HELP aggressive chicken

[welovemarmite]

One of my eggs hatched, but got kicked out the nest. We left it there for a little while, but mum went off and had some food and kicked it further away from the nest. So, we took the decision to take it away (hope it was the right thing) and put it under a heat lamp that i have borrowed. One of the other eggs is just about to pip, given that it could hatch over night we decided to take it and gently put it with the hatched chick. If we had left it we are not sure that it would have survived. This way i think it has more of a chance. The mum didnt really seem to notice that she had become a mum!

 

Really exciting.

 

THe one that has hatched has been named chickpea and if the other one survives then it will be called lentil.

 

How long will i need to keep them under the heat lamp.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

I don't have much experience when it comes to rearing chicks but I didn't want to leave your question unanswered.

 

After a bit of googling:

http://www.mypetchicken.com/backyard-chickens/chicken-care/chapter-4-caring-for-baby-chicks.aspx

These say that they should stay under a heat lamp until they are a least 2-3 weeks old

 

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_long_do_chicks_have_to_be_under_a_heat_lamp

These say 2 months (8 weeks)

 

From my own little experience I think (think!) that it is around the 3 week mark

[welovemarmite]

thanks! Its been all go here this evening.

[Mr Rhode Island Red]

Wishing you luck with your

 

Mr Rhode Island Red

[Purplemaniacs]

They need to be under heat for 4 to 6 weeks gradually lifting it higher and then just using it at night.

 

Chrissie

[welovemarmite]

THanks, I hadnt researched this too much as had been planning on leaving them with the mum. The second chicke arrived last night and seems happy. The first one may have a broken leg, or it may just still be sore from beaing kicked by mum. I will keep an eye on it over the next few days and see if it can put weight on it.

[Purplemaniacs]

The little chick with the poorly leg hasn't got splayed legs has it?

 

Can happen if they do the splits on a slippy floor or perhaps it slipped trying to get away from mum chook.

 

There is info here

 

http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=61&t=46122

 

or if you google it you can find some pictures.

 

Chrissie

[welovemarmite]

not splayed. Its curled up with bruising at the joint. If it is just bruising, then hoping that will ease and leg will heal.