4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[ChrisEllis]

Well,

 

My chicks are coming up to four weeks and great news - im having another 3 chicks hatching tomorrow.

 

I thought id candle the eggs one last time and saw three beaks chirping and then as i was holding the egg one of them started to peck on the side...hope to see it in the morning.

 

I have quite a large brooder i have made a part for the new chicks and the older chicks can hear them and get used to them and maybe introduce them.

 

I was wondering - my cat catches mice and that - would it try and hunt my chicks of four weeks old? or will they socialise - so to speak?

 

Thanks

[Jools]

Your chicks are most definitely at risk to a predatory cat, probably until they are fully grown.

[Redwing]

A fully grown chicken can hold its own against the cats but as Jools says chicks are certainly at risk

[Lewis]

I'd keep the cat away, and also you'll need to keep the 4 week old chicks away from the day olds, ideally until POL or until they are the same size.

 

The big ones will bully the little ones, and 4 weeks is quite a long time for them to have grown.

[ChrisEllis]

ok, was hoping that i could of had a cat like on youtbe - where it sleeps in the brooder and the chicks slept on it ha.

 

And POL...are you kidding? they will be going outside tgoether when its time. and tht will be a few weeks before they are point of lay - what ive found with my next door neighbours is they have done that sort of thing and there chicks have been fine - its the same with fencing...15 years of keeping chickens and he has a 3 ft fence...one problem in his whole life with chickens...he keeps his locked up at night and they are fine.

 

I mean i know im nexperienced but my neighbours must be doing something write - they have never had red mite before - never had problems with bullying, i mean it happens yes but i''ll cross the bridge whne i come to it if the chicks bully the younger ones then i'll take them out and seperate them but i dont want to make work fr myself if i dont have to plus they might enjoy the company?

 

Sorry if im ignorant?

Edited October 7, 2009 by Guest

[Redwing]

No you're well within your rights to question it Chris, I cannot speak for your neighbors perhaps they hatch under broodies who provide some protection, perhaps they have loads of space I dont know

 

I have chicks at 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks and cannot even imagine being able to mix any of them yet not even those groups close to each other in age, a recent attempt to match two lonely chicks 2 weeks apart in age ended in injury despite a gradual introduction so I am not even going to attempt it again

[ChrisEllis]

I understand what your saying - but i dont find too much harm in trying, i would get those chicks out of there if i thought there would be harm done,

[Redwing]

Try it when they are all old enough to be ourtdoors and on a weekend so you are around and let them free range within their fenced area so they can run away from each other if needs be, dont ever attempt it in an enclosed area or when they are very young

 

Good luck with the hatch, nearly there!

[Egluntyne]

We are always here to help you pick up the pieces Chris, when it goes wrong.

 

Good advice has been given re keeping the cat and the chicks apart, and separating the babies, from very experienced 'hatchers'. It would be sensible to take notice of it.

[Griffin]

I've got growers of various ages freeranging in their part of the garden but what I have found is that it's almost impossible to mix chicks of varying ages when they are in an enclosed space. Once they're big enough to go outside mine do seem to stay in their little gangs and they don't become best buddies until they're alot older.

[ChrisEllis]

Yer im seperating them - the chicks have hatched!!! they are so small - smaller than my silkie frizzles when they hatched, there in the brooder now - we got two chamois ones...hope the thrd one to hatch is a gold and black laced

[Lewis]

Glad they've hatched and that you are keeping them separate

 

We need photos

[ChrisEllis]

Sure - will do - all 3 fertile eggs have hatched - shame they are all chamois - would have been nice to see a black and gold laced polish frizzle..but i'll love em the same

They are so tiny i coulndt believe it, had to run around the neighbourhood asking for a spare infrared - it blew yesterday before we put the chicks in - can u beleive it...so they are under a not very strong lamp atm but our one off amazon arrives today . Saw the new borns this morning once they had dried off...so cute :

Maybe i will be able to persuade the parents to buy jus a ew more eggs

 

Pictures coming tonight

[Lewis]

Maybe i will be able to persuade the parents to buy jus a ew more eggs

Then you'd have 3 lots of growers all needing to be kept separate

[ChrisEllis]

nah - when they hatch stick the 7 week olds outside - 3 week olds in the bigger container and the new lot can go in the small crate - although i was thinking of asking them for some day old chicks instead ? same age as mine

[Lewis]

I think day olds would be better than 3 lots, thats what I'd do You'll still need to do the intro's slowly over a couple of days

[Redwing]

Chamois Polands are very sought after, when they are older you could swap them for some gold laced or sell them and buy gold laced ones in

 

I know which ones I would rather have though!

[ChrisEllis]

Chamois Polands are very sought after, when they are older you could swap them for some gold laced or sell them and buy gold laced ones in

 

I know which ones I would rather have though!

 

which ones would you rather have?

 

Its like" you want what you havent got" i havent got black and gold so i want them - if i only had black and gold i would want chamois hehe

Edited October 9, 2009 by Guest

[Redwing]

I like the chamois ones, they are very unusual and so very pretty but you are right - you do always want what you havent got its human nature I guess

[Chook n Boo Mum]

nah - when they hatch stick the 7 week olds outside - 3 week olds in the bigger container and the new lot can go in the small crate - although i was thinking of asking them for some day old chicks instead ? same age as mine

 

Chris, sorry to be a worry wart, please keep in mind that the weather is getting colder and wetter, so the chicks will need extra protection. I wouldn't recommend putting them outside until the spring as they won't have a mum to keep them warm when they need it.

 

I'd stick with what you've got for now & get more eggs in the Springtime if you are still "broody" and fertility will increase with the better weather

 

Sha x

[ChrisEllis]

nah - when they hatch stick the 7 week olds outside - 3 week olds in the bigger container and the new lot can go in the small crate - although i was thinking of asking them for some day old chicks instead ? same age as mine

 

Chris, sorry to be a worry wart, please keep in mind that the weather is getting colder and wetter, so the chicks will need extra protection. I wouldn't recommend putting them outside until the spring as they won't have a mum to keep them warm when they need it.

 

I'd stick with what you've got for now & get more eggs in the Springtime if you are still "broody" and fertility will increase with the better weather

 

Sha x

 

Im sorry - there is no chance on earth im keeping the chicks in for another few months its not do-able i cant go there, i will slowly introduce them into the cold weather and its how its going to have to be - my parents will get rid of them altgether if i keep them in for antoehr few months - they wil be going outside at 7 weeks. they have protection from the wind and we live amongst forests and they have a warm wooden coop, thts the best i can do

[Cooks]

I agree with Wildmum on this, they are too young to go outside IMO

[Redwing]

Chris, I cant stress enough that if you take on a new hobby again you do lots of research, unfortunately for you this time live birds are involved

 

People are trying to help by offering advice, please do re-read the recent threads on young chicks and have another think

[Cooks]

Very well put Tasha, couldn't agree more.

[ChrisEllis]

i have read - many different article tht birds go out at six weeks, i'll put them out at 7, they will be fine, if i start putting them out and they are just to cold and sit doing nothing in the coop and jus try and get wamr then i'l bring them in, but if they are fine and walking and not having too much trouble then they are ging outside - its these sort f hobbies that many opinions can start a argument but i have spoken to my neighbours who have had chickens 15 years and they put theirs out earlier, they have als neverhad red mite, never had a fox attack and their fence is 3 ft, its all each to their own but i am taking ur advice but with a pinch of salt and i will know if they cant stand the cold or if the are ready