I recently found myself in a dilema, and decided I was going to try something I know most would advise against. Sometimes we get a mind set based on what others tell us, I think we should expermint, and yes even run the risk of negative experiences so we don't become static, stagnant, and redundt. Theres nothing fun about routine.
So I took my seramas and put them in a new pen. That allowed me to reclaim my large coop for thirty two month old chicks. Five anconas, ten R I R's, ten austrolorps, three black copper marans, and one wheaten marans. Now my problem was I had two banties sitting on eggs in this coop, I'm hoping none of them hatch, but did not have the heart to take their eggs away. Now I'm thinking what am I going to do with these two broodies if their eggs do hatch? I will have baby chicks in with two month old chicks, Not sure I like that idea! but it's getting two cold and wet to kick two mommies out doors with new babies trying to survive. I don't like that idea either. So I decide i'll pray none of the eggs hatch. Sound's reasonable to a praying man. RIGHT!!!
Just one week later my little brown banty hatches a small yellow baby, I'm thinking oh no! Thankfully she was sitting only one egg. The silkies is still sitting! nothing happening thankfully!!! two days later she hatches two babies, oh no. This is not good. I'm watching like a hawk at what the two months old are doing!! Drama in the hen house. Day two one of the silkies babies jumps out of the nest and about 18 inches to the floor, Silkie mom jumps out and covers it. The other is in the nest chirpping! Where is mom, mom runs to the nest and jumps in the one on the floor is chirpping, mom jumps out, what a dilemma for mom. I started to intervene and decided not to but just watch and see what mom does.
She is in and out all day long, some of the two months old are now pecking the new babies, but not viciously, more like just annoyingly. I watch and wonder if the babies will survive??? I put mash down for the babies, the mom attacks me and the two months old gobble it up before the babies even know its there. By now it's a question if the babies will ever survive?? The next morning I go out and still one baby in the nest and one baby out. Suddenly like a great thought just hit her the mom silkie jumps in the nest, grabs the baby and flings it out as if to say "here now shut up" She squats and both babies run under her. It is now six day's later and all three babies are doing well, and the two months old act like they don't know they are even there. Both mommies and babies are doing great, and the babies jump up into the feeder and munch away. Trust me there is nothing routine around here, my poor wife, well there's nothing routine between us either. One thing I learned here is that raising chickens, and solving all the problems really leaves no time for routine. Don't just coop with the problems, work on finding the soultions. That will always keep us from becoming stagnant and booring. My best to my dearest friends here at Daves Garden.
This message was edited Sep 30, 2009 12:23 PM
