Surprise chicks, help please!

[junebuggena]

He's showing the girls that he thinks the nest boxes are a good place to raise his babies.

 

[Nickles]

Yup Susan is a Sam for certain. Looks to me to be a leghorn male.

It is amazing how much the little ones eat. Yes keep food available 24/7 they eat a lot because it is needed. They are going to be growing in leaps and bounds. Fresh food and water all the time is very important. If they are scratching the food out of the dish and all over the floor where they cannot find it you can put it in a cardboard tray about an inch tall on the sides and at least 10 inches by 10 inches square. (Larger ones work too) This will help them find the food if they start scattering it in the bedding. I use this method for the first week and change the box when it becomes soiled.

What an amazing surprise to have show up. I am glad you are willing to take them in and do what they need.

I like Sam, I think I'll keep that! Poor guy, but a great excuse to expand the flock

The chicks haven't really been scratching much at all, so the food's been easy for them to get to but I'm sure they'll get to that point so I'll keep that in mind. Thanks!

 

[Nickles]

He's showing the girls that he thinks the nest boxes are a good place to raise his babies.

Aww, he's a good daddy. Must have something to do with his sensitive lady-like upbringing

 

[keesmom]

I have had many males that will sit in a nice nest box, or otherwise suitable nesting area, and call to the pullets and hens to show this is a good place to lay eggs. In fact I have had fewer floor eggs in a flock run by a rooster than a hen only one.

 

[21hens-incharge]

If you are keeping him you will like his adult look if you like his current look. Leghorn males are a pretty bird.

 

[Nickles]

I'm keeping him, he's been here for months and is a total sweet heart. I don't think I have it in me to send him away just because he doesn't have the desired parts.

But, someone said one of the little ones looks like a male. What's the chances of keeping two roosters in a happy flock? I don't want more than 10 birds, that's not enough to go around, is it?

 

[21hens-incharge]

No it is not enough to go around. Leghorns are also very dominant in a flock so the new roo would suffer. I would not rehome the little one until I heard it crow.

 

[Nickles]

Sounds like a plan, thanks