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

[stu]

Okay...

it's a long story, and much to do with us thinking that our 'cockerel' was some kind of hybrid because for ages it looked like a hen, but if this thing could have taken my photo when i peeked in the cube hatch..? It would have been one of immense surprise, to say the least.

 

Basically, we have a baby chick... just the one but it seems quite feisty and integrated into the house no problem.

 

The problem I have... is how long does it have to stay in the run? We don't have a walk in run and just the 2 extensions to the cube itself (3 meters floor space)

It has been in the garden and led the rest of the hens a merry dance behind the fence, but they all came back safe and sound. It sticks closely to the 'mother' and she seems pretty good at caring for it, and the cockerel is a hardy sod, and also seems very capable of looking after them too.

 

I am reluctant to change a whole way of life for the hens and am not a 'soft' touch when it comes to the hens... they do their own thing. There is a flock down the road from us that is left basically to their own devices... they make chicks and the chicks do okay without any additional care.

[Beantree]

Bit puzzled here Stu? You have one chick that you have put in with adults with no heat? How old is this chick and what are you feeding it on?

[miller30]

Bit puzzled here Stu? You have one chick that you have put in with adults with no heat? How old is this chick and what are you feeding it on?

 

I think he means one of his girls has hatched a chick yes bit confused too if this is the case and it seems fine with mum I would leave them to it chick should really be on chickcrumb but not the end of the world I know plenty of people that hatch chicks under broodys and still feed mum and babies layers pellets I don't how ever but you can only advise people what to do at the end of the day its upto you leanne

[stu]

Yup... sorry to confuse.

One of the hens hatched it out.

 

It eats chick crumb and seems to be doing alright.

At the slightest peril, it hides under the mother and the cockerel gets all pumped up, so am hoping that they will keep it safe from the likes of cats (Cats tend not to like going ner the hens anyway, but a small one can be tempting)

 

I figure the worst time for them might be later, and things that fly about, but I can easily get them home and close the run up, if they haven;t taken themselves off to the run anyway... which they seem to do in good time lately.

 

Cheers

[Beantree]

We have a flock here that does its own thing Stu (not ours I add). Mortality rate of the chicks is very high. Up to now only two have ever reached adulthood as far as I can tell. Predators are rats, small birds of prey, domestic cats and dogs and mainly the other chickens who will eat one given the chance if the mother's back is turned. These eat wheat and sunflowers plus grubs, so Calcium in the diet isn't a problem. However giving a chick access to layers pellets before 18 weeks can be a risk. Certainly at 6 weeks their liver/kidneys can't cope with 3% Calcium at all.

[chickenanne2]

I'd be v worried about the other chickens attacking the chick - they get braver about moving away from Mum as they get older, and are therefore more likely to be pecked a LOT (until dead). Also layers pellets are not good for chicks (even if they can manage them). Growers' are more appropriate, and coccidiosis a risk unless you take strong hygeine measures and feed appropriately (usually strikes later on - 8-12 weeks from memory, but check with nice Mr Google).

 

It might be kinder to be prepared to despatch the chick at the first sign of trouble, rather than let it suffer, as it's unlikely you'll find a decent home for a young bird of unknown sex, and you're not able/willing to separate them out.