Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Sallysec]

Still awake...

So I was putting the Serama chicks away tonight, and the little roo finally acted on his amorous intentions. Jumped on poor Coffee, grabbed her by the head feathers, but she wasn't interested. Fortunately, he took the rejection like a gentleman, so she was not too upset. Thing is, they are barely 2 months old! Isn't 8 weeks pretty young for a cockerel to start all that? He's been crowing for about 3 weeks now, getting hackle and saddle feathers, maturing so quickly. The pullet is just starting to get tiny wattles; her comb is a bit bigger, but very pale, so poor Donut is going to have to be patient for a while yet. They are still so tiny too- kind of like small grapefruits with a tails! Here's Loverboy! Miss Coffee with her Donut Oooo, big scary tennis ball! These pics are a few weeks old. I have to take some new ones.

These two are so adorable and I love the names. Don't know if its too early, but I am suspecting not since he is doing it . No roosters here

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Still awake...

These two are so adorable and I love the names. Don't know if its too early, but I am suspecting not since he is doing it . No roosters here

Thanks Sally. My son named the male, so I figured Coffee would go well. I wasn't going to have roosters here because the coop is too close to our house and several neighbors (with whom we'd like to stay on good terms

). These little Seramas, however, have a tiny crow to match. For the past 3 weeks it's been squeak-a-doodle-doo and lately he's been coming into full voice, which is still pretty quiet. The few wacka-wacky hens I have that announce every egg with 20 minutes of screaming are far, far noisier than the mini-roo.

Wish roosters came with volume control because I would love to have one for the big girls. We tried with an accidental EE cockerel, but two weeks of being awakened at 4:30am made us realize it wouldn't work. Everything has a price I guess.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

I think the shipping is hard on them, i had one doa and one die a few hours in. I hope everyone else stays healthy. Watch for pasty butts and keep an eye to make sure everyone is eating and drinking. It sounds like you love them already. Enjoy this time and take tons of pictures....it flies by so quickly and they get big so fast.
Quote: Probably a faulty sensor that detects impact and deploys the air bag caused it to deploy. Lucky you was working and not sitting behind the steering wheel. Glad your OK

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Cheeka, so glad you are okay. Those air bags can be downright dangerous. Wearing glasses as we do, it is never a pleasant thought to get hit in the face. Check for recalls on your car.

AL, no more pics for us? Share the cuteness!!!

Kian, congrats on getting a broodybator. It's so nice to let the mommas do all the work!





Quote: Thinking I might let ROGER sit on the regular eggs for a while longer and as the due date nears for the hatching eggs make the switch then. She is just too unpredictable and i'm not convinced this whole thing is not another dirty trick. I need to build some more nest boxes. I only have three boxes and the broodys are hogging up all the eggs.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

So I need to buy chick starter food. What else do I need? Should I separate the broody and the chicks from the rest of the flock after they hatch? If so I need to get working on that plan. Probably means a expansion of the coop and run. No easy way to divide the place in half. I will be getting rid of most of the chicks because I don't want but maybe 3 or 4 or 5.....maybe 6 but 7 or 8 is the limit

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So I need to buy chick starter food. What else do I need? Should I separate the broody and the chicks from the rest of the flock after they hatch? If so I need to get working on that plan. Probably means a expansion of the coop and run. No easy way to divide the place in half. I will be getting rid of most of the chicks because I don't want but maybe 3 or 4 or 5.....maybe 6 but 7 or 8 is the limit

hehe...you will probably have to keep em all. be prepared for a few roos too. If you arent sure on your broody bring them in and put the heat bulb on them. if its not warm there yet, be ready with a brooder. I will probably let my girls keep eggs next month.

Quote:

These two are so adorable and I love the names. Don't know if its too early, but I am suspecting not since he is doing it . No roosters here

Thanks Sally. My son named the male, so I figured Coffee would go well. I wasn't going to have roosters here because the coop is too close to our house and several neighbors (with whom we'd like to stay on good terms

). These little Seramas, however, have a tiny crow to match. For the past 3 weeks it's been squeak-a-doodle-doo and lately he's been coming into full voice, which is still pretty quiet. The few wacka-wacky hens I have that announce every egg with 20 minutes of screaming are far, far noisier than the mini-roo.

Wish roosters came with volume control because I would love to have one for the big girls. We tried with an accidental EE cockerel, but two weeks of being awakened at 4:30am made us realize it wouldn't work. Everything has a price I guess.

Ugh hope theres not a rooster, good luck

Still awake...
Quote: WOW so young but I am a noob on these banties too. Butters is the flock master of all the bantams so the other roos, there are several.. arent trying, yet. I am waiting to see what develops

 

[showbarnmom]

Wow he is gorgeous!!!!

 

[kian]

So what to do. Give her a few of the big broody BO's eggs and let her get credit? Give her two dozen golf balls to pay her back for her past evil tricks she played on me? Thought about finding some snapping turtle eggs for her.

Any suggestions?

Bwahahaha!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

Thinking I might let ROGER sit on the regular eggs for a while longer and as the due date nears for the hatching eggs make the switch then. She is just too unpredictable and i'm not convinced this whole thing is not another dirty trick. I need to build some more nest boxes. I only have three boxes and the broodys are hogging up all the eggs.

Has she plucked out any of her breast feathers? Is she still glued to the nest? Those are pretty good signs of a determined broody. If you are going to let her have a few chicks, better that she has the eggs hatch under her (like you're planning) rather than trying to give her hatched chicks.

I had a couple of young pullets attempt the broody thing last year, and they took up 2 of the 3 nest boxes. There was quite a line of impatient chickens waiting for the use of the remaining box. Grabbed a couple of cardboard boxes, open at top, cut down in front, and put them on the floor for temporary use. One box became a favorite and is still in there, even though not needed now. No broodies for me this year, so far.

So I need to buy chick starter food. What else do I need? Should I separate the broody and the chicks from the rest of the flock after they hatch? If so I need to get working on that plan. Probably means a expansion of the coop and run. No easy way to divide the place in half. I will be getting rid of most of the chicks because I don't want but maybe 3 or 4 or 5.....maybe 6 but 7 or 8 is the limit

Glad to see you know your limits! From what I remember and have read recently, you really only need to separate the chicks (with momma/s) for a week or two to get the chicks strong and used to eating and drinking. The broody will protect them, and chicks don't usually trigger pecking order problems, but if you have a mean hen, the chicks could get hurt/killed. So watch to see if any of the others are showing excessive interest in the babies. You can just fence off a small section on the floor for starters (don't need half the coop, maybe 4x4' would do it). The others will be able to see the chicks and satisfy their curiosity. Once chicks are integrated into the flock, some people make an exclusion area that the smaller chicks can get into for food/water/safety, but made so the big girls can't fit through the entry.

You'll need chick starter, low feeder, a small waterer with some marbles or clean pebbles in the tray so suicidal chicks don't drown themselves (although we never had issues with this), and perhaps some chick grit (no calcium) in case the chicks eat something other than crumbles. Momma will need a cozy accessible nest (cardboard box?) to keep the chicks warm. Nothing too fancy or permanent needed unless you plan on becoming a crazy chicken dude.

The momma will show the kids what to eat, so little treats, especially greens, are great for them to have (but make sure they have grit).

The chicks should not eat layer feed until they start laying, and roosters should not eat it at all. You can switch to an all flock feed and serve free choice oyster shell on the side. ** I have also heard that the calcium in layer feed is low enough for roosters to eat safely, but have not researched since I don't have one. My girls get layer pellets and still eat gobs of oyster shell, so maybe it's not too much.

What did I forget, everybody??

 

[kian]

Cheeka I am so glad that you're alright!!