I was literally just looking at your profile for pictures because I saw an older post about how you keep a flock of cochin bantams (and that's 3/4 of the chicks we ordered!) I'm trying to figure out how to make a reasonable broody breaker setup within our run and was hoping you had pics of yours. I'm paranoid I'll have half a dozen broodies at once and not enough dog crates to stick them in!Wait until you get them than you worry about even more. Are they warm enough? Too warm? Are they eating? Drinking? Is that one dead? Oh, thank goodness it's just sleeping. What about that one?
No matter how many times I order I always get a bit stressed for the first 2 weeks. Make sure your brooder is a good temperature.Check with a thermometer. Make sure there is some electrolyte in the water the first few days as they can become depleted and have low blood sugar on arrival. If you don't have chick electrolytes than brown sugar can work, 1teaspoon to a quart of warm water. Also make sure to keep checking for poopy butt. I also put in some glass rocks in the water, and feed, and scattered about to give them something shiny to peck at instead of each others eyes.
The rest you can't control. Some unfortunately don't make it, but most do. Looking forward to seeing your new arrivals.
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For 99% of my broody bantams I just move them and pen them away from their choose nest site for 3-5 days. I sometimes have 6-8 in the same pen as I have a lot of bantams. My pen is full all season long. Bantams don't fight as much as standard breeds, so I can put them together without too much troubles for a few days. Pen just needs a roost, and food and water. Nothing fancy. Most didn't go broody until the following spring, so you should have time.I was literally just looking at your profile for pictures because I saw an older post about how you keep a flock of cochin bantams (and that's 3/4 of the chicks we ordered!) I'm trying to figure out how to make a reasonable broody breaker setup within our run and was hoping you had pics of yours. I'm paranoid I'll have half a dozen broodies at once and not enough dog crates to stick them in!
Also, you can gave me full confidence that I'm ready to go! I've got my office at a sweltering 75, heat plate toasty, sav-a-chick ready to mix into room temp water, and stickers in the brooder for them to peck instead of each other's eyes
This is why we went with them (it was a tossup between Pekins and Orpingtons). Our last flock melted down at point-of-lay and needed to be re-homed to a free-range situation. Hoping the bantam cochins will have success with some extra run space, clutter, and a larger coop.
I wanted to use a heat lamp for at least the first day, but our brooders are either plastic or metal, which seemed like a really bad idea to mix with a hot bulb. I've only used the plate one time, but the chicks did really well, even when moved to the cool basement.
The heat plate is definitely better when brooding inside a heated home or building.
Good to know! I’m going to try and make it as interesting as possible for them (and add in new areas over time). So many people claim it’s one of their favorite breeds, so I’m very excited to give them a shot! Got a couple d’uccles as well to round out the order, which I’ve also heard positive things about.
