The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[JennaLynn122]

My HAL chicks are in the barn getting to know the hens and rooster through the coop door. The whole inside wall is just 2x4s filled in with chicken wire and I don't have a safe outdoor area for the chicks yet so this was the next best thing. They have full run of the 30x40 pole barn. Half sand, 1/4 dirt, and 1/4 driveway gravel with straw on top. Using wooden saw horses as temp roosts while they are in there... I have a few questions though. They are 7 and 8 weeks old. How long would you keep them in there before adding them into the coop with the big ones? (U know to add then at night) and some still aren't roosting at night but I'm wondering if its because they didn't judge the daylight correctly.

 

[SilkieSensation]

My HAL chicks are in the barn getting to know the hens and rooster through the coop door. The whole inside wall is just 2x4s filled in with chicken wire and I don't have a safe outdoor area for the chicks yet so this was the next best thing. They have full run of the 30x40 pole barn. Half sand, 1/4 dirt, and 1/4 driveway gravel with straw on top. Using wooden saw horses as temp roosts while they are in there... I have a few questions though. They are 7 and 8 weeks old. How long would you keep them in there before adding them into the coop with the big ones? (U know to add then at night) and some still aren't roosting at night but I'm wondering if its because they didn't judge the daylight correctly.

Call me mean, but as long as I have at least 6 chicks needing to go out they get pitched in the coop at about 5 weeks old this time of year. Once they are fully feathered they are fine weather wise. Just keep an eye on them & as long as no one draws blood they are usually fine. I have limited brooder space & no grow out pens available right now. The only casualties I have had were 3 that the wind blew a heavy board over on & 1 that got caught out in the rain when I was gone for the weekend & the neighbor boy who was bird sitting didn't see it.

 

[JennaLynn122]

Call me mean, but as long as I have at least 6 chicks needing to go out they get pitched in the coop at about 5 weeks old this time of year. Once they are fully feathered they are fine weather wise. Just keep an eye on them & as long as no one draws blood they are usually fine. I have limited brooder space & no grow out pens available right now. The only casualties I have had were 3 that the wind blew a heavy board over on & 1 that got caught out in the rain when I was gone for the weekend & the neighbor boy who was bird sitting didn't see it.

well I tried letting them all free range together... didn't work out too well. One of my CHICKS attacked a big hen and got effed up. She is fine now but I was right beside her when it happened

 

[SilkieSensation]

Call me mean, but as long as I have at least 6 chicks needing to go out they get pitched in the coop at about 5 weeks old this time of year. Once they are fully feathered they are fine weather wise. Just keep an eye on them & as long as no one draws blood they are usually fine. I have limited brooder space & no grow out pens available right now. The only casualties I have had were 3 that the wind blew a heavy board over on & 1 that got caught out in the rain when I was gone for the weekend & the neighbor boy who was bird sitting didn't see it.

well I tried letting them all free range together... didn't work out too well. One of my CHICKS attacked a big hen and got effed up. She is fine now but I was right beside her when it happened

Mine learn quickly not to challenge the big birds. As long as there's no blood I don't intervene. They work it all out eventually. I have discoveted my turkey tom is more likely to be nasty to my babies than the chickens are though. I've swatted his tail several times for being mean to chicks.

 

[JennaLynn122]

Mine learn quickly not to challenge the big birds. As long as there's no blood I don't intervene. They work it all out eventually. I have discoveted my turkey tom is more likely to be nasty to my babies than the chickens are though. I've swatted his tail several times for being mean to chicks.

this one unfortunately drew blood. But I agree I don't intervene unless there is blood.

 

[JDchicks]

Just wanted to thank everyone again, for the great time this year.

I have had 10 silkied ameraucanas, 10 rainbow layers and 1 red bourbon turkey hatch from the prizes I won.

 

[LBKS]

Just wanted to thank everyone again, for the great time this year.

I have had 10 silkied ameraucanas, 10 rainbow layers and 1 red bourbon turkey hatch from the prizes I won.

Congrats!

 

[Sueg4332]

What would you call the opposite. A white Leghorn roo over Rhode Is. Red hens? That's what my Granpa used to breed to sell eggs to the hatchery.

in California they are called cross links, hen are red, roosters white.

 

[Book]

Our three little black bantam-cochin chicks that hatching from the incubator from hell are still doing great! They are so tiny! We have them in the garage in the brooder still with some new chicks. We hope to raise them all up together so the bigger birds will not pick on the bantams when they are grown. That is our newbie theory anyway.

Question: All three have single combs so far. How can we tell if any/all are males?

 

[SilkieSensation]

 Our three little black bantam-cochin chicks that hatching from the incubator from hell are still doing great! They are so tiny! We have them in the garage in the brooder still with some new chicks. We hope to raise them all up together so the bigger birds will not pick on the bantams when they are grown. That is our newbie theory anyway. 

[COLOR=800080] Question: All three have single combs so far. How can we tell if any/all are males? [/COLOR]

Cochin roos tennd to develop combs early & crow early. I've had them crowing at a week old, but npt always. Post close ups of combs & wattles & we may be able to tell by now.