Re: Perches and chick update

From: Jill (news_at_REMOVETHISkintaline.co.uk)
Date: 07/29/04 

Date: Thu, 29 Jul 2004 12:26:22 +0100

Jay wrote:

> I have a new fruit cage which at the moment only has four bushes in -
> and lots of weeds but not much grass (I plan to plant it up this
> autumn - when the new ark arrives hopefully!). I did wonder about
> moving the broody ark to the cage but wondered whether it was better
> to have :
>
> Option 1. to have short grass to scratch about on, a few trees or
> bushes to give shade, big hens nexr door (ie other side of electric
> fence) and an electric fence. I could make a smaller area with the
> chicken wire and netting roof but that will substantially reduce the
> stretching space for Mum.
>
> or
> Option 2. bare soil (and compost and some weeds) within a fruit cage
> but with no electric fencing (and it would not be possible to set
> up). Obviously the ark can be safeley closed up at night. There are
> some bushes which will provide shade. Loads of space for Mum to play,
> scratch and stretch her wings.

If the former is easy to manage then fine but the fruit cage is great for
the first few weeks until they are big enough to not go through the fencing
and not be so likely to be picked off by the crows.
As long as the bare soil is dry - ie its only for a short time and there
will be litter and stuff around. The babies will love the seeds and the bugs
Mum finds for them. Watch the compost heap though - Mum will have that
completely scattered !!! and partly decomposed stuff can be dangerous -
botulism. So it might be better to screen that off.

Buzzards can be a problem with young growers.

> I'm also consious that mum will loose interest in the chicks (at
> about 5 weeks ? ) when I will need to reintroduce her to the other
> big birds.

She might lose some interest in them - she does not always get the choice
:~))) The babies will have other ideas. She is the best one to introduce
them to the rest of the flock as she will make the others mind their P's and
Q's. Youngsters will courrie up to Mum even when they are well grown. 

--
regards
Jill Bowis
Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment,  Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Holidays in Scotland and Wales
http://www.kintaline.co.uk
>
> As always I'm really grateful for everyone's advice,
>
> Jay