Taking poults away from a hen

[Eastbranch]

Hey there,

I have a Bourbon Red hen who seems to be a good mom so far. She hatched 17 poults 10 days ago and so far they are all doing well! Unfortunately I listed my breeding flock for sale before I discovered she was brooding and they sold. The new owner was very generous to let us keep her until the babies were hatched out but she is anxious to collect her hen. If the world were a perfect place I would let nature takes its course and let her do the rearing but I don't think her new owner will be that patient! Any suggestions about when I can safely remove her from the babies?

 

[Demosthine]

Since they were hatched ten days ago, her broodiness should be resolved. At this point, you should be able to let the new owner pick her up and then you can raise the poults just like you would a new batch from the hatchery or sell them, if that is your intent. Just do all the obvious things for them: proper heat, ample food and water, clean bedding, etc.

 

[Eastbranch]

Thanks Demosthine.

I see that she is no longer broody so I CAN take her away at any time. I wondered though if it was better to leave her with them until a certain milestone, like maybe when they feather out or harden off for outside. They were born in our 'maternity ward' which is a small separate coop alongside the main turkey coop which shares the 1.5 acres of free range grazing land with our 20 chickens and 3 other turkeys. I believe they will do better with their momma than without, so am looking for a balance which makes us all happy. (I also have two 14 day old incubator hatched poults in a hutch in my kitchen that I really would rather get out with the others! But that may require a separate post. . .)

 

[Demosthine]

Generally, I start putting my chicks and poults (first time around for those) out at about a week old, under supervised free ranging. I have yet to have a problem with any of them being abused by the older chickens. This last year, I've had a constant influx of chicks cycling through, so I think the entire flock is use to them coming in and doesn't make any type of an issue. Your flock may be different, though. Just watch and see what happens. By about three or four weeks, they are in the main coop and free-ranging all day with the rest of my clan. I enjoy knowing that the youngin's can survive that easily.

 

[chicks and hens2]

At one to 3 weeks of age my turkey poults are still in the brooder under a heat lamp, guess it depends on where you live and how warm out it is.
I thought like bay chicks you started the brooder at between 95 and 100 degrees and each week after that you lowered by 5 degrees until the temp was the same as outside. Do you not do that?

 

[frank53061]

What you said about the heat lamp I agree I do the same thing 95 to 100 degree first day hatch 5 degree less every week I just back off the heat lamp a little each week I will not remove the heat lamp unless the weather stays warm or they have a good amount of feather coverage.
Watch the body Language and the sounds they make like all baby's if there is something they need they will tell you with there constant and loud chirping.

I always know when my Chicks or Poults are doing well if I very seldom hear any chirping and there will be one or two out of the bunch that is not satisfied how ever you take care of it unless you are holding it of course it wants MA MA .

 

[Demosthine]

Watch the body Language and the sounds they make like all baby's if there is something they need they will tell you with there constant and loud chirping.

I always know when my Chicks or Poults are doing well if I very seldom hear any chirping and there will be one or two out of the bunch that is not satisfied how ever you take care of it unless you are holding it of course it wants MA MA .

And then there are some batches that just won't stop chirping no matter what you do. All three of my poults are complete chatterboxes. It's like going a slumber party with a bunch of teenager girls, they just won't quiet down. Whether it's 80* at night or 110* during the day, fresh food and water, free-ranging or cooped, it's all there for them to thrive. They are broad breasted bronze, so maybe it's just that breed or something.

They are ubber friendly, though. The were running back and forth along the pool fence trying to get to us while we were swimming. One found his way through the very back corner under the oleander bushes and roosted up on top of the small fence concealing the pump. I'm sure she was sitting there thinking "Well, heck, how do I get to them now..."

 

[frank53061]

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