Gallinarium
Crowing
I have 15 chicks from Murray McMurray hatchery coming around the seventh of May. My current sole chicken, Fluffball, went broody on about April 9. My game plan: Build her a ground nesting box. When the chicks come, put them in a wading pool with towels, paper towels, or something similar that I have on hand, (I usually use pine shavings, but probably not the best idea with newly shipped chicks,) for bedding, with medicated Sprout Chick Starter, (It was all Fleet Farm had on hand,) and water. I'm thinking I'll just give them water for the first 15 - 30 minutes to avoid pasting. They'll have a red heat lamp, and this whole setup will probably be indoors. Once it's darker out, I'll put the chicks under Fluffball, who's currently happily sitting on plastic Easter eggs filled with sand. I'm not too worried about the hen accepting the chicks, but the chicks accepting the hen. I don't know exactly how old they'll be, but they said one to two days shipping. The biggest thing I'm worried about right now, is obviously Fluffball is going to be setting much longer than twenty-one days. Can she make it? And what should I feed her to help? Fluffball was today bathed with Adam's Plus Flea and Tick shampoo. I have no idea that should be used on a chicken, but it killed the mites. I'm going to give her another bath a day or two before the chicks, to kill any stragglers. Should I use something else, and if so, what? Below are pictures of Fluffball before her bath, and while she was being held in the coop while I was getting the hair dryer ready, (That is literally the picture of misery .)
So, all in all, here are my questions:
Will Fluffball accept the chicks, and what can I do to help that?
Will the chicks accept Fluffball, and what can I do to help that?
What should I feed Fluffball to help her maintain weight?
Is pet flea and tick shampoo too strong for a chicken, and if it is, what can I use instead?
Am I cruel for photographing a chicken when she's down?
If for any reason something doesn't work out and I panic, I can definitely raise the chicks myself. But I would very much appreciate any advice.
So, all in all, here are my questions:
Will Fluffball accept the chicks, and what can I do to help that?
Will the chicks accept Fluffball, and what can I do to help that?
What should I feed Fluffball to help her maintain weight?
Is pet flea and tick shampoo too strong for a chicken, and if it is, what can I use instead?
Am I cruel for photographing a chicken when she's down?
If for any reason something doesn't work out and I panic, I can definitely raise the chicks myself. But I would very much appreciate any advice.