Subscriber Letters

Veleen : Hello Gina, I would like to share with you a wonderful show of natural instincts. I bought five Barred Rock chicks unsexed, it was soon apparent that only one was a pullet. I gave the four little cockerels back and proceeded to purchase ten Heritage pullet chicks between the ages of four days old and two weeks. Now my first little pullet was not quite five weeks old. Within twenty four hours this dear little Barred Rock chick had taken the flock of ten babies as her own.

A week has past and one would think she was a mature broody hen. When attempting to settle down with the chicks, she will go down on her elbow and take her well spread out foot to gently push the babies over to make room for herself. It is so much fun to see her interact with the Chicks, they have totally taken her as Mom! Thank you for making it possible to be a part of this great chicken adventure.

Leslie : With regard to chicks and vitamin B deficiency - I had a 2 week old chick whose feet started curling underneath her and within 2 days she could only hobble around on her knees. I searched the internet and read something about riboflavin deficiency and that, while you can purchase vitamins, you can also try brewers yeast, available in most health food stores, etc. I bought the brewers yeast, separated the chick, fed it to her and by the next day (Easter!), she was walking and looking completely normal. I understand the chick feed is reputed to be the most nutritious thing to feed your chicks but I think some of these chicks got stressed in shipping and just weren't getting the amount of B they needed. I immediately told the feed store owner what had happened and she later told me that she had several customers come in with the same problem. She advised them of my solution and it worked for them as well. Thank you kindly for providing us with ever more insight into the rewarding practice of raising chickens- love your newsletter!! -Leslie Barnard Santa Fe, New Mexico