University Chick Flock

[peckhamchick]

The layers are here to stay (for at least two ovulation cycles.) The Delawares and Blue Andalusians may end-up staying for much longer because of the scarcity of the breed. Eventually, I think the idea is to get a rooster in there with them and do some repro work- but that's a long time off yet.

I just came back from the farm, and I was amazed at my weekly weight check. Our little Rhody Reds grew so quickly that I actually went back and rechecked their weights! The little pullets are so fast now that it's almost impossible to nab the one you want, and I am thinking of a way to use a piece of posterboard as a little corral to separate out individuals when I need them. All of the birds are eating out of very large hanging feeders now, and they all seem to be doing just fine with that. A Rhode Island Red that had been separated from the flock for a few days because of other birds being aggressive with her has been restored to the flock, apparently no worse for the wear.

When I weigh the birds, I have a "cluck bucket" that they sit in to discourage them from jumping off of the scale. I bought a very large container so that as they grew, they wouldn't be able to easily hop out. Well, I was wrong! I looked down to my notebook to record the weight of a Blue Andalusian, only to find her perched on the rim of the bucket, looking eye to eye at me! Here they are, eighteen days old, and already able to jump up to the rim! Next week I'll put a mesh lid on top. Also, it is very encouraging to see them beginning to perch on my finger when I'm holding them. I know it's just instinctual, but I think I'll anthropomorphize them and pretend it's because they like me.

 

[silkiechicken]

"The layers are here to stay (for at least two ovulation cycles.) " Just TWO eggs! J/k I know what you mean

Have fun!

 

[peckhamchick]

oh crap... yeah, I guess that WOULD mean only two eggs, wouldn't it? That's a really short time to stick around- poor birds! What is it? Estrous cycle? No, that's not right either...

Soooo braindead... midterms this week

 

[silkiechicken]

The pain of finals! Who wants to sit down and do some digital signal processing in MATLAB! Last one in exactally 12 hours!!!

I'd just make it simple and say two years, or two laying cycles.

 

[peckhamchick]

Ok, so our babies have finally moved into their "big girl room." They have outgrown their small enclosure, and now have free roam of a large indoor pen. They're on shavings now, too, and they've already begun burrowing down into them as if they were on soil or grass.

I can't believe how high they can jump when they get curious. They seem to be vying for places on top of their hanging feeders. I was thinking of getting a clothes hanging rack and laying it down on its side to make some perches for them. Has anyone had any luck with that?

 

[claraserena]

I’m so glad to hear of your study! Please keep us informed.
This forum has been invaluable to me—just had a hen (actually a pullet) go broody and hatched out 5 healthy chicks. I had/have so many questions during that experience and all were answered on this forum.
I still have many questions about how chickens raise their young in a “natural” situation. Are there books or articles or websites on this? When I search databases for scholarly articles I get things about diseases and managing behaviors for commercial purposes.

 

[peckhamchick]

Wow- that's a really good question. At school, of course, we spend most of our time learning about "captive," (production or pet) chickens, but it would be really interesting to learn a little about how they behave in a more feral state. I would guess that a good place to start would be to find out the names of some of the wild breeds (aruconas, for instance), and perhaps do a search starting from there. If National Geographic, PBS, Discovery, or Wild Kingdom has done any studies, they might also be good resources. Let me know if you come across anything worth reading.

 

[mudlake]

For Roost You can use old wooden ladders cut them in short sections> You will see how it works. Good Luck Tony