The Poultry Keeper

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:07 pm Post subject: size difference

I have 3 seven week old hamburgs.
one with a broody and 2 in the brooder.
the ones in the brooder arre loads bigger than the other one.
Just wondered if anyone had any ideas why.
They are fed the same, the only difference is the lamp

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 4:10 pm Post subject:

Are they all from the same parents ?

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:17 pm Post subject:

yep, all from the same batch of eggs

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

do you think maybe that they have better access to food in the brooder as there is nothing much else to do., The one with the broody is probably very happy just snuggling with his/her mum

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:25 pm Post subject:

maybe, plus mum is terible for knocking the food over and sctarching everywhere.

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

maybe she's eating most of the food

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 6:34 pm Post subject:

it's healthy and doesn't look thin, I'll try putting more in and see.
Moved them today to a bigger run so will see if that makes a difference

Knobby · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:08 pm Post subject:

I always thought the heat makes them grow ! Confused

NannyP · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:11 pm Post subject:

Maybe there is less to distract the one's in the brooder, so they eat. The one under the broody has more to do and less time to get bored (yes I know they don't get bored, but you know what I mean!!)
Laughing

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:43 pm Post subject:

think I will have to wait and see if it catches up with the others, maybe when it's not with mum it will start to grow more.
The other chicks with her are the same.
Havn't incubated before so I don't now if last years were the same

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:44 pm Post subject:

It's nearly time to let mum loose anyway

NannyP · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:46 pm Post subject:

When will you do that, how old will the chicks be?
Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:49 pm Post subject:

last year I did it when mum looked fed up, about 8 weeks for 1 and 6 for the other. This one looks quite happy at the mo

NannyP · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:51 pm Post subject:

Okay, I'll watch out for that, what does a fed up hen look like?
Very Happy

debcat · Posted: Mon May 02, 2005 7:55 pm Post subject:

Keep trying to escape Rolling Eyes

When the chicks are independent and don't snuggle under so much
It was the purebred that got fed up first, the hybrid wasn't giving up for anything, mind you she only had one Shocked

She lay one egg and sat on it chucking out all the others I tried to put under her