New mum with chest infection - what to do?

[kathyd]

Pics! Yes, of course! One showing first foray into the big wide world, the others where I tried to get arial shots to show their colours = not easy! If I get anything better, I'll post more later .

[Nannysally99]

Pics! Yes, of course! One showing first foray into the big wide world, the others where I tried to get arial shots to show their colours = not easy! If I get anything better, I'll post more later .

Lovely, brings a smile to my face, thank you

[Scarlet]

Gorgeous Kathy! How's Mum doing??

[kathyd]

Mum seems to be doing great Scarlet, thanks . Very bossy, very controlling, growling at everything! She's really funny to watch, in her element I'd say, but the chicks seem to love it . The only thing that worries me is her feet! She doesn't seem to have a clue where she's aiming them, and she's sent several of the chicks flying when they've got too close while she's teaching them to scratch! They've learned to dive back as she scratches now, and zoom in as a gang when she growls at a bug, it's hilarious to watch lol . How on earth do I pick one little cockerel from amongst them?? They're all so cute... Seriously, what should I be looking for in a 3 day old chick - or do I choose on colour as I would a car .

[Scarlet]

He'll choose you. He will be the one that comes to you most often.

[kathyd]

He will?? Oh! So the littlest one with the pale non-descript colouring then - and here's me veering towards apricot! Lol . How lovely, I'll have to go sit with them even more often until 'he' makes up his mind .

Is it possible any of the others might still turn out to be girls? If for instance they're not quite as 'pure breed' as they could be? There's only one that properly fits the images of girls on google (sounds like a film doesn't it, 'girls on google'), but some of the others have fairly clear badger markings on their backs, it's just their heads that let them down... Will it become more obvious by 10-12 weeks? Sorry for the naive question, only I've just never had chicks for more than 8 weeks before so I'm not sure how they develop after that!

[Scarlet]

I agree with you, one girl. The boys are becoming less distinguished by people keeping birds with less than adequate colouring which runs through to the next generation and so on. (I don't keep legbars so I'm just going on what I've read and others keepers talk.!!) It's difficult to find a "good" breeding cockerel because of some of the "inferior" examples being kept. Ideally if you wanted to keep a good breeding line, all except the very pale one should be culled. This will ensure the pale traits will be stronger in the next generation.
I have read it's easier to spot with the eye markings, ignore the pale badger markings on the backs making you question whether it's a girl! The girls are very strongly marked.
I mostly keep traditional light Sussex now and I can generally spot the chicks quite early on but then come 8 weeks they start to look similar and then change a bit later and it's obvious again!. The cheeky ones are often boys, their legs are thicker, feet bigger, they stand tall, stretch their necks and have a prominent chest. Combs even when very small are that tiny bit bigger. My kid used to try the paper airplane trick! Fly it over them, girls duck and boys look up, they always knew how many of each we had. Even out of an incubator full.

[Scarlet]

He will?? Oh! So the littlest one with the pale non-descript colouring then - and here's me veering towards apricot! Lol . How lovely, I'll have to go sit with them even more often until 'he' makes up his mind .
!

Tag him, best of both!!
I used to keep copper marans, I didn't want any more breeding cockerels but one choose me. He was gorgeous, couldn't help picking him up etc. People were amazed he was so friendly, every time he saw me he forgot about his girls and made a mad dash for me. Unfortunately when my electric fence failed he was one of the casualties. I really was heartbroken. I didn't breed copper marans after that.

[kathyd]

Oh Scarlet, that's horrible . Poor you . I've got a couple of copper marans, and a couple of crosses, and they're lovely - bonkers, but lovely. I'm dreading the day when the fox breaks into our run - I'm sure it'll happen eventually, and I'm not sure whether it'll put me off keeping hens or not. It must be devastating.

[Scarlet]

Yes, it's is upsetting. Always seems such a waste. I've had 3 fox attacks. Once, the kids turned the electric off to the fence when we went on hols!! Another time the fence broke, foxes alway seem to be around waiting for you to mess up. The 3rd time, I had a tree cut down and the surgeon moved my empty compost bin close to the fence. The fox used it as a stepping stone to get in and out, luckily I was there that time and he only took a few. He also had my rabbit! Spotted him as he got in the run but it was too late, he calmly sauntered off. Every attack has been during the day. I know he's about though, often see the cubs late evening in the field. Dog has even chased him off, craftily checking things out when we are having dinner in the garden!