The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[CoopChick719]

Sorry for long post above. Laptop is on the fritz. Posting from my phone!!

 

[subhanalah]

Chicken math question here:  I have 27 6 week old chicks and 5 hens.  After harvesting the meat birds, and all of the roosters except for one, I'll be left with 13 young pullets and one cockrel to add to the existing flock of 5.  My current coop is a cattle panel affair, 2 levels with the top level being 4 x 8, 2 nest boxes and almost 8' of perch.  The bottom level is 8' x 12'.  I'll be building a new coop this fall.  I also have a 3 x 6 and a 6 x 7 tractor.  All the birds will be finally enclosed in their electronet enclosure as soon as the weather cooperates, so I can get the garden planted without the help of the chickens.  The little bit of interaction between the older and younger chickens has been amicable so far.  I'd like to allow the chicks to move into the lower level of the coop to make management easier, and also to get the pullets integrated into the laying flock early. 

I hate to keep the chicks closely confined, but realize that the smaller pullets will be prime pickings for hawks.  Recommendations sought regarding keeping the youngsters in the tractor with a bird netting over a segregated part of the electronet run, vs allowing them to integrate with the hens, and risk hawk predation.  I know there's no correct answer, but feedback and experience appreciated.  If I allow the chicks to fully integrate with the older gals, I'll need to do some serious wing clipping as the Doms and especially the RCBL are on the flighty side.

I think it's a good idea to keep the younger ones separated from the older ones so they can still see/hear eachother. I have an x-pen with hardware cloth inside my coop for the younger babies and the older ones go to roost and the two alpha pullets (no alpha rooster) roost on the edge of the x-pen and the younger pullets and single cockerel perch away from the whole deal. The third oldest group is two silkies and a boy brahma. I think one of the silkier may be a rooster as well. I have a knack for picking roosters. Anyway, I guess that means I'll know so I et rather than later who has to go. I have an 8 week old EE who crows every morning, he's been practice g since he was 3/4 weeks old. He's so sweet though and never pecked us, so...he's still around. He's still quiet though, he's not belting it yet.

 

[Scott H]

Day 20...Tina's been a champ. Little ones being hatched as I type this. One little head stuck out from underneath her breast and my wife shot a pic. Have a place sectioned off in the coop which includes her nesting box and am going to install a little sreen ramp for when they want to venture out of the box. When will that be?
I need to get some chick starter food, correct? Suggestions?
Chick grit?
Water? when will they be looking for that?

e e e

 

[Scott H]

First look at the world...

 

[jime]

with the ring and the strand what equals a pullet?

Boys the ring will swing back and front,(head to tail) with girls will start as back to front and side to side nut then will start to go around.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

First look at the world...

Awwwwwww

 

[heartsizedfarm]

Boys the ring will swing back and front,(head to tail) with girls will start as back to front and side to side nut then will start to go around.

Old wives tale right? We used to play this game over a pregnant lady's belly at a baby shower. Can't recall that it ever rightly predicted the sex of the baby. Hard to see how it scientifically could.

 

[Scott H]

First look at the world...

Awwwwwww

This is her first brood...8 eggs from Chickenhill...6 were assorted Wyandottes and two of her Brahmas. One of the eggs never developed so I pulled it. Day 20 and one out and at least one pipping. Can't wait to see what hatches.

 

[heartsizedfarm]

This is her first brood...8 eggs from Chickenhill...6 were assorted Wyandottes and two of her Brahmas. One of the eggs never developed so I pulled it. Day 20 and one out and at least one pipping. Can't wait to see what hatches.

That little heartwarming inquisitive eye!

 

[potagergirl]

so adorable love the little eye poking out to see the world.
Hope mama is doing well