***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[ladyokie]

How long does a hen usually care for baby chicks? I ask because I have a hen that took over a big group of half grown chicks months ago. She has been a great mom and very protective. But now some of those chicks are getting really big! I went out super early the other morning and there she was all cuddled up sitting on those chicks and they were sticking out of both ends! They do not fit anymore. The chicks were laying on their sides with legs out everywhere. I really wish I had had my camera. I know she could not have been resting because there was no way she is sitting down. Is this normal? Should I take them away, maybe find her some more chicks to care for? She has not started laying again either. I am not worried about the laying just making sure this is not a "bad" thing.


Also, I bought a 2 month old "cockerel" at Newcastle. Listed as a cockerel and looked like a cockerel. Well it has been a few weeks now and the bird has grown but it almost looks like the comb and wattles are smaller. It is not acting rooish at all and has taken up with the little light brahma babies I got from Mitzie. Yesterday when I went to check on everyone "Kingston" was sitting on the light brahmas! They were all tucked up under his wings. Could Kingston be a Queenston? I can post pics if it would help. LOL

 

[mefordz]

Totally off topic, but this is the only place I feel saying this will not make people look at me wierd - Is it legal to shoot people for stupid yet?

no, unfortunatly it isnt. oughta be tho!

 

[tgperg]

tgperg - good way to recycle. How tall are those a-frames? 

Um, I'd guess about three feet or so. The pallets are 4 ft. per side. I didn't measure the base though, so I'm not sure of the angles. Besides, I'm better at chicken math than geometry. The pallets I used for the sides are the ones that they ship ZTR mowers in.

 

[tgperg]

Totally off topic, but this is the only place I feel saying this will not make people look at me wierd - Is it legal to shoot people for stupid yet?

Heh. I will just leave this right here.

 

[tgperg]

I put a bottle of hot water in with baby chicks and I bet wrapped in a towl, it would help keep those eggs warm during transfer.

That's brilliant.

 

[Gigiintheforest]

I do cover the tops of all my open runs and use this:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bird-Nettin...156?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item231d3327d4

It does come in smaller sizes, just search for poultry netting. I use the 2"x2"...lasted for years. It has withstood even large tree branches and didn't break through. One day last fall, I actually saw a hawk come down for the attack and hit the net and bounced like a trampoline, so I give two thumbs up and say it's effective.

Pheasants and chickens do not get along well....but if you got a pair of peafowl, you can put deco pheasants in with them, like the yellow golden or red goldens...(i've got a pair of yellow golden in with mine with no issues...my black mels are in with the other pair, but get chased some)

I'm so glad to hear this. I just had the same netting delivered from ebay only in 6' X 150' as my large run is an awkward shape and with this I can zip tie sections together and shape to fit. Lots of hawks in our area and aviary netting - zoo grade - is incredibly expensive. Also love your metal edged runs. I used lengths of tin roofing sunk 18" around the edge of run and it's working really well. Thank you for giving me a bit of reassurance that I'm not off my rocker doing stuff like this. DH thinks that may be the case -ha!

 

[mefordz]

Heh. I will just leave this right here.

uhhhhhhh, i hope you know i am stealing that one.

 

[Ksane]

How long does a hen usually care for baby chicks? I ask because I have a hen that took over a big group of half grown chicks months ago. She has been a great mom and very protective. But now some of those chicks are getting really big! I went out super early the other morning and there she was all cuddled up sitting on those chicks and they were sticking out of both ends! They do not fit anymore. The chicks were laying on their sides with legs out everywhere. I really wish I had had my camera. I know she could not have been resting because there was no way she is sitting down. Is this normal? Should I take them away, maybe find her some more chicks to care for? She has not started laying again either. I am not worried about the laying just making sure this is not a "bad" thing.
Also, I bought a 2 month old "cockerel" at Newcastle. Listed as a cockerel and looked like a cockerel. Well it has been a few weeks now and the bird has grown but it almost looks like the comb and wattles are smaller. It is not acting rooish at all and has taken up with the little light brahma babies I got from Mitzie. Yesterday when I went to check on everyone "Kingston" was sitting on the light brahmas! They were all tucked up under his wings. Could Kingston be a Queenston? I can post pics if it would help. LOL

Everyone else buys what they think are pullets and they turn out to be cockerels. It'd be just like you (the woman who got all Ameraucana pullets!) to buy a cockerel and have it turn out to be a pullet

You have the coolest kind of luck, ya know? lol
That's hilarious about the hen who's babies are too big for their britches I wouldn't take them away, I'd let her bond with them. It can't be anything but good for young chickens to have a caretaker of their own kind.

 

[Oceanseve]

How long does a hen usually care for baby chicks? I ask because I have a hen that took over a big group of half grown chicks months ago. She has been a great mom and very protective. But now some of those chicks are getting really big! I went out super early the other morning and there she was all cuddled up sitting on those chicks and they were sticking out of both ends! They do not fit anymore. The chicks were laying on their sides with legs out everywhere. I really wish I had had my camera. I know she could not have been resting because there was no way she is sitting down. Is this normal? Should I take them away, maybe find her some more chicks to care for? She has not started laying again either. I am not worried about the laying just making sure this is not a "bad" thing.


Also, I bought a 2 month old "cockerel" at Newcastle. Listed as a cockerel and looked like a cockerel. Well it has been a few weeks now and the bird has grown but it almost looks like the comb and wattles are smaller. It is not acting rooish at all and has taken up with the little light brahma babies I got from Mitzie. Yesterday when I went to check on everyone "Kingston" was sitting on the light brahmas! They were all tucked up under his wings. Could Kingston be a Queenston? I can post pics if it would help. LOL

HAHAHAHAHA Thanks for that great image of the smothering mother hen

 

[Elwood Lightfoot]

Totally off topic, but this is the only place I feel saying this will not make people look at me wierd - Is it legal to shoot people for stupid yet?

Don't do it!! Chances are better that stupid people will take themselves out through some act of misadventure and when they do you won't be implicated in the investigation, you'll be able to hang back and snicker with the other observers while agreeing with them that it was bound to happen like that when they yelled "Hey Ya'all Watch This!"