The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[slordaz]

yardbirdmom, I don't actually know that answer as I am fairly new but seems like that worked, when doing something like that ya just watch really close though in case ya need to protect the babies.

 

[Lacy Blues]

I'd say you have a very special and unusual hen there.

 

[lazy gardener]

Yardbirdmom: Your wonderful hens didn't read the same books I've read! Goes to show that what we read does not always match what may or may not happen. Case in point: the pics of dogs diligently mothering and nursing kittens, squirrels, and rabbits!

 

[YardBirdMom]

Slordaz, absolutely! I use a 200 gallon rubber feed trough as a brooder with an old chain link fence gate over the top. I had taken the "lid" off & sat right there, on my 5 gallon bucket, watching her for an hour. I think I'll consider myself lucky, or it's their breeding ?
Two have been Black Sex-Links, the other is a Buff Rock & ALL are hatchery birds.... who knew lol

 

[slordaz]

Yardbirdmom I would say the more the bird itself, mine are hatchery chicks too and I don't really think that's something the hatcheries are gonna worry about as the chicks don't get time with a hen. or maybe just cause they have been so well cared for and trained through interaction. I've heard some breeds are more prone to raise chicks as a community too but again I don't have the experience to say if that is a fact or not.

edited got some coffee can see to type more lol
Maybe hatchery is trying to breed it in too as more people are trying to start their own or a new flock, but of 18 birds I have 2 that 8-10 weeks both are BR, had this urge to raise 2 day old baby chicks that we got and was broad daylight when we got them home the other took in the meatchicks and mallard duckling as the older duck wasn't having anything to them. and the original duckling was a few days old in the brooding pen when the chicks decided she was momma as she was so much bigger than them luckily she didn't complain lol.Gotta remember chickens as well as other animals don't read so they may not follow any books rules, those are just guidelines

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Jewelwing

Did you try your chicks with the other potential mamma?

 

[Jewelwing]

@Jewelwing

Did you try your chicks with the other potential mamma?

No, I was exhausted after getting up before dawn yesterday (I am NOT a morning person!), and decided I couldn't do it two days in a row. My sleep is a bit messed up because I just got back from picking up my son from his first year of college in Boston, which is a long drive from Illinois - we had to hurry back to get home before the new chicks arrived.

I might try it tonight, though. The chicks are three days old today.

It would save me a lot of headache to have them raised by a broody, because I don't really have a good spot to raise them myself. If I do end up having to do that, I'll want to section off some of the 6' x 6' coop & move them in there as soon as possible, because they're just in a large plastic tote now (1-1/2' x 3') that doesn't have a lid (1-1/2' tall sides). I'm not sure how easy it will be to introduce them to the established flock, which I'd want to do sooner than later since I'd like them to be able to free range and forage too.

On the other hand, the Australorp that's broody isn't my friendliest. She's not nasty, she just always runs away from me and hates to be handled, so I'm worried that she'd teach all nine new chicks to be afraid of me.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I'm with you...would always choose a broody if I had the option!

I had my last chicks in a sectioned off part of the regular coop. We actually added another pop door off that part and sectioned the run too so that they could go outside in an area protected from the adult birds and also safe from predators while they were little. The older birds had their door and an exit to the range from the kennel pen while the youngers had a temporary divider that kept them in the kennel. Worked well, but it would have been great to have the mamma doing the job.

 

[COChix]

Yesterday was moving day for the babies, two weeks old, out of the house and brooder set up and moved them outside in the small coop.

Here is a shot of the flock looking at the babies, the flock ran the other way and were rather freaked out by the baby chicks. It was pretty funny to watch, especially when my BF held one of the chicks, the roo made warning sounds and everyone ran.

Here is the new brooder set up.

The flock was curious once the scary babies were secured in the small coop. They milled around for awhile listening and just sitting outside the coop.

Ok so their first night outside the littles did pretty good, they are use to going to bed when we turned the lights off for the night when they were in the house. So at dusk they were still running around and when I checked them at 9 half where in the cave and half were piled up on the side. I moved them all into the cave and there they stayed all night, this am they were active and waiting on food. I figured a couple of nights of helping them all make it in the cave and then I am sure they will figure it out. They are adjusting to the natural light and will learn at dusk to go into the cave. I am very please with this whole set up and feel like it is a much more natural way to raise the chicks.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Maybe hatchery is trying to breed it in too as more people are trying to start their own or a new flock

I doubt it. Hatcheries are in business to make money. Most all of them kill all the birds at 18 months of age when they stop laying and start molting because they don't want to feed unproductive birds for 3 months while they grow all new feathers.

I've never even heard of chicks doing what your chicks are doing and it totally amazes me! I wish I had a few like that!

On the other hand, the Australorp that's broody isn't my friendliest. She's not nasty, she just always runs away from me and hates to be handled, so I'm worried that she'd teach all nine new chicks to be afraid of me.

You're probably right. This is fairly normal behavior though. They tolerate us because we bring the food but the moment they think we might be after them, they're off and running.

Can I ask what you are using to hold your cave up?