I am going to knock my neighbor upside the head. He lives about a mile down the road and has a bunch of chickens he knows nothing about. His father in law gave them to him and he doesn't even know the breeds. I think I recognize some Australorps and Orpingtons. A few months ago he woke up one day and found 3 roosters in with his flock (free-range). He was really baffled until I told him that most likely someone didn't want roos and dumped them in his yard. I think he thought his hens layed them! He's a super nice guy, but really knows very, very little about chickens. I don't even know why he has them.
At any rate, I've had SO many broodies this year, and currently have 3. One just went broody last weekend, so I asked my neighbor if I could get some eggs from him for my broody to hatch out - just to mix my flock up a little. So last Wednesday he brought me 1 dozen eggs and I put them under this last broody.
Now, keep in mind I already have 2 broodies setting on eggs that are due to hatch this Tuesday. I have trouble with broody moms attacking each other, so I keep them in brooders for two weeks after the chicks hatch. I ONLY HAVE TWO BROODERS. So I figured it would work out that about the time the two broodies were ready to leave the brooders with their hatches, this last broody would hatch out the chicks from the eggs from my neighbor and go into one of the brooders. I HAD A PLAN.
Well, this morning, only THREE days after I put the eggs he gave me under the broody, I went into the coop to find that one had hatched and another is pipping already! THREE DAYS! The numb-skull pulled eggs out from under one of HIS broodies and gave them to me! And didn't even tell me! Aaarrrgghhhh.
I'm happy to see the babies - but dad gum it, now I have to build another brooder which I really don't have room for - and I'm not even sure if all 12 eggs came from the same broody and are the same age!
I'm heading down to visit him this afternoon and at least try to find out if all the eggs are the same age.
He's a nice guy. He really is. But I'm just a little annoyed at him right now.
Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now.
Penny
At any rate, I've had SO many broodies this year, and currently have 3. One just went broody last weekend, so I asked my neighbor if I could get some eggs from him for my broody to hatch out - just to mix my flock up a little. So last Wednesday he brought me 1 dozen eggs and I put them under this last broody.
Now, keep in mind I already have 2 broodies setting on eggs that are due to hatch this Tuesday. I have trouble with broody moms attacking each other, so I keep them in brooders for two weeks after the chicks hatch. I ONLY HAVE TWO BROODERS. So I figured it would work out that about the time the two broodies were ready to leave the brooders with their hatches, this last broody would hatch out the chicks from the eggs from my neighbor and go into one of the brooders. I HAD A PLAN.
Well, this morning, only THREE days after I put the eggs he gave me under the broody, I went into the coop to find that one had hatched and another is pipping already! THREE DAYS! The numb-skull pulled eggs out from under one of HIS broodies and gave them to me! And didn't even tell me! Aaarrrgghhhh.
I'm happy to see the babies - but dad gum it, now I have to build another brooder which I really don't have room for - and I'm not even sure if all 12 eggs came from the same broody and are the same age!
I'm heading down to visit him this afternoon and at least try to find out if all the eggs are the same age.
He's a nice guy. He really is. But I'm just a little annoyed at him right now.
Thanks for letting me vent. I feel better now.
Penny
