[ANHBUC]

Can chickens have a sex change operation I wonder!         

[symonep]

Can chickens have a sex change operation I wonder!         

 

[JaK]

Just gorgeous, your hard work paid off. 

[symonep]

Thank jaK. It never ceases to amaze me how inate their behaviour is, today they are scratching at the floor (wooden floor) eating.
I do hope that the bantam isnt already showing signs of male behaviour! This morning it has spent time jumping on the other chicks back 
They do seem firm friends now which is good.

[JaK]

I shouldn't worry about that, chicks seem to want to jump on anything including other chicks. Mine always jump on their mum's back and have a free ride around the garden. 

[symonep]

Ha! They certainly are manic little birds today, it is also like living with a squeaky wheel the noise they are making.  I put a kitchen roll tube in there and they are currently jumping over that 

[symonep]

Is there anything else I need to be doing for the chicks other than providing chick crumb, water and heat (and cuddles!) At what age can they go onto growers and introduce other foods?

They are so sweet and not even a week old yet!

[ANHBUC]

Usually 6 to 8 weeks for growers, you can mix the chick crumb with growers to help the transition.

Not sure what and when you can feed anything else as mine are guided by a broody.  Turkey poults were in the garden with Mum at 7 days old.  She gave them small bugs and worms but they turned their beaks up at froglets!     It was a really hot and sunny day so ideal for their first outing.  Sunny today but really windy so they are with Mum in a 4' x 6' shed.

[symonep]

They had a few minutes on the lawn today, was very funny to watch them, soon they started scratching and nibbling grass

[joyfull]

it's lovely to see how they instinctively know just what to do isn't it 

[symonep]

it really is Joyful, so amazing how this behaviour is imprinted in them. they are also becoming more weary of us picking them up which again must be inate as they have been handled from day 1.
I need to make something more adequate than a cardboard box to contain them in the garden, they are fast little * and if they escape there may be no catching them!

[ANHBUC]

I sometimes use one of those rabbit run extensions either attached to the hutch or freestanding with the open side blanked off.  Mine is wood with mesh but I have had my eye on this one which would be easy to store.  It would be no good for tiny chicks as they would get out but when they start to grow it would be ideal.

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/280859010141?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

[symonep]

Thats is good, a friend is going to lend me her rabbit run so they can go outdoors a little and i can try and build up their exposure to the big wide and chilly world!
If i had more land i would hatch a lot more!

[kegs]

Yeah.  Late I know but I'm soooo pleased this thread had a happy and successful ending.   

[symonep]

Hope you had a good holiday kegs 

It's raining today so we put a small tray of turf in their coop which they loved!