The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bethel3330]

@Bethel3330


How old are the youngest chicks in the flock?

Hi!
The youngest chicks that are out with the flock are 7 and 8 weeks old. The older pullets are 13 and 16 weeks old, with the adult roo.
Then I have 2 five week olds and an 8 week old cochin/silkie cross inside. This last one is teeny tiny. No one picks on it but I'm particularly protective cuz she's as tall as a blade of grass still lol

 

[Bethel3330]

It is the anticipation that is the worst just like the other poster mentioned.  Basically don't plan it too far in advance.  Have everything set up for a few days before hand then it is easy to take action on a whim without over thinking the matter.  Sure some say to take away food and water about 24 hours before hand but that leaves 24 hours to think about having to process.  So instead we just keep most stuff lined up ready to use for a couple Saturdays in a row.  Then Dh has me tell him on processing morning. 

I second that. We basically purposed in our minds to do it sometime this week and out of the blue I told hubby now's the time. We didn't fast him either and it wasn't a problem. It's just too difficult to separate out a single bird for us and I wanted him nervous as little as possible.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Thanks! I have 8 week olds that I'm trying to decide when to let out w/the rest of the flock. I've asked everyone their experiences and I appreciate the input.

These 3 kiddos I have right now are the first non-broody-raised babies I've had since starting my original small flock. The last 2 additions were taken care of by mamma so they were out with the flock w/in the first week. This time I have to be the mamma and since I work during the days I can't be there to monitor what's going on. I'll have to introduce on a Friday afternoon or Saturday and watch for the weekend then probably not let them out in the big world until I'm at home in the afternoons.

Besides the fact that they have to integrate with the olders, I'm wanting to be sure I'm not just feeding hawks.

I've heard a lot of variety of ages and philosophies that people use when putting them out and most of them make sense from a variety of viewpoints. I'm thinking that I'm going to wait until at least 12 weeks but I may change my mind.


And.... Hi to you too

Glad you joined us.

 

[Bethel3330]

Thanks!  I have 8 week olds that I'm trying to decide when to let out w/the rest of the flock.  I've asked everyone their experiences and I appreciate the input.

These 3 kiddos I have right now are the first non-broody-raised babies I've had since starting my original small flock.  The last 2 additions were taken care of by mamma so they were out with the flock w/in the first week.  This time I have to be the mamma and since I work during the days I can't be there to monitor what's going on.  I'll have to introduce on a Friday afternoon or Saturday and watch for the weekend then probably not let them out in the big world until I'm at home in the afternoons.

Besides the fact that they have to integrate with the olders, I'm wanting to be sure I'm not just feeding hawks. 

I've heard a lot of variety of ages and philosophies that people use when putting them out and most of them make sense from a variety of viewpoints.  I'm thinking that I'm going to wait until at least 12 weeks but I may change my mind. 


And.... Hi to you too     Glad you joined us.

Thanks!
One other note with mine, though. They only range when we're home. We don't necessarily supervise, though we check periodically and try to leave a window open to listen for trouble. Our coop is at the edge of a wooded area which is helping to keep them hidden from hawks. There are several watching, though, and keeping me nervous and the rooster on his toes.

 

[Turkeytruff]

I love it when birds co-parent. I had a pair of Mallard hens that hatched 24 eggs together. Then one took off and never looked back, leaving the other to do all of the work.

I have a grandmother BCM bird. She has never gone properly broody for me but this is the second time this year she has become very friendly to the chicks when they are 4 weeks old plus. In this case the momma is still looking after them but she accepts the help - they are both finding food and encouraging the 4 chicks; it's so sweet watching her, even though she doesn't lay anymore, she has a permanent place in my flock!

 

[Leahs Mom]

A few photos of the 8 week old SFH. The photos of "brown" are all the same bird. There are 2 blacks for a total of 3 kiddos altogether. It was noon when I took these so they really just wanted to be laying in the shade. Next photos I take will be in the evening when they're more active and I can get more "stance" shots.



Brown








2 Blacks
I believe black with the band is on the right or to the front.








Black w/band

 

[ki4got]

A few photos of the 8 week old SFH. The photos of "brown" are all the same bird. There are 2 blacks for a total of 3 kiddos altogether. It was noon when I took these so they really just wanted to be laying in the shade. Next photos I take will be in the evening when they're more active and I can get more "stance" shots.

edit: nevermind, I realized my mistake in identifying the birds. LOL

they're all very nice, brown looks like a cockerel, but blacks both look like pullets so far.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

edit: nevermind, I realized my mistake in identifying the birds. LOL

they're all very nice, brown looks like a cockerel, but blacks both look like pullets so far.

Interesting you say that. Last week on the SFH thread when I posted them everyone said they were all female. From the time I've gotten them I thought that brown may be a little roo but have kept watching.

It appears to me that he/she is getting little wattles...

 

[ki4got]

Quote:

edit: nevermind, I realized my mistake in identifying the birds. LOL

they're all very nice, brown looks like a cockerel, but blacks both look like pullets so far.

Interesting you say that. Last week on the SFH thread when I posted them everyone said they were all female. From the time I've gotten them I thought that brown may be a little roo but have kept watching.

It appears to me that he/she is getting little wattles...

sometimes they don't really start developing it until 10-12 weeks, other times they're obviously one or the other much younger.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

A comb that size and that light color on one of my reds would lead me to think pullet. But I have no experience with SFH. The brown one's comb is bigger than the black two's combs. That might point to a roo.