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Subject: Chick 7 wks - ready for shed? Author: Maxie [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 13:09:29 07/26/07 Thu My bantam's peachick is 7 weeks old now, and I'm still bringing them both into the house at night in a cat carrying crate to ensure the chick is warm enough. This chick is as big as the bantam. Can I let them roost outside in the shed do you think? The chick doesn't really fit under the bantams' wing, so I'm worried it'll get cold during the night. Could you let me know if at 7 weeks, the feathers on a chick are developed enough to keep it sufficiently warm without assistance? Thanks so much, as usual! Maxie [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

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[> Subject: Re: Chick 7 wks - ready for shed? Author: D C T --friendly poultry orthopedist [Edit] Date Posted: 09:29:08 07/27/07 Fri At this age feathering has begun and with the bantam foster mother to huddle with it should be warm enough unless you have extra bad weather. So with a roof overhead the peachick should be OK. It is funny to watch my peachicks that are peahen raised as they hide under the mother's wings while on perch. But this is because they have jungle instinct to fear predators that lurk in the wild. Poor things just do not undestand that they are securely penned by a person that will defend them. -------- Back in 1989 Frostina the white silkie hen stayed with her baby black shoulder peacock until he was eight weeks old. Then she decided to return to her own "people". Perhaps her body had the hormone change that comes with forming eggs. Some hens are not good egg layers and therefore can stay longer with babies. Once I had a peahen mother that kept her daughters for ten long months before she began pecking them as the new breeding season began.

[> [> Subject: Re: Chick 7 wks - ready for shed? Author: maxie [Edit] Date Posted: 06:59:55 07/31/07 Tue Thank you DCT. I suppose I'll have to let my peababy into the shed then...no excuses for molly-coddling him! My bantam mother is doing a great job, and he manages to huddle under her wing when perched ok. I'm just a nervous new mother...lol I'll have to wait and see how long the peahen mother looks after her chicks, if it carries on for 10 months like your peahen did, then I'll be very pleased indeed. Thanks again, your assistance is invaluable. xxx