So, the chaos in the coop might be calming down. The broody and her 3 week olds are finding their own way in and out of the broody cage. The teenagers were up on the roosts by the adults tonight instead of on the little roost in the brooder cage (top is open so they can get in and out). I hope the adults don't murder them before I can get in there tomorrow morning, but they decided to roost up there so they must be ready to take on the challenge. At least they were smart enough to go on the bottom rung. Three of them have some red marks on the comb area near the beak, so I know they have been through a few rounds of pecking already. I will take the brooder area out of there tomorrow and see how it goes. Then all that remains are the two other broodies sitting on eggs (one due next week with 2, the other in 2 weeks with 3).
Some observations of a broody momma hen... she had them out and eating goodies off the ground by day 3. They play in the mud and she takes them out in light rains. They can jump up onto obstacles about 1+ feet off the ground. They are only huddled under her at night and anytime something scary (like a leaf, robin, or chipmunk) comes around. When they get tired they hitch a ride on momma's back. They seem healthier and more active than any of the other chicks I have purchased. No pasty butt, no lethargy, nothing. They are already accepted into the flock where the ones that I brooded (who are 6 weeks or so) are not. It makes me think we seriously overdo it when we brood them. It has been hard to let her do her thing, but it seems that she knows far more about what a healthy chick needs than I do.
Makes sense to me!
