Lol, oz, I get nothing but grief from my hubby , about the chicks brooder in the laundry.
Yesterday he came in with a garage injury and asked me to take a look at it. I said ew I'm not touching that. He said " oh that's right I'm not a chicken "
Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.
- Thread starter Bens-Hens
- Start date
Lol, oz, I get nothing but grief from my hubby , about the chicks brooder in the laundry.
Yesterday he came in with a garage injury and asked me to take a look at it. I said ew I'm not touching that. He said " oh that's right I'm not a chicken "
lol, that's funny. Tell him to squawk next time. LOL
WELL, I have good news. Fritz showed up this afternoon! He may have shown up earlier, but I was gone to work. BUT, the funky feathered freak is home, alive! Yes!
About the possible broody. Have her hatch out some mutts. That way, if she doesn't brood well, you aren't out expensive eggs.
About broodies... I don't ever block off until just before hatch till just after. Then I let mom do with the chicks as nature would have it. I only block off during that critical time so I don't have to worry about chicks being accidentally stepped on while hatching, fighting in the nest while hatching cuz some other hen wants in to lay an egg... Having a fresh chick snatched away is also sad... SO, block off as soon as 2 days prior to hatch, up to two days after. I also put water and feed right next to mom. Its good to have her on the chick feed, she'll need the protien to rebuild up her weight that she'll lose setting. Moms are pretty vicious too. SO, the chicks may not be as people friendly as your brooder raised chicks unless you are able to handle them alot. AND Moms can be pretty vicious. Did I mention vicious? Yeah. But it's so much fun to watch a mother hen and her babies. If she goes, just mark the eggs with the date you expect to hatch. By leaving her in the flock right up till hatch time, it'll be easier for her to integrate her chicks.
WELL, I have good news. Fritz showed up this afternoon! He may have shown up earlier, but I was gone to work. BUT, the funky feathered freak is home, alive! Yes!
About the possible broody. Have her hatch out some mutts. That way, if she doesn't brood well, you aren't out expensive eggs.
About broodies... I don't ever block off until just before hatch till just after. Then I let mom do with the chicks as nature would have it. I only block off during that critical time so I don't have to worry about chicks being accidentally stepped on while hatching, fighting in the nest while hatching cuz some other hen wants in to lay an egg... Having a fresh chick snatched away is also sad... SO, block off as soon as 2 days prior to hatch, up to two days after. I also put water and feed right next to mom. Its good to have her on the chick feed, she'll need the protien to rebuild up her weight that she'll lose setting. Moms are pretty vicious too. SO, the chicks may not be as people friendly as your brooder raised chicks unless you are able to handle them alot. AND Moms can be pretty vicious. Did I mention vicious? Yeah. But it's so much fun to watch a mother hen and her babies. If she goes, just mark the eggs with the date you expect to hatch. By leaving her in the flock right up till hatch time, it'll be easier for her to integrate her chicks.
- Thread starter
- #1,413
I would feel weird at times of 'affection' having a chicken sitting in the corner lol. I like my 'affection' way to much to give it up, so she can stay outside. I don't mind watching them get 'affectionate' but not real keen on that working the other way hahahahaha
Lol, oz, I get nothing but grief from my hubby , about the chicks brooder in the laundry.
Yesterday he came in with a garage injury and asked me to take a look at it. I said ew I'm not touching that. He said " oh that's right I'm not a chicken "
Oh.....but he was hurt! Alicia is normally not that helpful when there is an injury, everything is fixed up by the time she wakes back up.
Very happy to hear Fritz has returned alive and well, maybe he spent the night having a sleep over next door.
As for Rosie, this morning she was walking around like normal still, might change once she is in there for her morning ritual and the 'mumma's' take over.
Who knows with these creatures!
- Thread starter
- #1,415
Bwhahahahaha, I did the rooster dance just yesterday, Alicia wanted to pat Baby and she did not want to be held, I chimed in "Do the rooster dance, it worked for Smudge" Alicia's mum (non chicken owner) said "what's that?" SO I did my very best rendition of the wings and sideways stamping.....added in a bit of a booty shuffle for my own style.
Didn't impress any of the chicks lol
Didn't impress any of the chicks lol
That's okay, it's meant to impress your wife, it's the poultry equivalent of the WOO WOO dance
- Thread starter
- #1,419
Hahahaha, maybe next time it will be captured.
Just was hanging out at the brooder, trying to make the chicks like me and got a couple of pics of the developing wing feathers. I know it's too early to tell, but I said I would share.
BAxARA with white tip feathers, none of the purchased 'Lorps have that, they area all black (except the two possible blues)
Wellies seem to be coming in about the same, we were a bit worried one was miss marked as it looks so different but the initial wing feathers are about the same.
Our two Fav's, the less developed is more white, the more developed has some grey coming through. First guess is one of each sex, but I don't want to get sad about that until they are a bit older.
#1
#1
#2
The other don't have so much going on so I kept it to these guys for now.
Just was hanging out at the brooder, trying to make the chicks like me and got a couple of pics of the developing wing feathers. I know it's too early to tell, but I said I would share.
BAxARA with white tip feathers, none of the purchased 'Lorps have that, they area all black (except the two possible blues)
Wellies seem to be coming in about the same, we were a bit worried one was miss marked as it looks so different but the initial wing feathers are about the same.
Our two Fav's, the less developed is more white, the more developed has some grey coming through. First guess is one of each sex, but I don't want to get sad about that until they are a bit older.
#1
#1
#2
The other don't have so much going on so I kept it to these guys for now.
beautiful pics, always love seeing chicks. We have three due to hatch at the weekend. Mother hen is getting extra protective and is eating less and less even with the food and water dish attached to the nest box. She's eating so little she has diahorrea. Not good, thankfully she will build up again once she has her chicks and goes outside with them. I let her have the starter crumble as it builds her up quickly too
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