Your thoughts please...

[Nicos]

I'm just wondering when I should let Betty take her babies outside and mix with the rest of the flock.
There were no problems with the last three and the cockerels and other gals were very helpful finding food- right from day 3.

What I'm a little concerned about are the 3 youngsters. The gal is sweet and calm, but the 2 lads get a bit greedy and boisterous at times.

I know traditionally chicks are kept to one side with their mom, but during the day , if the weather is fine-why shouldn't they get on as a group as the wild hens round here do????

It'd be a good excuse to sit around watching them for a few hours...just in case!!!!

[MaureenHall]

Could you put the "teenagers" somewhere where they can see but not touch? Just in case?

[Nicos]

They can see them through the chicken wire mesh when they are all inside at night and early morning- so they at least have heard and seen them.
I've had to keep the babies and Betty indoors anyway, inside the pigsty to make sure they are feeding and drinking, and to give the youngest and weakest babe a chance to toughen up.
It's a dry day here- although a bit windy- maybe I could let them out for an hour after lunch and just sit with them with the water spray to hand if the lads get too close.
I need to have them free ranging with the others within the next 2 weeks anyway as we're going to the UK for a few days and my friend will be looking after them (It'll be much easier with the next lot!() cos we'll be bringing back our old rabbit hutch)

[Nicos]

eee...I've just heard some rooks- I wonder if they'd try and pick off a baby given half a chance?????

[RichmondHens]

How old are the babies? Even if the other hens don't pick on them, they will be at risk from predators until 5/6 weeks old. Your presence may put off rats and rooks, but if you have cats they will be straight in there. My cats hang around the coops just drooling! If they get right up to the wire the hens make a fuss and have a go at them, but I don't let the (LF) chicks out until the 5th or 6th week when they are big enough for the cats to have lost interest. The bantam chicks have to stay in even longer. My rule of thumb is that they can come out when bigger than a blackbird.

[Hilary B]

Actually might be safer among the flock than outside separately (other hens, cockerels etc may deter predators). Odds are Momma-hen will deter 'teenage' yobs<g>.

Rooks are not VERY predatory (compared to other corvines) but they do live in large groups, and therefore might be a problem because of 'lots of them'. I would still be more concerned about magpies and common crows.

[Nicos]

Well- I've introduced these 3 day old chicks to the other adult gals and 2 cockerels- and after a long slow look at them the no1 cockerel passed them a bit of food!
Betty chased off the semi broody gal who was paying too much attention .She might end up being the problem.
The teenagers kept well away and just watched from time to time whilst scratching.

The electric fence has very fine mesh at the base, so I'm not worried about rats etc.( I found an electrocuted toad in the mesh this morning)

I'lll see if we can make a bigger run for inside whilst we are away- then I'd be able to relax a bit.
Interesting about the 6week plus before letting them free range- thanks!

[elizajay]

I was going to ask about magpies, I saw one eying my bantam youngster today and she didn't look as concerned as I thought she should. She is bigger than a blackbird now, so must have heard about that!

[di]

Not wanting to fear you even more,but we've had a Magpie eying up our babies...They are netted over,so safe,but pretty sure if the Magpie was given half a chance it would take it!

[Nicos]

yup- we have the occasional magpie here too ( and buzzards which I 'm aware are more than happy to pick off a baby chick).



I think what I'll do is make a mesh barrier to put across the pig sty door ( which is their coop) so the chicks stay indoors with Betty when I'm not around - but the others can jump in if it starts raining or a buzzard starts flying overhead. They boys are good at warning the gals of potential threats like that.
Do you think 12" high mesh will be high enough to keep them in , but allow the others to hop over it??

The teenage boys seemed ok with the babes yesterday- I'll keep letting them have supervised access so they get used to them.

[Flummery]

Rooks take baby birds here - young starlings usually. It's pitiful to hear the parents sqwawking. They are smaller than a chick though, but I think netted over is the way to go for peace of mind.

[MaureenHall]

Nicos I think 12" might not be quite high enough to keep the babies in. I know they're bantams, but my chicks could get onto a perch 12" off the ground at 2 weeks old no problem. Maybe if it's "wobbly" at the top so they can't balance on it would be ok. Sorry if I'm going over the top, I'm looking for potential problems everywhere these days!!

[JILLY JACKSON]

Reading this has made me think that i may put a couple of duck eggs under my broody.I have to get some more straw from the farm so i'll see what he's got.Sure she'll enjoy them more than the stone ones she's on now!

[Nicos]

Nicos I think 12" might not be quite high enough to keep the babies in. I know they're bantams, but my chicks could get onto a perch 12" off the ground at 2 weeks old no problem. Maybe if it's "wobbly" at the top so they can't balance on it would be ok. Sorry if I'm going over the top, I'm looking for potential problems everywhere these days!!

..right- thanks for that!
I forget you see what they could do and when. At the moment they're able to hop up a 3" step - at 4 days old!!!

and of course they'll be 3 weeks by the time I return!

Thinking cap on time!

[walldanzig]

I have some 5 week old silkie chicks they are still under the lamp but have nearly got all their feathers. Do you think it will be ok to swith the lamp off during the day