I'm just loving the bulk uploader at photobucket!
I have three flocks of chickens and these are my big girls that lay and brood and hatch babehs! One of my BO's went broody so I gave her four marked eggs and soon enough another BO went broody with her. I let them both incubate those eggs and on July 4th, these two cuties hatched out. The other two pipped and zipped but died in before they could make it out. This was my first broody experience and I'm thinking that I will definately be using more broody in the future.
After the babies hatched, the mama's started arguing over who was going to raise the babies, so I tossed the second broody out of the nest. That was a big mistake. That girl was so upset, I felt so bad for her! After a few days of letting the kiddos bond with the mama left in the nest, I started taking them out so mama could poop and teach the babies to forage.
Then I decided that it was time for everybody to start freeranging. My girls have been confined to their run since I've had them because of hawks. I started by letting them out about 1.5 hours before dusk. They've been so good!
There was a bit of arguing between the mama about the two chicks and I had to intervene a couple of times, but eventually the mamas worked it out and decided to co-parent the kiddos.
After a couple of days of this, and with no problems with the other girls, I decided to see if the babies could cohabitate with the big girls in the run. Much to my surprise everything worked out! How could you go wrong with two mamas?! So I put everyone including the babehs back in the run for the night (after chick proofing it).
I went back inside the coop and created a chick haven. A place for the chicks to get out from under foot and also a place for their very own water and feed. I had to make a few adjustments and place the food far back as I could cause I had a couple of rubbernecked hens poking in and scarfing the chick starter. I'm very pleased because the babies know what this is and have been using it.
Then it was time to spend their first night inside with the big girls. The sun was starting to set and the mamas hunkered down to sleep with the kids.
Here's a pic of the chick proofed coop. My back is killing me! I went around the run with some one inched chicken wire over the top of the bigger wire. Soon we are going to completely hardware cloth over this run, but for now our girls are good.
All told, I am very pleased with the way things are working out. The chicks are in with their mommies and will grow into the flock without having to introduce them. I'm just loving this! The girls will get to continue to free range, but only a couple of hours before dark when I can stand guard. I recently rehomed my roo and now I AM the roo.
I have three flocks of chickens and these are my big girls that lay and brood and hatch babehs! One of my BO's went broody so I gave her four marked eggs and soon enough another BO went broody with her. I let them both incubate those eggs and on July 4th, these two cuties hatched out. The other two pipped and zipped but died in before they could make it out. This was my first broody experience and I'm thinking that I will definately be using more broody in the future.
After the babies hatched, the mama's started arguing over who was going to raise the babies, so I tossed the second broody out of the nest. That was a big mistake. That girl was so upset, I felt so bad for her! After a few days of letting the kiddos bond with the mama left in the nest, I started taking them out so mama could poop and teach the babies to forage.
Then I decided that it was time for everybody to start freeranging. My girls have been confined to their run since I've had them because of hawks. I started by letting them out about 1.5 hours before dusk. They've been so good!
There was a bit of arguing between the mama about the two chicks and I had to intervene a couple of times, but eventually the mamas worked it out and decided to co-parent the kiddos.
After a couple of days of this, and with no problems with the other girls, I decided to see if the babies could cohabitate with the big girls in the run. Much to my surprise everything worked out! How could you go wrong with two mamas?! So I put everyone including the babehs back in the run for the night (after chick proofing it).
I went back inside the coop and created a chick haven. A place for the chicks to get out from under foot and also a place for their very own water and feed. I had to make a few adjustments and place the food far back as I could cause I had a couple of rubbernecked hens poking in and scarfing the chick starter. I'm very pleased because the babies know what this is and have been using it.
Then it was time to spend their first night inside with the big girls. The sun was starting to set and the mamas hunkered down to sleep with the kids.
Here's a pic of the chick proofed coop. My back is killing me! I went around the run with some one inched chicken wire over the top of the bigger wire. Soon we are going to completely hardware cloth over this run, but for now our girls are good.
All told, I am very pleased with the way things are working out. The chicks are in with their mommies and will grow into the flock without having to introduce them. I'm just loving this! The girls will get to continue to free range, but only a couple of hours before dark when I can stand guard. I recently rehomed my roo and now I AM the roo.
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