included. So i wouldn't give up totally on chicken keeping or feel bad about how you have done things doesn't sound like you have done anything wrong to me. don't get me wrong free ranging is wonderful if you can do it but sometimes its not possible. mine seem perfectly happy and the only issue i have had lately is one too may roos. The only thing i can think of is maybe it has to do with the size of your coup how big is it? This is a picture of mine right after we built it. i have 6 silkies(3roos), 2 polish, 2 cochin and 2 EE.

@dunnmom I'm wondering how big your coop is, too! I feel like you might have mentioned it beforehand but I don't know what page in this thread LOL Sometimes chickens don't handle new additions to flocks very well, either. My production red is stupidly aggressive to new additions to the flock and she's just hateful about it - but before, when I was still learning, I had TOO MANY chickens in too small a coop... and I had a feather puller. I watched her walk up to bantams and just rip out feathers from a distance and run, almost like it was she was testing and seeing her limits with the other hens. I learned she did it because she was bored and/or stressed with all the chickens in the coop. I eventually got rid of her though and told the people I gave her to what was going on, and they kept her separated for a long while from everyone else to make sure she stopped. I haven't had this problem since, and my space is bigger with more for them to do.

I PILED leaves into my chicken run and it gives them something to do, to rummage through the leaves and keep themselves occupied. I also let them free range through the day and that helps a lot, and it keeps them from being turds to one another. They generally spend half their time in the coop and the other half in the yard. But people can't always free range, so more space in a coop is needed.

 

[dunnmom]

I'm with you two about the coop and run size being too small for our 9 birds. I believe that you are correct. I used to wonder why so many people had coops and runs that seemed much larger than what is recommended for number of birds. I'm finding out why in an unfortunate way. So, we have decided to re-home our 3 Wyandottes. That will leave us with 6 Buff Orpingtons, who seem to get along fine with each other. Hopefully they will be better once they have more room, less competition for food and water, and no breed discrimination. We also will not be adding any new birds, or breeding until we can move out of the city onto an acreage so it may be awhile. We also have been getting more eggs than we need or want. My kids are burned out! Ha! I'm supposed to make an appointment with a local guy to come look at them and possibly take them, as soon as we can un-busy ourselves a little.

On a side note, I went to the poultry show in Shawnee this morning. How cool! I was shocked by the number of breeds I saw there. I also noted the striking differences between what I have at home and the breeder stock birds. Not to mention the huge difference between the English Orpingtons they had compared with my American Orps. It's much different seeing them in person rather than photos.

 

[miohippus]

I'm with you two about the coop and run size being too small for our 9 birds. I believe that you are correct. I used to wonder why so many people had coops and runs that seemed much larger than what is recommended for number of birds. I'm finding out why in an unfortunate way. So, we have decided to re-home our 3 Wyandottes. That will leave us with 6 Buff Orpingtons, who seem to get along fine with each other. Hopefully they will be better once they have more room, less competition for food and water, and no breed discrimination. We also will not be adding any new birds, or breeding until we can move out of the city onto an acreage so it may be awhile. We also have been getting more eggs than we need or want. My kids are burned out! Ha! I'm supposed to make an appointment with a local guy to come look at them and possibly take them, as soon as we can un-busy ourselves a little.

On a side note, I went to the poultry show in Shawnee this morning. How cool! I was shocked by the number of breeds I saw there. I also noted the striking differences between what I have at home and the breeder stock birds. Not to mention the huge difference between the English Orpingtons they had compared with my American Orps. It's much different seeing them in person rather than photos.

sounds like a good game plan

I know what you mean the size difference in the orpingtons is astounding. I was there today also and bought a pair of call ducks they are soo cute. i love looking at all the show chickens and pigeons.

 

[Fallenone05]

I'm with you two about the coop and run size being too small for our 9 birds. I believe that you are correct. I used to wonder why so many people had coops and runs that seemed much larger than what is recommended for number of birds. I'm finding out why in an unfortunate way. So, we have decided to re-home our 3 Wyandottes. That will leave us with 6 Buff Orpingtons, who seem to get along fine with each other. Hopefully they will be better once they have more room, less competition for food and water, and no breed discrimination. We also will not be adding any new birds, or breeding until we can move out of the city onto an acreage so it may be awhile. We also have been getting more eggs than we need or want. My kids are burned out! Ha! I'm supposed to make an appointment with a local guy to come look at them and possibly take them, as soon as we can un-busy ourselves a little.

On a side note, I went to the poultry show in Shawnee this morning. How cool! I was shocked by the number of breeds I saw there. I also noted the striking differences between what I have at home and the breeder stock birds. Not to mention the huge difference between the English Orpingtons they had compared with my American Orps. It's much different seeing them in person rather than photos.

How big is your coop/run? Runs need to be at least 10sqft per bird, if you don't free range them. A little less if you do let them out.

Sell those eggs though! I sell mine for $2/dz and it stacks up easy when you get a lot of eggs to sell!

Im sorry you're going to have to get rid of them, but at this point it sounds like a good plan.

 

[greenbeetle]

OKAY so I've had a hen hatch out babies twice this year and I'll answer what I can, with my (limited) knowledge.

Generally around 5wks old, the hens do start distancing themselves from their chicks. 5 weeks is a good age for chicks to fend for themselves, especially if you let them free range. I had her raise 3x chicks and then another 3x to start (as these were her first two broods), and around 5wks, once she starts laying again, she distances herself by chasing them off or simply leaving them behind.No amount of the scared, shrill baby cheeping got her attention once she unattached herself.

My second batch of babies got left behind right as soon as my hen started laying eggs, and she wouldn't have ANYTHING to do with them once they were away from her, and those three babies were huge and could free range with the best of them at 5wks of age... plus they were master escape artists and knew our yard like the back of their wings.

If baby chicks are outside, their feathers come in faster and they'll stay warmer, but they will need an area to go to that's their own, so they can bundle up and stay warm. Start getting them roost trained ASAP, so they stop sleeping and pooping in nests. The older they get, the harder it is to break that cycle of them wanting to sleep in nests. If they're already separated from the flock in a hen/chick enclosure, keep them in there until they're large enough to stand their own against the other hens - the other hens can and will kill small chicks.

If you're unable to keep the chicks away from the large hens due to not having a brooding area, you might have to bring them in! But I'd invest in a brooding coop (it doesn't have to be big - a rabbit hutch sized one would do fine for a hen and a couple babies) this coming spring, if at all possible!

I hope this helps you out somehow!

Thank you so much for all your advise.