SandyNormAmy
Chirping
I have been going through the threads but can't find this exact situation.
I have two RIR x Leghorn hens. One hen went broody last year, I got her six fertilized eggs. I have them housed in an 8' x 12' insulated canvas tent. I didn't separate the hens last year because I didn't know any better. 'Momma' and her sister often share a nest, so I had to 'toss momma from the nest' daily to get her sister's unfertilized egg.
All 6 eggs hatched and within a week all of them were dead. Two were blinded by siblings. the other four all had their necks broken by a jealous (?) strict disciplinarian (?) auntie who has not gone broody at all in the two years I have had them. Each time a chick died, I was the one who took it away.
This year, when the same hen went broody, I built a nesting box, divided it with mesh wire and divided the coop so that the mom and babies have 2/3 of the tent and a long run beside the house. The Auntie has the run of the yards when we're home. I got her 6 eggs, 5 hatched. Mom is proving to be a VERY good momma.
She just tried to attack me when I went into the run to get the upturned baby-food dish, and Auntie came running to help and pecked at me until I went back into the house.
My question is: the babies turned 4 weeks old on Saturday. They are all Black Copper Marans. 1 is crossed with Americauna, 2 are crossed with something else and 2 are full BCM. They are about half the size of their momma. Should I remove the fence between the 2 halves of the coop? or should I wait a little longer?
This pic is all 5 of them at 2 weeks old, with mom.
I have two RIR x Leghorn hens. One hen went broody last year, I got her six fertilized eggs. I have them housed in an 8' x 12' insulated canvas tent. I didn't separate the hens last year because I didn't know any better. 'Momma' and her sister often share a nest, so I had to 'toss momma from the nest' daily to get her sister's unfertilized egg.
All 6 eggs hatched and within a week all of them were dead. Two were blinded by siblings. the other four all had their necks broken by a jealous (?) strict disciplinarian (?) auntie who has not gone broody at all in the two years I have had them. Each time a chick died, I was the one who took it away.
This year, when the same hen went broody, I built a nesting box, divided it with mesh wire and divided the coop so that the mom and babies have 2/3 of the tent and a long run beside the house. The Auntie has the run of the yards when we're home. I got her 6 eggs, 5 hatched. Mom is proving to be a VERY good momma.
She just tried to attack me when I went into the run to get the upturned baby-food dish, and Auntie came running to help and pecked at me until I went back into the house.
My question is: the babies turned 4 weeks old on Saturday. They are all Black Copper Marans. 1 is crossed with Americauna, 2 are crossed with something else and 2 are full BCM. They are about half the size of their momma. Should I remove the fence between the 2 halves of the coop? or should I wait a little longer?
This pic is all 5 of them at 2 weeks old, with mom.
