𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 2𝐤22 ~ Flo's Hatch-A-Long ~

[All4Eggz]

Thank you all for the advice. Will try to treat her tomorrow and later on, and I’ll update on how she’s doing.

I candled the eggs (was not able to take pictures) and it looks like all but one are healthily developing. 7/8 will be great if my eyes are telling the truth!

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Hope your girl is okay, Ben, or soon put right! When is our hatch date?

 

[All4Eggz]

Hope your girl is okay, Ben, or soon put right! When is our hatch date?

Thank you!

March 5th-6th. Expecting the earliest to be hatching on the evening of March 4th.

 

[All4Eggz]

Today, Flo got off the nest for only about 5 minutes. She had a really large poop, very smelly as well.

From what I saw, it doesn’t look like it has any bloood/words. I treated her today.

Spoiler: poop photos

Here she is, drinking with the flock.

Pretty cold today, mid 30’s.

Saturday and Sunday (hatch day) will be in the 40’s and 50’s- slowly getting warmer .


So eggcited!!!

 

[rod5591]

One thing I recall from when my Noir Maran hen sat on and hatched eggs last summer, is that she lost all of her social rank during the process, and went to the very bottom of the pecking order by the time she went back to the flock. I wonder if that will happen to your silkie?

 

[casportpony]

Just hatched!

 

[All4Eggz]

One thing I recall from when my Noir Maran hen sat on and hatched eggs last summer, is that she lost all of her social rank during the process, and went to the very bottom of the pecking order by the time she went back to the flock. I wonder if that will happen to your silkie?

Probably. The broodies I had years ago had a hard time with getting lower on the pecking order. Some stayed at the bottom, while some slowly climbed to the top - until they become broody again.
It seems as if the other chooks are jealous of the broodies .

They do get their own personal food and water, but they have to sit around for 21 days. I don’t see how that could spark jealousy.

 

[All4Eggz]

View attachment 3010286
Just hatched!

That is a door bell.
Thank you so much for sharing!! Be sure to keep us ‘dated on their growth!

“a-doorbell” is my way of saying “Adorable”!

 

[rod5591]

Probably. The broodies I had years ago had a hard time with getting lower on the pecking order. Some stayed at the bottom, while some slowly climbed to the top - until they become broody again.
It seems as if the other chooks are jealous of the broodies .

They do get their own personal food and water, but they have to sit around for 21 days. I don’t see how that could spark jealousy.

I am guessing that in order to keep their social ranking, the hens need to interact with the flock on a daily basis, pecking or chasing the lower ranking hens to constantly reinforce their own rank. When a hen goes broody, they isolate themselves for an extended time period, and the lower ranked hens in the flock "forget" the broody hen is over them in rank, because of her extended absence. When the broody hen finally rejoins the flock, she is therefore at the bottom of the pecking order. That's my theory anyway!

 

[All4Eggz]

I am guessing that in order to keep their social ranking, the hens need to interact with the flock on a daily basis, pecking or chasing the lower ranking hens to constantly reinforce their own rank. When a hen goes broody, they isolate themselves for an extended time period, and the lower ranked hens in the flock "forget" the broody hen is over them in rank, because of her extended absence. When the broody hen finally rejoins the flock, she is therefore at the bottom of the pecking order. That's my theory anyway!

Sounds like a very accurate theory. That was my thought as well.

Flo does get to interact with the flock on a daily basis, though. But you can tell she is already lower in the pecking order.