weaning off heat

[McChooky]

Haha right?! My friend/neighbor the other day told me she was going to sell some birds. She had some awful straight run luck a while back. She bought 7 SR RIRs, and all 7 were cockerels. And they turned out quite mean. They were attacking her every time she went in to fill bowls or clean up. She doesn't have the heart to process them, so she sold them to someone who will. She said it'll be nice to have that space freed up. She and I have a joint Meyer order that will be here this week.

Well, later THAT DAY, she sent me a picture of 5 guinea keets she bought at RK. So much for that free space.

Had a rooster who liked to grab my hens by the neck and throw them down on the ground.I gave him to a man with 30 Rhode island reds.

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Had a rooster who liked to grab my hens by the neck and throw them down on the ground.I gave him to a man with 30 Rhode island reds.

Goodness! I would've too. I've currently got 4 known cockerels and 1 that I'm almost positive is. They're young still, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the chaos ensues. That'll be when I rehome the trouble makers.

 

[McChooky]

Goodness! I would've too. I've currently got 4 known cockerels and 1 that I'm almost positive is. They're young still, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time before the chaos ensues. That'll be when I rehome the trouble makers.

Today I noticed 3 of my 4 week old legbar crosses are getting crests. First I thought I had 3 pullets then 2 then 3 lol So it looks I do have 3 pullets. The cockerels definitely have bigger reddish orange combs and neither one of them have a crest yet.I need another rooster so I'm glad I have 2 cockerels

 

[AnneGirlGG]

Today I noticed 3 of my 4 week old legbar crosses are getting crests. First I thought I had 3 pullets then 2 then 3 lol So it looks I do have 3 pullets. The cockerels definitely have bigger reddish orange combs and neither one of them have a crest yet.I need another rooster so I'm glad I have 2 cockerels

That's definitely good! Hopefully you'll end up with a good balance overall.

 

[McChooky]

That's definitely good! Hopefully you'll end up with a good balance overall.

Thank you! When I step outside the broody hen comes running and her chicks become airborne.I feel guilty if I don't have any treats.

 

[Tennessee Great Granny]

hello!!

i have 10 feathered out bantam ee chicks!

they are still in a brooder but it’s been in the chicken coop outside since they were 3 weeks old. they are around 6 weeks now (hatched aug 10-12th from what the hatchery said).

the lamp is still on in there at night and the temps on my thermometer are reading 15c-17c in the morning. i have started putting them in the run for longer periods of time during the day.

how should i go about weaning them off this heat lamp? the morning temps outside have been approaching frosts (~5c) but I don’t want to shock them.

i know they are hardy and we will be removing the brooder soon and letting them have the whole coop over the next week or 2.

can someone share a guideline for removing the heat lamp and how long i should raise the lamp for? i don’t plan on using it at all during winter because the hatchery advised against it since power losses are relatively common here in winter and i don’t want them to be shocked in the event of power failure.

thanks so much!!

I agree with what Dobie lover said but I took lessons from one of my momma hens who was blessed with more chicks than one momma should have to handle. I teach the babies to cuddle huddle in the nest boxes even if they never saw a nest box before in their lives. No matter their size if it's cold at night they are most vulnerable to cold stress. Chickens are totally blind in the dark. For their first couple nights out of their own we physically place them in the nest boxes in groups and got them settled. and then turned off the flash lights. They seemed to learn after two nights, BUT we still watch. They also need to learn to get into sleeping position before the sun is totally set. We- on a rare occasion- have a hen who thinks she's going to hide and stay outside where we know she will be vulnerable to nocturnal predators. If you continue to supplement heat it won't trigger the extra feather growth and when it gets really nasty outside they'll get cold stressed and possible could die from that. I always carry a flashlight when putting our feather brain babies to bed just in case they stayed out too late and can't find their way to the roost. I keep telling them there's a curfew but there's sometimes a juvenile delinquent who need reminding.