Thanks @aart I will try that next time. For this ordeal...
I put up a pillowcase to partition the babies roost and have been putting them up each night since the original post. Last night, we got home a bit late so everyone was in - but the babies were back on the floor! How long do I have...
For tonight, I hung a pillow case partition for the babies. When I have more time, I may try more partitions, I think it is a fantastic idea.
Hey @aart - we are still fairly new to chickens and always learning.
HOW would you make the Broody Hen take the chicks out?? We tried to encourage...
I believe it was a bit after that when I put up the wall. The Broody and babies have their own maternity ward. Mom left them at about 6 weeks and returned to the main coop. I let the babies stay in the maternity ward until they were a little bigger then moved them to their half of the big...
Thanks for the reply @azygous and the divider idea. I WAS going out every night and putting the babies in their corner, and shewing off all the hens, every night for at least a week or two, but as soon as I stopped - back to the floor! There is just enough room for everyone, but the babies...
We have two pullets that were broody raised here with us. They are about 4 months old now. The broody hen quit caring for them (or being nice to them) at around 6 weeks. I built my coop with a removable wall in the middle for integrating new ones. That seemed to work OK - the babies would...
Thank you @L1sa Whitey and the babies have the entire run to themselves. They can be seen and heard by the others. There is quite an ordeal with all the others laying these days as two of the nest boxes are in the run and they can't access it. They have other nest boxes in the Hen House, but...
@aart That is exactly what I did the other day. I kept the remaining 2 babies in the run and let Whitey out (she wanted out). The other six ALL went after and she jumped on the roof. I think I have the other two babies sold next weekend. When I posted the last question we were considering...
SOOO... how do I get Whitey to go back to the flock? I let her out the other day and all six of the others went after her! She jumped up o the roof until I could clear everyone else out - she went right back to the babies. I would like to let her and the remaining two pullets outside for some...
Four beautiful girls. Happy & healthy and Whitey has learned very quickly to be a good mother hen. :) Two are already sold and at there new home in the mountains.
Well - our little Whitey laid her first egg on 8 Sept 18. 26 Sept. she went broody! 21 days later... 17 Oct 2018 she hatched four Crested Cream Legbar PULLETS!
I only got a quick peak, but looks like 4 girls to me!!
She did it! & she is being a good Momma too! Best news yet - it looks like we got 4 girls!!! All 6 eggs candled at 7 days showed good fetal growth. Two eggs were broken during incubation. All four remaining eggs hatched between 8 and 10 pm on 17 Oct 18.
I was only able to get a quick look...
I still get the 17th as day 21- maybe I typed my set day wrong? I will have to go back and look but when I count the 27th as day one (set on 26th)... anyway, I am guessing they have their own schedule in mind LOL. No talking to (or from) the eggs yet. I am trying to remember to check on her...
Yeah! Whitey finally relieved herself. I moved her food and water to where she had to get up to eat / drink and that did the trick. Her 3 day movement has passed. Tomorrow is day 21. I got a very quick look at the clutch and all four eggs are still in tact. Any way of estimating the time...
You are more optimistic than I. I would guess that Whitey just hatched herself around April 1st. Twice she fled instead of defending her clutch. We have a brooder ready (almost) in case she isn't a good mother - I just hope we see it in time. Our camera signal is not great inside the...
Thanks @aart . I was wondering if we should move the food and water. I wasn't sure - I did move the water earlier (it was blocking the camera's view LOL). I will head out there soon and move the food too. I did also lift her enough to confirm there are still 4 eggs - no poop - although you...
QUESTION - Whitey has not left the nest to poop for 2+ days now. How worried should we be? Should I force her off the nest for a few minutes this afternoon? The chicks are due on the 17th. It is the coldest day that it has been yet today. High of 46, wet and cloudy. I am 100% certain there...
So, please allow me to introduce Whitey. It is a long story as to how we acquired her. I was told she was Amerecana (Sp) and Flowery 55 mix. She was supposed to be the same age as the cockerel she was replacing when we got her (9 weeks) but I always estimated her to be about a month younger...