Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Here are some photos of the chicks that we collected today. They are going to be with us for a while in the brooder and then in the heated polytunnel before most of them go off to friends who luckily live in the country. This is Chipolata who will be staying with us. And here are some generally cute chicky photos... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catherinej Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are sooooo cute. How old are they? I would really like to get some chicks as the kids would love them - do they take much looking after and where do you keep them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 aww now aren't they just so sweet! what breed are they? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Very sweet! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are sooooo cute. How old are they? I would really like to get some chicks as the kids would love them - do they take much looking after and where do you keep them? They are four weeks old and very cute. They do take a lot of looking after. I have them in a huge indoor rabbit cage with a wire top. I have got a thermometer in the cage so that I can make sure that they are not too warm or too cold. The heat lamp is suspended above them but I have had to raise this once already tonight as I have the cage in the conservatory on the underfloor heating and this is more or less heating the cage on it's own. They have to have chick crumbs with 20 - 22 per cent protein until about six to eight weeks ( I have two books which say two different things - more research required or Omlet wisdom). Then they will need to be fed growers pellets. They also need chick feeders and chick drinkers as they can quite easily drown themselves or each other. I have to confess that I have never done this before although I always fancied hatching some legbars so I have done the research on the whole. I am probably being over cautious but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I am responsible for these little sweeties and I want to make sure that they develop into strong, healthy hens. I know that by the laws of averages I will probably lose some along the way but at least I will know that I followed all the advice and did things properly. Hope that makes sense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 aww now aren't they just so sweet! what breed are they? Not sure about the breeds. There are definitely some bluebells and a couple look like my Merrydale Copper Black. The lady at the rescue centre said that there was a mixture of Calder Ranger, Rhode Rock, Magpie, Leghorn, Speckledy, Sussex and others that she couldn't remember. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cooks Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 did you just clip that 'bluebelle' name in to make me grin wider??? ooh how sweet I cant wait to see them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BeckyBoo Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 It always sounds like hard work raising chicks without a broody Mum, specially at this time of year. If you wanted to try hatching some Catherine J, see if one of yours goes broody, or see if you can borrow a broody and a cage, our Speckledy has hatched us two lovely broods and looks after them so well all I have to do is make sure they have the correct food and type of water dish. Oh yes, and bear in mind if you hatch or even buy in day old chicks, a fair proportion will be boys and, stunning though roosters are, most of us can't keep them so you either have to rehome them (which is hard) or dispatch them which some people find even harder. That said, if you do it, it's FAB. And you end up with a lovely batch of cuties like Janty's!! They change so fast as well, will have to have week by week pictures til they fly the nest Mrs B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClaireG Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Awww they are so sweet. Best of Luck with them Janty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ther are SO gorgeous! so much!!!! As they were rescued on way to "factory" does this mean that they are all def girls?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ygerna Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are adorable. Are they some of the lorry crash surviors? Good luck with them and keep us posted Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ther are SO gorgeous! so much!!!! As they were rescued on way to "factory" does this mean that they are all def girls?? I am told that they are all girls. Fingers crossed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are adorable. Are they some of the lorry crash surviors? Good luck with them and keep us posted Yes, they are some of the lorry crash survivors. Hardy little monsters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Falkor Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Ther are SO gorgeous! so much!!!! As they were rescued on way to "factory" does this mean that they are all def girls?? I am told that they are all girls. Fingers crossed. Well if they are all girls then they might be just the ladies for my new Eglu!!! May need to borrow little bro inside rabbit hutch etc!!! Did they have many left Janty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badgerbluebadger Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 They are so lovely = I live in bexleyheath near dartford so could get some but I just do not have the time for them or the room - good I wish I could steel the flat above garden they never use it and the gras just grows and grows! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted January 11, 2009 Author Share Posted January 11, 2009 They have over a hundred left. It's a pity you didn't say...I'd have collected some for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ardene5 Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Hi Everyone We are pleased that there are some lovely photos of the chicks. It Valerie my OH who found the advert on the Hedgehog forum which has allowed all of us to see these lovely hens. We hope that all of you who get these chicks will have plenty of fun with them. Best regards Ian & Valerie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 What cute chicks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AbigailGrace Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Oh..! I would love to get some but we live too far away! Hope everything goes well.. Bless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 How lovely, Janty. Please can we have regular pics and updates? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Very cute chickies Janty - they are hard work though - far easier using a real mummy to hatch and brood them , but even that would be fraught in these temperatures Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted January 11, 2009 Share Posted January 11, 2009 Aww, they're so sweet . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WitchHazel Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Oh my goodness, aren't they gorgeous!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helenmb Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 You shouldn't have posted those pictures as now I want some too!!!! No space sadly . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poachedegg Posted January 12, 2009 Share Posted January 12, 2009 Gorgeous! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
