Look at my Kelso biddies. Aren't they cute?

[Maddy McCall]

I entered the pen yesterday and took the babies from their mother, who was refusing to leave the nest. I was concerned that she was going to sit herself to death. She had not eaten, to my knowledge, in three weeks, since she began sitting on the eggs.

Kelsos are game chickens--a breed raised for cockfighting. I don't fight them (I think everyone at DU knows I wouldn't do that) and I bought them at a bird sale, because they are beautiful birds. However, they are badasses--both the stag and the hen. The mom attacked me when I took her babies, but she was so weak that it didn't really hurt.

When I picked her up, eleven little chicks fell out of her wings. They are in a brooder now, where they'll stay until they're a little older, and then they'll go outside. Aren't they darling?

[Bunny]

1. Too cute!

Is it common for the mother to refuse to leave the nest?

[Maddy McCall]

3. It's common for them to sit until the eggs hatch.

But usually the hen will leave after the chicks hatch. However, I keep the stag (rooster) in the same pen, and I'm wondering if she knew that it wouldn't be safe for the biddies to be out in the pen with the stag.

She has one egg left. She's still sitting. I'm going back in this afternoon to get the egg. She definitely won't leave until all eggs are hatched. This, too, is very common.

[ET Awful]

2. They are cute, but that one on the left is givin' me a dirty look

:)

[Maddy McCall]

4. Looks like he's thinking...

"WTF?" LOL!

[ET Awful]

7. They are cute little things :)

Of course I like all small fuzzy critters, even if the fuzz comes from feathers/down :)

[purr]

5. Awww :)

They are too cute!! I dont know a thing about chickens, but are the darker ones male?

[Maddy McCall]

6. Ya know, these are the first Kelsos I've hatched...

but I am assuming that they are sex link--that the sex can be identified at birth. I think the darker ones would be male. I'll have to wait and see. :D

[JitterbugPerfume]

8. reminds me of years gone by

whem my parentd raised chickens

they had to watch "us kids" closely or we would literally love the new chicks to death


long time passing

[Maddy McCall]

11. What's funny is that I don't have to watch my son as closely as...

I have to watch my Schnauzer, Lucinda. She likes to stand on her hind legs and peer into the brooder and watch the little guys. When I take the lid off to feed them, I pick up a chick for her to inspect, and she licks it and nuzzles it...she wants one for herself. She loves them. :D

I'll post a photo of her with the chicks sometime.

[MuseRider]

9. Ahhhhh

I had to look for a moment to find your thread. They are so cute and I am glad you were able to get them without injury.

They all have that Skittles "Kick Your Ass" look don't they? Ahhh, they are really cute.

[Maddy McCall]

12. From what I've read, they will start fighting each other soon, and...

I'll have to separate them, or at least put them outside so that they can have plenty of room.

I think I'll have to name one of the little girls Skittles. :D

[bertha katzenengel]

10. They are beautiful!! Wow!

Do you have a picture of the mom?

Is that really what baby chickens are called? Biddies? I like it.

[Maddy McCall]

13. I'll make a photo of mom and dad in a little bit. I'll post it and PM...

you so you can see it. :D

Yeah, the babies are called biddies. It's a cute word, isn't it. :D