Portland Chicken Dad
Hatching
- Mar 20, 2026
- 1
- 3
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Howdy y'all,
Just wanted to share my experience with my back yard city chicken farm. Don't care about ordnance. Portland Oregon let's homeless camp everywhere they have no right to complain about my chickens.
I bought roughly 12 chickens last year. Mixed batch of Rhode Island Reds, cinnamon queens and Black Sussex. Later I got them a young east egger mixed rooster to hang out with them.
Was letting them free range around the yard roughly a half acre. Made them a pond with solar pond pump. A few spots to hang out and dust bath. The coup door was never closed.
Then the coyote found them. Yes there can be coyotes in the city. I lost two. That was the perfect opportunity to build them a large run and close the coup. Plus it gave the wife her yard back. She was tired of poo on the porch.
About 21 days ago one of my girls went full broody and hatched one of the eggs she's been sitting on. I had added a few under her at some point so I don't know if they'll hatch or not.
With that doubt in mind I decided to add some to the nest. I bought 6 lavender orpingtons and 4 eggers. The threads I read recommended all sorts of stuff. I decided to go with my gut.
I took the babies out to her. Let her see them then rubbed them on her belly before I released them to her. She immediately began talking to them and accepted them into her nest.
The next morning to make sure thing was okay I went out to check on them and I was welcomed by absolutely the most adorable display of chick and mommy love. They was popping their heads out from all over under her and some were even climbing on her. None of them messed with the one she hatched.
It's day two after adding them and still all good. The flock still goes in and lays eggs in the boxes next to hers and leave the new chicks alone.
Rubbing her scent on them before letting them loose my have been the trick. Or maybe I was just lucky and had a good broody cinnamon queen.
She doesn't freak out when I put my hands near her to pet her. She lets her babies climb on my hands and me touch them.
I whole heartedly believe all life can pick up on your energy and intentions. Just have love in your heart and joy on your face while interacting with it and you will have better odds. Just know your audience. A hungry bear is a bad tent mate.
Best of luck on your flock.
Portland Chicken Dad
Just wanted to share my experience with my back yard city chicken farm. Don't care about ordnance. Portland Oregon let's homeless camp everywhere they have no right to complain about my chickens.
I bought roughly 12 chickens last year. Mixed batch of Rhode Island Reds, cinnamon queens and Black Sussex. Later I got them a young east egger mixed rooster to hang out with them.
Was letting them free range around the yard roughly a half acre. Made them a pond with solar pond pump. A few spots to hang out and dust bath. The coup door was never closed.
Then the coyote found them. Yes there can be coyotes in the city. I lost two. That was the perfect opportunity to build them a large run and close the coup. Plus it gave the wife her yard back. She was tired of poo on the porch.
About 21 days ago one of my girls went full broody and hatched one of the eggs she's been sitting on. I had added a few under her at some point so I don't know if they'll hatch or not.
With that doubt in mind I decided to add some to the nest. I bought 6 lavender orpingtons and 4 eggers. The threads I read recommended all sorts of stuff. I decided to go with my gut.
I took the babies out to her. Let her see them then rubbed them on her belly before I released them to her. She immediately began talking to them and accepted them into her nest.
The next morning to make sure thing was okay I went out to check on them and I was welcomed by absolutely the most adorable display of chick and mommy love. They was popping their heads out from all over under her and some were even climbing on her. None of them messed with the one she hatched.
It's day two after adding them and still all good. The flock still goes in and lays eggs in the boxes next to hers and leave the new chicks alone.
Rubbing her scent on them before letting them loose my have been the trick. Or maybe I was just lucky and had a good broody cinnamon queen.
She doesn't freak out when I put my hands near her to pet her. She lets her babies climb on my hands and me touch them.
I whole heartedly believe all life can pick up on your energy and intentions. Just have love in your heart and joy on your face while interacting with it and you will have better odds. Just know your audience. A hungry bear is a bad tent mate.
Best of luck on your flock.
Portland Chicken Dad
