Gallina Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 My next-door neighbours who hatched 14 chicks have just given me two: a Brahma and a Blue Cochin! They are only six weeks old, and have gone in the Eglu run, where they will stay for at least four months before I attempt any introductions. (Oh dear, that means November.) They scare me to death: they are so small and fast, and I think that they are looking for their mother, which is upsetting. I am just hoping they will put themselves to bed.... If they are cockerels, they will take them back. I hope at least one of them is a girl. I have doubts about the Brahma already: she is so big. They have given me chick crumbs to start me off. I imagine they can go on to growers' pellets in a few weeks. (There wasn't time to check with Prudence whether I knew enough about dealing with chicks of this age, as it was a sudden Yes/No offer, and which of you with an empty Eglu and run and a penchant for big fat hens would have said No?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Congratulations!! you will be fine as you'd already checked with Prudence and researched over your recent hatching plans! Hope all goes well! They sound lovely .. any pics Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Lovely. Have they got names? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mrs Frugal Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 Ooh I'd have said yes too Gallina! Congratulations. I love Brahmas and wish someone would offer me some . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I couldn't have resisted either, I love big buxom girls, my cochin is already a big cuddly lovely ball of feathers. She is very tall at 24 weeks I am sure she has a bit of Brahma in her as well. Good luck hope they are girls, can't wait to see pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 I wouldn't have been able to resist either. Enjoy your new girls (hopefully). One of my cochins is particularly massive and she's a she so don't give up hope. Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 How fantastic, I was sad for you when I read about your eggs not hatching. What type of Brahma is it? I've got one fro our hatch which was supposed to be buff columbian but I'm pretty sure is a dark partridge brahma, just beautiful and I'm really really hoping is a girl. I'd love a cochin too, but better not, got quite a few at the minute Chick crumb is fine, I spoke to my local breeder and he said that I could move ours slowly onto growers about now and ours are nearly 7 weeks old. And I took our broody out last week at 6 weeks as she had started laying again, she didn't give them a backward glance and they didn't seem all that fussed. They're probably just getting used to new surroundings like they all do. We need pictures though! Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen Pimlott Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 watch they dont get cold K Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesH Posted July 26, 2008 Share Posted July 26, 2008 did you get to choose or did she give you the 2 she thought might be a little on the chunky side edit: also post some pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 Thanks for your kind messages, and I will answer the questions. I got the two chicks my neighbour was able to catch. They run very fast. I don't think there is any danger of them getting cold at the moment: it is extremely hot here. I thought they would be all right in the Eglu, as by the time the weather changes they will be old enough to withstand it. Is that not right? I always close the door at night. No, they don't have names. I call them "The Boys" to avoid any disappointment later. I don't know what sort of Brahma I have: I will ask. I had to crawl into the Eglu run to get them to bed last night, but they rushed straight out this morning. I will try to get pictures, but opening the run is out of the question because if they see the tiniest gap, they are through it. I have nearly lost one of them already, and will only do their food and water before I open the Eglu in the morning in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Aww, How cute! I hope they are girls. Are you feeding them with the Omlet feeders or are they still too small to use them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 I am using my old peanut feeders (which are smaller than the Glug and Grub) for the chicks. They found the food instantly, but I am worried that they may not be taking water, so I have just given them a small bowl as well. Here is a picture taken through the bars: I think I have got them muddled already: the larger one in front must be the Blue Cochin, mustn't it? If so, then it is the Brahma in behind which is the little one -- are those partridge markings? They aren't beautiful, but they are cute. They hatched six weeks ago yesterday: it's nice knowing their exact birthday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Ahh they are beautiful!! really hope they are girls for you keep us posted with pics as they grow pretty please??!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted July 28, 2008 Author Share Posted July 28, 2008 How long does it take chicks to learn to cope on their own? My two are still obviously expecting a mother to tell them what to do. The last two nights I have only managed to get them to bed by crawling into the Eglu run pretending to be a dangerous predator: they run straight into the Eglu then. I have tried gentler methods (torch in Eglu etc) but well after 9pm I find them in the run going around in distressed circles, wanting to go to bed but not understanding how. And what treats can six-week-old safely be given? Would they choke on a piece of sweetcorn, for example? I am as scared of them as they are of me. But they seem to be settling down during the day and are doing relaxed things like scratching and preening, so I assume they are not too unhappy. And I love the way that they perch properly despite having such tiny feet -- I was going to drop my "no sleeping in the nestbox" rule for them, but haven't needed to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MedusA Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 How long does it take chicks to learn to cope on their own? My two are still obviously expecting a mother to tell them what to do. The last two nights I have only managed to get them to bed by crawling into the Eglu run pretending to be a dangerous predator: they run straight into the Eglu. My two Araucanas were 10 weeks when I got them and they knew all about eating and drinking OK but even 3 weeks later, it's hit and miss as to whether they take themselves to bed or not and I end up having to herd them into the eglu too. Some nights they go by themselves though and those nights are getting more common, so hopefully the message is sinking in. Your little chickies are lovely. How exciting for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gallina Posted August 10, 2008 Author Share Posted August 10, 2008 My two chicks are now eight weeks old, and behave exactly like mini-hens. Here they are: The Blue Cochin is on the left, and the Brahma is on the right. In behind is the extra pecked chick I was given this week: she is the same age, but much smaller. I am worried that the Blue Cochin is a boy: she looks very big for eight weeks, and has a little comb and wattles already. He/she also has very large legs. Here he/she is again: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 They are lovely. The Blue Cochin is certainly a lot heftier than my little 8 week girls. Time will tell. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Milly Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 I missed this when you first posted with the 6-week old pictures. They have really developed in a couple of weeks, haven't they? Very appealing. I am hoping to get a couple of approx 8-week olds next weekend (assuming my cube arrives on the due date). I certainly couldn't put them in with the big girls so it had better come. I'm more excited about the new arrivals than I am about the cube! Milly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moomin Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 This was my blue cochin at 8 - 10 weeks old. The breeder didn't know exactly how old she was. She didn't have much of a comb then, but there have been times when I've thought she was a boy. She has big legs! I remember posting on here about it and the guys gave me their opinion, mostly they thought she was a girl. She has just started crouching at 26 weeks so now I'm pretty sure she's a girl! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 They are both beautiful! love the poor little one behind too.. is she doing better now? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted August 10, 2008 Share Posted August 10, 2008 Wow, how fast they grow . They look lovely - hope they're girls . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
