Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[artsyrobin]

yep, she is a first time mom, and felt bad she was sitting out in those 3 digit temps- i had tried before but she didn't want to set in anything but the regular box, so when i did this morning i carried her and the box in, i think that made the difference

 

[Johnn]

When I went to Tractor Supply today they had 1 bag of Mannapro Chick Starter on the shelves - I asked if there were any more and the woman pulled 5 bags from the back. Sometimes they just don't have the stock out. Hopefully you'll find your grower pellets. Although I have read that grower pellets can contribute to cannibalism - something about the pellets being difficult to chew so they turn to each other instead. Not sure I believe it - but I do know that my layers HATED the pellets. I ended up going to crumbles because they turned their little beaks up and would only forage instead & their eggs were starting to get soft shells. Now they have crumbles and oyster shell and they scarf that stuff down.

what did you feed your chicks instead of growers pellets?

 

[Johnn]

Smokey is the EE/Araucana pullet on the left and Topsy is the Silky pullet on the right.

aww they are both lovley

 

[Tanichca]

Day 22- we've got a pip in one of three eggs under hen 2!

Hen 4 quit, day 5.

Hen 3 is still going strong on her eggs, day 5.

Hen 1's babies are almost two weeks old! Question- would it be a good idea if, when Hen 2's eggs hatch, her and her babies could move in with Hen 1 in the quarantine coop?

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote:
we feed ours medicated starter crumbles, in a pinch we feed layer feed, but that isn't a good option, i am thinking game bird crumbles may work when you can' find the other, but medicated starter is the best- it gives them extra vitamins and protection against cocci- but crumble, not pellets

 

[Johnn]

My chicks arent on chick crumb anymore, they are 4 weeks old and are just eating mixed corn because they just avoid eating the chick crumb so im just attracting rodents. Im wanting to put them on growers pellets in 3 week but i can only find medicated which i dont want to use because its going to be fed to the whole flock.

 

[bobbieschicks]

My chicks arent on chick crumb anymore, they are 4 weeks old and are just eating mixed corn because they just avoid eating the chick crumb so im just attracting rodents. Im wanting to put them on growers pellets in 3 week but i can only find medicated which i dont want to use because its going to be fed to the whole flock.

I use chick starter 0 to 4 weeks and grower crumbles until they are about 16 weeks then I switch them to layer crumbles unless they've switched themselves first. If you can only find pellets you can make your own crumbles - simple put some in a bag and crush them with a mallet or hammer then put in the container for them. It would be more trouble but they should be able to eat it easier. I think the pellet versus crumbles is really whether or not they can crush the pellet and eat it.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Day 22- we've got a pip in one of three eggs under hen 2!

Hen 4 quit, day 5.

Hen 3 is still going strong on her eggs, day 5.

Hen 1's babies are almost two weeks old! Question- would it be a good idea if, when Hen 2's eggs hatch, her and her babies could move in with Hen 1 in the quarantine coop?

Moving hens and their chicks is good if the hens get along fine - otherwise I wouldn't put them together. My two broodies absolutely HATE each other - I have to put a landscape fabric divider down the middle of their area just to get them to sit without fighting.

Congrats on the new babies!

 

[Johnn]

I use chick starter 0 to 4 weeks and grower crumbles until they are about 16 weeks then I switch them to layer crumbles unless they've switched themselves first. If you can only find pellets you can make your own crumbles - simple put some in a bag and crush them with a mallet or hammer then put in the container for them. It would be more trouble but they should be able to eat it easier. I think the pellet versus crumbles is really whether or not they can crush the pellet and eat it.

ok i will just crush them, Im giving the rest of my chick crumb to my friend on tuesday because she needs some chick crumb and myne are happier eating corn so i might as well. once the hens bag of corn is up i will put every one on growers pellets IF i manage to find some of a reasonable choice, if not i dont know what i will do

 

[bobbieschicks]

ok i will just crush them, Im giving the rest of my chick crumb to my friend on tuesday because she needs some chick crumb and myne are happier eating corn so i might as well. once the hens bag of corn is up i will put every one on growers pellets IF i manage to find some of a reasonable choice, if not i dont know what i will do

I've noticed my girls have started consuming more since it cools off at night. There for awhile they hardly ate anything because it was so hot. Today their coop got to 104F, but right now it's back down to 85F and will probably drop more overnight.