Around February 18 & 22 I had a Buff Orp & Light Brahma hatch out chicks. I then added 9 purchased chicks of various breeds. At about 4 weeks, I had fixed up an outdoor protected area for them. On the first day out, several chicks had gotten out & were mingling with the regular flock. As I didn't see any confrontations, or problems, I thought "What the heck?" & let all the rest go out with the flock.
It has been a total success! Those little ones act just like the big chickens ~ pecking around, running to me when I am out in their area, going out from the coop in the morning & coming back at night. That process only took a couple of days for them to learn!
What was interesting was that once they were out with the flock, the Light Brahma totally disregarded her chicks & the Buff has taken over completely! 16 chicks for her! It was hilarious to see her trying to let all 16 under her for protection or to rest at night! Not enough body/wing space. So my earlier posts about which hens make the best moms (I had thought at that time the Brahma was tops for me) is not correct ~ I've got to go with the Buff!
Two nights ago Mama was up on the top roost (about 4' high) & had two of the chicks roosting with her. The rest were on the floor where she'd been with them for a few weeks. Last night, she was by herself on the roost & all chicks on the floor. When I let them out in the morning a couple of days ago, all 16 chicks were lined up on the roosts! Too cute! I'm hoping that within a few weeks, they'll figure out to get on the roosts at night.
What I've noticed is the hardiness of these chicks being raised naturally. They are vigerous, fast growing & have no problems whatsoever keeping up with the rest of the flock. My one Speckled Sussex roo even stayed out with mom & chicks on a VERY blustery, rainy day when all the others had taken cover in the coop.
This has been a thoroughly pleasurable experience & has made me a firm believer in doing things as nature intended, without an incubator & no mom!
After these girls were finished & had their chicks out, an Australorp went broody. She's only big enough for 4 eggs, but on Tues hatched out an Ameracauna blue egg & a creamy egg that produced a black chick with white wing tips like his daddy! The other two eggs haven't yet hatched & if they don't by tomorrow, they're out.
Beth Rutherford Americana Acres
Specializing in naturally raised heritage breeds
Turner, OR ameracres@yahoo.
CHICKENS-101@yahoogroups.com
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