The Evolution of Atlas: A Breeding (and Chat) Thread

[getaclue]

I usually brood in my breakfast nook. I talk to them all the time, look in on them a lot, and at least once a day, I catch each one, hold it, comfort it, then transfer it into a clean brooder box with it's hatch mates. I try to hold them at least once more during each day, and comfort them. Like I said, they go through stages as they grow. They get used to the routine of being talked to, handled, and transferred to a clean box. At a certain age, suddenly they act like they've never been around a person. The get all skittery again. A few days later, they settle down. Especially for treats. They do fine for a bit, then all of a sudden, they're scared again, then they get over it again. Usually by the time I put them in the coop, and they adjust to coop life, they settle right on down, and are fine after that.

 

[Leahs Mom]

These babies stayed in the house for 2 weeks then out to the brood pen in the barn. I do look in on them many times a day and sometimes will sit in the shavings and let whoever will come to me, climb on me, etc.

It's a little harder to catch them out there because the pen is 6x6.

Here's a view of the brood pen. (Not this year's chicks)

View from the back door:

Long view from the front. You can see the brooder chick pen behind and we're looking through the dog kennel 6x6 that I can open up when they're larger. I got all my kennel pens from craigslist. I just kept a look out for when I could get them for a reasonable price. You can see the green plastic chicken fence lining the bottom. They can be pretty old and still get through chain link. Those are some young SFH in the pen.

My husband also made sliding doors so that we could use them for integration. The idea was that we could open them large enough for the littles but too small for adults to get through. We put a temporary hardware cloth panel in the one that opens up so that there was more opportunity for the adults to see the littles..that's the large one at left. The other one slides sideways under the pen door.

Anyhow...the point I was making is that it's harder to catch them when they're running away in a larger space.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm still trying to imagine the logistics of getting 15 chicks herded into a container and getting the lid shut before they all start running out again.

I did 26 this year. It's just what works for me and my bad back.

 

[Leahs Mom]

@oldhenlikesdogs
I think your hubby should take a video of you herding for my education.
I need to learn your technique.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

oldhens, my chicks seem to go through stages of being afraid, then friendly, then afraid. Like you said, mine end up fine as adults.

I'm not a fan of over friendly birds as they end up tripping me and are in my business. I always have a gang of the most brave and intelligent ones following me as it is, I don't need them all.

I find feeding them scrambled eggs daily as chicks and into adolescence makes them very nosey and always wanting to know what I have.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

@oldhenlikesdogs
I think your hubby should take a video of you herding for my education.
I need to learn your technique.

. It goes like this, old lady grabs her pail and net, corner chicks in the brooder after you terrify them tripping over the 8 inch board you have to step over to get in brooder.

Put your bucket on it's side. Use your net to force them in the bucket, upright bucket while they are peeping, put net over the top, trip on board when leaving, carry chicks to temporary pen for the day and gently dump them out. Watch chicks fly and flap happily about. Repeat to put them away.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

These babies stayed in the house for 2 weeks then out to the brood pen in the barn. I do look in on them many times a day and sometimes will sit in the shavings and let whoever will come to me, climb on me, etc.

It's a little harder to catch them out there because the pen is 6x6.

Here's a view of the brood pen. (Not this year's chicks)

View from the back door:

Long view from the front. You can see the brooder chick pen behind and we're looking through the dog kennel 6x6 that I can open up when they're larger. I got all my kennel pens from craigslist. I just kept a look out for when I could get them for a reasonable price. You can see the green plastic chicken fence lining the bottom. They can be pretty old and still get through chain link. Those are some young SFH in the pen.

My husband also made sliding doors so that we could use them for integration. The idea was that we could open them large enough for the littles but too small for adults to get through. We put a temporary hardware cloth panel in the one that opens up so that there was more opportunity for the adults to see the littles..that's the large one at left. The other one slides sideways under the pen door.

Anyhow...the point I was making is that it's harder to catch them when they're running away in a larger space.

That's a great set up. We set up this in my shed for larger batches. There's a screen door that goes across the front that I move to get in and out.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I usually brood in my breakfast nook. I talk to them all the time, look in on them a lot, and at least once a day, I catch each one, hold it, comfort it, then transfer it into a clean brooder box with it's hatch mates. I try to hold them at least once more during each day, and comfort them. Like I said, they go through stages as they grow. They get used to the routine of being talked to, handled, and transferred to a clean box. At a certain age, suddenly they act like they've never been around a person. The get all skittery again. A few days later, they settle down. Especially for treats. They do fine for a bit, then all of a sudden, they're scared again, then they get over it again. Usually by the time I put them in the coop, and they adjust to coop life, they settle right on down, and are fine after that.

Mine get really friendly at sexual maturity and on. They suddenly lose that crazy fear they have as chicks. My husband says no chickens in the house. Thankfully I have a nice garden shed I use for all my brooding, otherwise I would have to break his rule.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I am going to try herding. Will report results...

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I am going to try herding. Will report results...