Precious

[Di Gibbs]

Well precious, is really called Chiquita...ha! Chiquita's comb is pink compared to Butterballs. Mork has a skinny little comb. One of the little black ones seems like there might be a bit of red on the top where it meets the head but that is not the case on the other two.

I just don't think I want to eat fertilized eggs is all, plus I heard the mating is not pleasant. What if Butterball and Chiquita are roos then that is not good right? To have them in the same cage?

They are cute no matter what they are.

~Di

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Oh, I understand. It reall doesn't matter (taste wise) if the eggs are fertile, and plus, if you ever want to hatch eggs, it'll be easy, just sayin'.

Mating actually it not that bad, just when the roosters are going through teen hormones they over mate, which can cause hens to lose feathers on the back of their head, but after that stage they only mate as nesecarry, and mating is only when the 2 cloaca's touch to transfer, er, rooster juice.

We had 3 roosters living together, so 2 isn't too bad, and when they are raised together the worst thing is just crowing contests. Oh, and some of the best roos come when raised with older hens because they learn manners (are you raising the chicks with the hens?)

Its your opnion, up to you

 

[Di Gibbs]

Right now they are in a separate cage with Alice their Mum (who is really a surrogate since we got the fertilized eggs from our neighbor), so they can see Fiji, Clara and Stella our other girls, but they are not together yet. Alice is a good Mum.
I think I need to wait till they are like 10 weeks to put them all together right?
Alice will protect them from the other girls my neighbor says but he told me to put them together long ago and I am too scared too.
I guess I could keep them all together then cause how long before the rooster would want to do it?

Thank you so much for answering me so much!

~Di

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Put them together. 10 weeks is basically past the age the hen would stop taking care of them. They'll be fine, don't worry

Really, it depends. Our turken wanted to try and breed when he was 6 weeks, but our cochin never showed signs of interest until he was like 7 months. Once you see him trying to breed you can seperate him because his first tries won't be succesful

No problem

 

[Di Gibbs]

They still say cheep cheep, I thought they had to be not saying that, but I think when people say that they mean eggs they incubated right? With no Mum to look after them. So you think at 5 weeks I can put them and their Mum Alice with the other girls? I know I will have to then put them all on chicken starter right? So confusing, and so much worrying, my hubby thinks I am nuts with my worrying.

I just want everyone to get along...and Alice to make sure they are safe.

Thanks,

~Di

 

[Di Gibbs]

Well we put them together this morning. Clara the meanie was of course picking on them and it seems Alice remembers she is the boss, so was actually backing down and Clara had her flat on the ground pecking her. I banned Clara from the yard for a while and had her running loose in the backyard. She is back in there now. The chicken coop is so peaceful when Clara is not in there.

~Di

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

They still say cheep cheep, I thought they had to be not saying that, but I think when people say that they mean eggs they incubated right? With no Mum to look after them. So you think at 5 weeks I can put them and their Mum Alice with the other girls? I know I will have to then put them all on chicken starter right? So confusing, and so much worrying, my hubby thinks I am nuts with my worrying.

I just want everyone to get along...and Alice to make sure they are safe.

Thanks,

~Di

No, most hens wean from 6-12 weeks, really depends on the mom. Yeah, I think they're be fine.

Alice, if shes a good mom, will, and from the sounds of your update, she did well

Do you feed the hens scratch or hen pellets? If you feed scratch, the chicks can eat that, if you feed hen pellets, then give them chick starter.