OK it's been awhile since I got the chance to be on here I have been in the hospital for kidney stones and the wife has been taking care of our chicks. They will be 8 weeks old on friday and I must say that after not seeing them for a week that WOW did they grow. My wife now tells me that we will no longer butcher her girls and that they will livw a good life in the back yard. I knew she would get attached to them. Ok now on to the questions. 1- They are 8 weeks old and feathered out. It is going to be in the mid 50's today with some rain showers. Will it be ok to let them out of the coop? They have shelter out of the rain if they want it.. 2- I started to feed them oyster shells, grit and layer food is this ok? 3- Will they ever stop fighting over who slleps where on the roost? The wife hates to see them fight. I must say that I never thought we would get attached to them the way we have. I wanted chickens for eggs and meat but what I have now are 7 spoiled chickens for whom we at times make a special trip into town for snacks. We have came to find out that they LOVE scrambled eggs, Cantalope, and some big block of food that my wife found at Tractor supply. I never thought that this chicken adventure would of wen this way. But I nust say I enjoy watching them run around chasing each other. I am even starting to tell what the different noise's are that they make. All in all i must say that chickens are alot of fun and I have been nothing short of thrilled raising them the last 8 weeks.
Hi, I'm new to this and can't give you any answers but I thought I'd give this a bump. Also, I feel the same way! I never thought that I'd get so attached to my girls! They are like feathery dogs! Each have their very own distinct personalities and I adore them!
First of all let me say how clever it was of you to develope kidney stones so your wife would bond with your chicks. Honestly and all kidding aside I hope you are feeling better and that you never have to endure that pain again. I asked the same thing a few days ago (read I Have a Dumb Question) and the concensus was all over the place. Some said to let them have fun and be chickens while others said why chance them getting sick. I erred on the conservative side since mine are just over 6 weeks and new to being outside. I live in upper MD so our weather patterns are about the same. So I guess it's up to you and your gut feeling (now that your guts are feeling better). I guess if they don't like it, they'll go back in.
MY advice is to drink lots of water and play with your chickens often to avoid kidney stones in the future! LOL
Hi! Glad your pain is over--let's hope no new stones develop. I think outside play is okay for a bit, but if it really starts to pour the rain tuck them back inside-wet + wind=unhappy birds. In my opinion you should not be feeding oyster shells and layer feed. Layer feed and oyster shells have lots of calcium for actively laying birds, at 8 weeks your chicks most likely are not laying. Starter or Grower is appropriate until 18 weeks or so, the excess calcium is hard on the young un's system. I believe that once a pecking order is established the fighting will lessen, but perhaps never completely go away.
Your chicks will not need layer feed until they start laying; starter/grower feed has the protein your chicks need...layer has less protein. They will not need calcium/oyster shell until they start laying (when they start making a shell). Unfortunately, the bickering will continue...I feel like I have 22 toddlers in our household! Hope you have the kidney stones take care of...my husband has had them...not a fun thing! Good luck with your recovery and babes!
At 8 weeks they should be able to handle temps as low as 55 degrees. a little sun and a tiny bit of shelter on a 50 degree day is still 55 or better on the birds. I woudl let them out but making it possible for them to get back in if they want to. It dropped to 42 last night and I brought all my birds inside. I have a shop that is heated to 70 degrees all the time. my birds are very pampered but they are really getting annoyed with having to come in in bad weather. Starter grower feed until they are actually laying. Tell your wife these are a bunch of ladies. Just how does she expect them to treat each other. You might want to holler that to her from across the yard. Hope you have seen the last of those stones. pretty sure you are as well.
