Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[Bens-Hens]

The conversion and move seems to have gone well. I only moved Rosie over and after some very gentle sweet talking I seemed to have convinced her to stay on that nest...with the very pretty fake plastic eggs instead of that nasty high empty nest (which is also the flock favourite)

Not sure if I want to move the SPW over there or not, she is in a less used nest and may have to ride it out solo.

Don't think I will risk giving her the Coro's so might have to find something else for her to sit on

 

[Farmer Viola]

Hi Ben,
I was reading one of my poultry books last night and came across some information that recommended only setting eggs of hens 18 months or older. The author says that hens younger than that have a high chance of producing mostly cockrels! It made me think of you and your prediction of something like 80% boys in your chicks! Maybe it can help
Viola

 

[Fancychooklady]

Hi Ben,
I was reading one of my poultry books last night and came across some information that recommended only setting eggs of hens 18 months or older. The author says that hens younger than that have a high chance of producing mostly cockrels! It made me think of you and your prediction of something like 80% boys in your chicks! Maybe it can help
Viola

That hasn't been the case here. My cockerel and hen are only 12 months old and of the 16 eggs that have hatched only 2 are cockerels. I have read that if your temp settings are a little high, that you will get more boys than girls. My slw are only in their first year of laying and of 24 set, 22 hatched and 18 were pullets. I think that the statistics would be manipulated by environment and breed.

 

[Farmer Viola]

That hasn't been the case here. My cockerel and hen are only 12 months old and of the 16 eggs that have hatched only 2 are cockerels. I have read that if your temp settings are a little high, that you will get more boys than girls. My slw are only in their first year of laying and of 24 set, 22 hatched and 18 were pullets. I think that the statistics would be manipulated by environment and breed.

Wow how interesting! So do you lean a little toward the lower side of temperature, maybe 99 instead of 100, to try for females?
To be fair, the author of this book is advocating natural rearing methods only. That means under a broody hen, not an incubator

 

[Fancychooklady]

Wow how interesting! So do you lean a little toward the lower side of temperature, maybe 99 instead of 100, to try for females?
To be fair, the author of this book is advocating natural rearing methods only. That means under a broody hen, not an incubator

I think there are many theories about heat. I have done away with my bator this year. I decided to utilize all these broody hens. Most of my breeders are just 12 months and I don't have a high roo ratio. I have had a higher roo count in my second year silkies this year. I guess we all know going into it , that we are going to have to deal with Roos. For those who eat them , the more Roos the better.

 

[Farmer Viola]

Nice. I love the idea of broodies I tried hatching under a silkie recently. It went very well, until the chicks were about one week old.. then I started hearing little chick screams and came in to find her pecking the babies. I had to remove them, which was not what I wanted to do, but I didn't see another way to keep them safe. I don't know that I can trust her again after that... so.. I guess I will stick to the incubator for now

\/\/\/ edit: she had a broody castle! indoors, a warm section of a spare bedroom that we just use for storage. She had no predators and no competition, I don't know what went wrong. I hope to find a good mother in the next generation of wyandottes. Sadly, I will probably never use that silkie to brood for me again, I can't trust her.

 

[NovaAman]

See... I think it's all a luck of the draw type of thing. I have hens who actually do pretty 50/50 always... AND then I had athose same hens, for who know's what reason, hatch out a crap load of boys! AND they were two year old hens... My serema, Ekta, she went broody the first time with in weeks of laying, and she also hatched a fairly 50/50 rate.

Ever... I have a wonderful sitting hen... Coco Chanel is determined and just wonderful at giving 100% hatches. BUT she's a total effen blonde (no offense to blondes) when it comes to the chicks. Forgets she has them. I end raising them in the end. I only let her sit when it's warm enough. She'll remember them well for the first week or so.. .but by about week 3... she's useless... Sorry about your ditz though. Maybe a broody coop and run? A-frame type on the ground with predator protection... This time of year, they'll get picked off easy by hawks and owls.

 

[Bens-Hens]

I have read a bit on how to more the gender ratio and am yet to be convinced anything will work, similar to humans. Short of radiation, it's a gamble IMO. From memory, it's the female's chromosome that decides gender in chickens, opposite to humans. Always open to a lesson in that department though.

Not sure what the result will be with some of our roo's. We have some very nice little fella's growing, so we might try sell some of the more desired breeds, but I think the less desirable roosters will be off to freezer camp.

They are getting pretty big now, but not quite fully feathered, so not quite ready to come off heat and be advertised for sale yet. Some tough love this week I think so they can start to spend the night in the temp run.

Coro's are doing well, but I don't seem to see them seat very often, maybe I am used to seeing more chicks so someone is always eating but with only two in there the feeder is not attended as often. Not jumping yet, but certainly out exploring, walking and running in between insta-naps.

Rosie has stayed on the plastic eggs overnight, I think the move was successful. The SPW was moved to a more out of the way box and planted on some golf balls to which she seemed settled on last night, but she was out during the morning rounds. Not sure if she changed her mind or was just grabbing a bite to eat and having a potty break.

We are leaning towards giving Rosie some fertile eggs, and the SPW can have a go at hatching those golf balls, could swap them over if one turns out to do a poor job. They both still have to convince me they are properly broody before I buy anything.

Funny, I have about 13 cockerels on the property and 23 pullets and I still have to go buy fertile eggs lol

 

[babyfoot]

Quote: That's sad, I'm so sorry. One of my hens is very protective mother and chases even the rooster away and another runs away at the first sign of another hen or rooster taking an interest in her chicks leaving them to fend for themselves. Yesterday I let three chicks (4 weeks old now) and mum out for supervised time with the rest of them, the two roosters were curious and one gently pecked a chick but it was only investigating. Today I did it again as it went so well and I left them as they have loads of room and plenty of hideyholes to take refuge in but when I went out an hour ago, the wee white chick had a bloody peck mark on its face, (that's bloody as in bleeding). It is still looking female to me but it's the most inquisitive and brave one, often going right up to the roosters or other hens and checking them out. They are on a roost at night now too just not the main one. I know they are ready for that as mum takes them for practice roosts during the day when she is let out wit the others

 

[Fancychooklady]

Chicken littles chicks are outgrowing her. These little rummins are camping on the verandah.