Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[catherinej]

Our chick is now 6 days old and Dot (the broody hen) seems a bit fed up with being in a box in our back room! I let them out for a few hours yesterday but was concerned that the chick was getting cold. I have got an eglu and run (which I have made chick friendly) just for them but they didn't seem keen on going inside the eglu! What does everyone else think? Will Dot keep her warm? Also, I have noticed that Dot's claws are really long - probably from being broody for about 4 months! Should I attempt to cut them or will they grind down naturally once she starts moving around again? Thanks

[ross81]

You could try putting the chicks and mum in the eglu with some water and food and close the door. Just check on them every so often to make sure mum is keeping them warm then open the door once they are settled in their new home and know where they should be.

[Redwing]

As long as Dot is being attentive and maternal she will keep the chicks warm

 

If Dot has used an Eglu before she will probably go in when it gets dark, if not gently herd her in and the chicks will follow

 

As long as you have a cover over the run to keep them dry the cold will not be a problem

[atsw]

I have got an eglu and run (which I have made chick friendly) just for them but they didn't seem keen on going inside the eglu! What does everyone else think? Will Dot keep her warm?

I provided a new Eglu for our Broody hen and her seven chicks. During the day the Hen and her chicks are always outside, and have been sice day 3. With the recent cold winds Di (the broody) instinctively provides shelter for the chicks. When they get cold they go under her and she sits down on the Aubiose in the WIR. At night she takes them all inside the Eglu.

 

I have noticed that Dot's claws are really long - probably from being broody for about 4 months! Should I attempt to cut them or will they grind down naturally once she starts moving around again?

Same with our Hen. Her claws got really long, as did the tip of her beak. Our WIR has a slab base with Aubiose covering. I've kept the Aubiose covering quite thin at the moment so that her claws and beak grind down naturally as she scratches about. This seems to be working very well.

 

Andrew

[catherinej]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I should move the eglu back into the WIR for a bit of added shelter (hubby will kill me as he's only just moved it out!). Just wondering also if I can feed the chick anything other than chick crumb? Dot is going mad for tip bits but everything I give her she feeds to her chick!

[laurmurf]

our chicks were hatched in an eglu outside, mum has been doing the work for us. We have been feeding lots of live mealworms to the chicks, as well as chick crumb, and they go MAD for them. Mum grabs them out of our hands and snips the wrigglers into bits for the chickies. The older chickies just swallow the wrigglers whole

 

I've given some dry mealworms to mum and babies too, but they aren't as keen.

[teri]

my chicks have been outside since they were eggs! i never even considered bringing them indoors i just plonked them under my mega broody bantam and left her to it!

i did make sure their run was in a sheltered part of the garden but other than that mum has done all of the work. they are now five weeks old and running round my garden like nutters!

they are great fun to watch especially when they are trying to catch an insect that flies too close.

i think that if they are outside they become more independant giving mum a much needed break.

good luck and keep us posted.

[teri]

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I should move the eglu back into the WIR for a bit of added shelter (hubby will kill me as he's only just moved it out!). Just wondering also if I can feed the chick anything other than chick crumb? Dot is going mad for tip bits but everything I give her she feeds to her chick!

my chicks have been eating anything they can get their beaks on from slugs and worms to spagetti and baked beans (i have four kids who feed their dinner s"Ooops, word censored!"s to the chickens but always make sure the chicks get them!)

just make sure they dont have any layers pelets or oyster shell

their favorite snack at the moment are ants... they have descovered a nest in the garden wall... i'm surprised they haven't knocked themselves out tyring to get at them

[Egluntyne]

Dot is going mad for tip bits but everything I give her she feeds to her chick!

 

She's a good mother then.

 

I'd have then in an Eglu near the WIR not in it.

[Tulip]

Ours have always been outside, the broody is a good mummy and always provides shelter (though they've outgrown her now - even the seramas can't sleep under her anymore!)

 

They have been in a kennel in the WIR which OH sectioned off from the big girls and cube with mesh.

 

This morning the mesh was removed as they've been integrating this week and it's going really well! *touch wood*. Remains to be see who will sleep where tonight - Chive (broody) just about made it up the ladder into the cube for the first time in 2 months this morning

[likeabalalaika]

A little bit off topic, but what would you recommend for inccy chicks? As the weather is so awful, I'm not even considering it at the moment, but if and when we get some decent warm spells I'd like to let them have some observed time in the run. I've read different views, some books say in the first week, others say to leave it a bit later so I'd love to know what you all think.

[Lewis]

A little bit off topic, but what would you recommend for inccy chicks? As the weather is so awful, I'm not even considering it at the moment, but if and when we get some decent warm spells I'd like to let them have some observed time in the run. I've read different views, some books say in the first week, others say to leave it a bit later so I'd love to know what you all think.

I'd say they should be ok as long as its warm and they have some shelter aswell

 

Keep an eye on them though, as they don't have a warm broody to run under. Mine are 4 weeks old and haven't been outside yet, but I put them in the side passage a few days ago and they were all going crazy to come back in

[Lesley]

It will be OK if the weather is warm, to put them outside in the day......but I don't put incy chicks out until at least 4 weeks when they are reasonably well feathered.

[Griffin]

Mine are five and a half weeks and will be going out later on this week for the first time. I need to re-arrange some coops first. They've been out one at a time to sit on my lap and observe everyone, they thought that was great fun

[likeabalalaika]

Brilliant! Thanks all. It's a US book (I didn't realize at first) and I suppose their climate is more suitable to putting chicks out so early. I read on some lady's site (I think British!) that she puts inccy chicks outside permanently in their 2nd week! I'll give mine a good few weeks longer. The consensus seems to be around 4-6 weeks so that's what I'll do. Thanks again xxxx