Raising the first chicks I hatched myself

[IamRainey]

This is our third round of chicks. I got the first 2 generations by mail from a hatchery but virulent Newcastle Disease hit my area and my order for this Spring got cancelled by edict of the CDFA. Happily, one of last Spring's "hens" turned out to be a roo so I was able to hatch from my own eggs. ::whew!::

They're 2 weeks old now and by far the friendliest chicks yet. They rush to the side of the brooder kennel where I am. If I open the door they're on the front bar waiting to be picked up. They voluntarily sit in my hand for 3 or 4 or 5 minutes at a time even though they "fly" now for about a horizontal or vertical foot .

I look forward to watching them grow and take up residence in the coop out back. I'm thinking they'll continue to be friendlier than my other girls ever turned out to be.

So, what was the difference? I always handled them in a confident and what I thought was a friendly manner. But, previously, that didn't translate to the openness I'm seeing now.

Here's what I've noticed:
• I was there when most of the 5 were born.
• The incubator and the brooder kennel are up on a counter at my waist height so I'm not looming over them.
• Once they went into the brooder I stuck my head right in the large door. I figure my head is about the size of an adult hen so maybe they could respond to that.

In any case, I'm thrilled! It's been an exciting experience and now it's a happy one to look forward to. But, MAN!, will I be happy to get the messy feed and bedding off my counter!!! I must sweep the floor and the counter a dozen times a day!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Excellent. Congratulations on your new hatch.

Now convince one of your hens to go broody and hatch naturally and you will easily keep a sustainable flock without any mess or work on your part.

Or buy several Silkie hens and they'll do the work for you.

Ah yes, it is how it begins.

LofMc

 

[IamRainey]

I did everything I could to encourage one of my hens to go broody. I really wanted a Mama Hen to protect her chicks from the existing flock. Despite the fact that I had 2 Orpingtons and a Plymouth Rock who went broody last year when there were no fertilized eggs to sit on, no one took the bait this year.

So I bought an incubator and took it into my own hands.

I'll keep a baby roo and hope for a broody next Spring, but, for now, things are going swimmingly!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I did everything I could to encourage one of my hens to go broody. I really wanted a Mama Hen to protect her chicks from the existing flock. Despite the fact that I had 2 Orpingtons and a Plymouth Rock who went broody last year when there were no fertilized eggs to sit on, no one took the bait this year.

So I bought an incubator and took it into my own hands.

I'll keep a baby roo and hope for a broody next Spring, but, for now, things are going swimmingly!

That's why I went out and bought several Silkie hens that were proven broodies. I got started brooding with a separate broody hutch (built for isolation, quarantine and Silkie safety).

Amazingly hens hatched under a broody hen tend to become broody. Seriously. After about 2 to 3 generations of that, especially breeding from your own backyard flock, you can end up with a stellar batch of brooding hens. Egg production suffers a bit as you aren't dealing with the manufactured genes of the high production hens (who don't brood because it's been selected out of them).

Anyway, if one of your feed store/hatchery gals won't take the bait next year, i can highly recommend getting some Silkie hens. Silkie breeders usually have more than enough hens trying to brood and you can pick up less than perfect (as in not show quality) for cheap...or should I say cheeps.

My Silkies started my flock hatching. Now I've got a sustainable flock.

LofMc

 

[igorsMistress]

I agree your approach from the same level certainly helps, but I think a level of experience helps too. You might not have realized your body language has changed as you gain experience, but animals can read us.

Good luck with your newbies!

 

[IamRainey]

Anyway, if one of your feed store/hatchery gals won't take the bait next year, i can highly recommend getting some Silkie hens. Silkie breeders usually have more than enough hens trying to brood and you can pick up less than perfect (as in not show quality) for cheap...or should I say cheeps.

Thanks! A useful and amusing approach! Cheep!!!

Maybe next Spring we'll be able to buy chicks again in Los Angeles County and get a Silkie.

A well-balanced, sustainable flock with a variety of egg colors is exactly what I'm aiming for!

I agree your approach from the same level certainly helps, but I think a level of experience helps too. You might not have realized your body language has changed as you gain experience, but animals can read us.

I'm absolutely sure you're right about this.

My 8yo grandson has been around my chicks and hens for 3 years now. I try to tell him to be confident and steady when handling them but he just hasn't mastered it. He's apprehensive. The chicks rush away from him in a great beating of wings and it all just reinforces both of their skittishness.

 

[igorsMistress]

Thanks! A useful and amusing approach! Cheep!!!

Maybe next Spring we'll be able to buy chicks again in Los Angeles County and get a Silkie.

A well-balanced, sustainable flock with a variety of egg colors is exactly what I'm aiming for!



I'm absolutely sure you're right about this.

My 8yo grandson has been around my chicks and hens for 3 years now. I try to tell him to be confident and steady when handling them but he just hasn't mastered it. He's apprehensive. The chicks rush away from him in a great beating of wings and it all just reinforces both of their skittishness.

I have a range of skill among my grandchildren. One was really skittish at first. I gave her treats to feed. She couldn't move, just held her hand open inside the brooder and let them take them. Once she mastered that and could hold still with them on her hand and arm, she got to sit on the floor and coax them to her with treats and learned slow even movement. She really wanted them to sit in her lap or to be able to cuddle them. Might work? They all get used to each other in steps so to speak.

 

[IamRainey]

They're still on the counter between my kitchen and my family room. It's really not the ideal spot for chicks to fling their bedding... But the pleasure of listening to them cheap and warble all day long is something else! It's like a cage full of canaries.

I figure a couple more weeks and then they can go out into the run -- kennel and all.

I'm going to see if I can fashion an alternative to the large existing door to the kennel so that when I release them, they'll have a small safety door to take refuge from the adult hens if they need to.



So calm I could hold this one in my left hand and take the pic with my right!



And here is their home in our home. I've ordered a slightly smaller one with enclosed sides at the bottom for future hatchings. I hope it will prevent the occasional "escapes" we had with the dog kennel and also some of the bedding scratching and flinging.

 

[igorsMistress]

Awe, so cute!