so I have a cock amd a hen. I also now have 8 eggs. She has gone sit on them and I think they are due to hatch in the next week or so. She has a full run of a very ventilated greenhouse and I have now moved the cock into a large run.
I have been told he will kill any chicks.
so what on earth do I do when they hatch? how long does he need to be kept away? how long till I can handle the chick? I have got chick crumb for them, what else will they eat? I regularly mash up pepper and carrot and my girl loves it!
The cock and hen are not very tame and I have to corner them and then grab them to have any chance of a stroke. if i let them wander about the garden are they likely to bugger off? its fairly secure, but would they fly off? if I let them out in the garden how would I get them back in the greenhouse?
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Some questions. ...
buggerboooo · 17/05/2014 23:15
Well I know nothing about cockerels or chicks, but if my girls get out I can always guarantee to lure them back in with some mealworms. I have a little yellow bowl that I put them in and as soon as they see it they will follow me anywhere. Yes they are stupid! 
Mine haven't tried to fly, they are more interested in grubbing about in the flower beds for worms. Tbh I don't think they know they can fly. But then we had some pet ducks for 15 years and they never tried to fly off either, maybe we've just been lucky though!
I'd be more worried about a fox getting in than the hens getting out if it was me as foxes can jump/climb a lot higher than that. Even a dog might be tempted if it was passing and off the lead (bear in mind I'm only 5'2" so 'hip height' might mean different things to you and me 
).
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