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Barnyard Buddies:  Chick question  |
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Sweet_Tea
True Blue Farmgirl
194 Posts
Tara
Newberry
SC
USA
194 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 21 2013 : 11:02:36 AM
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my silkies had babies.. 4 of them so far, and I have bought chicks but, never had any hatch. Should I leave them with their mama or take them out of the pen? also, if they are with their mama, does she feed them? or should I just treat them like the chicks I bought, using chick starter etc?
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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kysheeplady
True Blue Farmgirl
1291 Posts
Teri
KY
USA
1291 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2013 : 11:27:10 AM
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I have always left mine with the hen, pending on how cold it is you may want to put her aside with a heat lamp. And I always give them medicated chick start, just as you do with all chicks.
I always loved it when my hens would hatch their own. Always tried to keep a couple of broody hens, just for that reason, cheaper than electric in an incubator.
Good luck with them.
Teri
"There are black sheep in every flock"
White Sheep Farm
www.whitesheepfarm.com |
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magnoliakathy
True Blue Farmgirl
453 Posts
Kathryn
Magnolia
Texas
USA
453 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2013 : 11:35:07 AM
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I do the same as Teri, let momma chicken do all the work. I do move mamma and chichs to a "holding pen" (read wire rabbit cage, 2'by 4'), this way the other chickens don't eat the chick starter, and she doesn't loose any stragglers. I leave them in the holding pen until they are fully feathered and then I release momma and chicks back in the henhouse, I check often and if there are problems, back in the holding pen for a few more days.
When you free your mind your heart can fly. Farmgirl # 714, |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
Posted - Jan 21 2013 : 11:47:30 AM
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Adorable. I sometimes leave the babies with the moms but I keep the Mom and babies in their own pen/area. Some hens don't have enough protective instinct to protect the babies from the other chickens. You can give the Mom and babies chick starter or lay mash and a little hen scratch mixed in, and water in a chick waterer. They don't really have to eat anything for a couple of days after they hatch, they have natural reserves built in. Congrats.
Laura
Horse poor in the boonies.
http://www.etsy.com/shop/CrittergrannysLair
www.nmbarrelhorses.com
www.creamofthecroptrailrides.webs.com |
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Sweet_Tea
True Blue Farmgirl
194 Posts
Tara
Newberry
SC
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - Jan 22 2013 : 05:15:00 AM
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Thank you all for your suggestions :)
I got a heat lamp set up for them and got water and feed, I left the Moms with them.
I'm really excited about having babies :)
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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cajungal
True Blue Farmgirl
2349 Posts
Catherine Farmgirl Sister #76
Houston Area
Texas
2349 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2013 : 5:11:42 PM
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Silkies are so pretty. Congrats on successful breeding and hatching!
I do the same as the other gals....put the mom and chicks in a pen on they're own. Usually, if I time it right and see that the mom is laying on a nest of eggs, I'll move the nest to a pen and put the mom on it and give her a source of water and food. Then just let the eggs all hatch in the pen. I also use a rabbit wire cage/pen to house them in.
After they're all hatched, I'll leave the mom in for several days and then open the door so she can come and go. We have too many snakes and hawks for me to let the chicks out with mom. So, she goes out to scratch and comes back to them. I've had some moms decide to not go back to the pen, which is fine with me.
Post more pics if you can. I'd love to see them.
One of the best compliments from one of my daughters: "Moma, you smell good...like dirt." |
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Katlady93
True Blue Farmgirl
361 Posts
Charlotte
Denmark
SC
USA
361 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2013 : 10:26:04 AM
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Tara, just realized you are down the road from my folks. they are in Aiken county.
your chicks are so cute. i am debating have a few , two or three, chickens for the eggs.
Some dreams are worth the risk it takes to make them real.
Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footsteps on the moon. |
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Sweet_Tea
True Blue Farmgirl
194 Posts
Tara
Newberry
SC
USA
194 Posts |
Posted - Jan 26 2013 : 1:46:02 PM
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Charlotte,
Aiken is right down the street from me. I have some hunter shows there this season :)
Farmgirl Sister #2974
~ http://notsosweettea.blogspot.com/
"The air of heaven is that which blows between a horse's ears"
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Barnyard Buddies: Chick question |
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Chick question
