Phosphorus Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Okay really enjoying the natural approach here. It is lovely just watching Gemma teaching the chicks what to do and taking them out into the eglu run. My questions are: do I need water and food in the eglu at night? - not sure about this with young chicks, I am presuming not as when I open the eglu door in the morning they are still under Gemma being kept warm. do I need food and water in the house at all - if it is nice can I just put it out in the run (covered from wild bird droppings of course)? They are less than a week old but Gemma has been taking them in and out of the eglu and into the run so much yesterday and today, its lovely. anyone keep Brahmas and have any suggestions for houses when they get bigger Loving their fluffy feet and legs already Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 You can leave it in there, but keep the marbles in the water. I left mine in the brooder. You can probably take it outside when its hot, up to you. Brahmas (as you know ) do get really big. At the farm they're in a WIR with kennels in and they sit in there and lay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 You can leave it in there, but keep the marbles in the water. I left mine in the brooder.You can probably take it outside when its hot, up to you. Brahmas (as you know ) do get really big. At the farm they're in a WIR with kennels in and they sit in there and lay we are intending to extend our WIR - kennels? now there is a thought. The breeder had his breeding trio of hens plus cockerel in a lovely shed/wooden cupboard, with perches halfway up - one brahma on each huge perch . I think I will have to go back to him with a sketchpad and pencil So definately not in an eglu when they are bigger then I blame it on my dh - I was only going to get two lavender araucanas - he encouraged me to get the brahmas as well Just love those feathered feet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smanners Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I've been leaving water and food in the Eglu and put some outside in the run too during the day At night when I close the Eglu up I take the outside dishes away but leave the inside ones just in case they get up early and need to eat and drink. I have not dared use a glug for Rocky to reach in as the chicks seem to be on springs and hop around everywhere I have been surprised that Rocky has been taking the chicks regularly outside into the run on the grass and has already shown them how to dust bathe even though they are only 5 days old I worried they would get cold but they seem really hardy and bold. My biggest worry is the cats They are very interested. The Eglu and run are inside flexible netting and the run is completed covered over for privacy and safety. I hope the run and covers are secure enough to prevent any disasters Mum is eating chick crumbs and the odd bit on mixed corn ( just for her) When do you feed the mother hen layers pellets again? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tidygirlsuk Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I never stopped feeding my broody pellets. It can be hard to get them to switch back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
half dozen Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 Andrea, a suggestion for the brahmas when they are bigger............ my house I would love a couple of brahmas!!!! They are on my birthday list!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 I've been leaving water and food in the Eglu and put some outside in the run too during the day At night when I close the Eglu up I take the outside dishes away but leave the inside ones just in case they get up early and need to eat and drink. I have not dared use a glug for Rocky to reach in as the chicks seem to be on springs and hop around everywhere I have been surprised that Rocky has been taking the chicks regularly outside into the run on the grass and has already shown them how to dust bathe even though they are only 5 days old I worried they would get cold but they seem really hardy and bold. My biggest worry is the cats They are very interested. The Eglu and run are inside flexible netting and the run is completed covered over for privacy and safety. I hope the run and covers are secure enough to prevent any disasters Mum is eating chick crumbs and the odd bit on mixed corn ( just for her) When do you feed the mother hen layers pellets again? My other hens never got into the glug so no issues there - I use one that can hang, balanced it on aubiose under j-cloths for now. I have been getting up early just incase they need to eat but actually they seem to be way underneath mum at that time so worrying less now. Just really concerned that the mouse that was there before would return - not sure that would be good for the chicks I've asked on site as well. The going out in the cold etc question has just been asked on - I was wondering that as well. Mine are the same, she had them out on day 2 practically. Some of them are a week old tomorrow (the bought in ones) and they are in and out now like yoyos with her Apparantly they only go backwards and forwards to the heat lamp in a brooder - they don't stay under it all the time. Mine are all on chick crumb, but Gemma did get a sprinkling of corn today which she gobbled up before all the chicks could get to it much to my amusement. She can go back to layers when she gets her weight back and is with the other girls - I don't want to force her to produce eggs again for as long as possible so that she gains some condition Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phosphorus Posted May 19, 2009 Author Share Posted May 19, 2009 Andrea, a suggestion for the brahmas when they are bigger............ my house I would love a couple of brahmas!!!! They are on my birthday list!!! I have fallen in love with their feathered feat Will post some piccies when I get some decent close ups. They are so cute and their bottoms are so different to the araucanas - it is like they have real furry bottoms - like teddy bears Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
