Against the odds hatching thread (with pictures and questions)

[K0k0shka]

I had a broody hen one frigid winter, it worked out OK but I'd never do it again.
Gonna be harder with incubated chicks.

I imagine they’d need to sleep in the basement for a while, even if they spend the day in the run after feathering out...

 

[aart]

I imagine they’d need to sleep in the basement for a while, even if they spend the day in the run after feathering out...

Might depend on how cold it gets this winter....
...and if you can set up a brooder area in the coop(which is the best way to integrate chicks, IMO).

 

[K0k0shka]

We're doing this! I set the eggs this morning. If anybody wants to follow along, my new hatch thread is here:

Emergency winter hatch thread (Partridge Orpington x Easter Egger)

 

[K0k0shka]

A very special Thanksgiving present! Pretty decent size, too.

Finally, at 31 weeks. I didn’t see who did it, and, honestly, haven’t seen any of them showing any interest in the nesting box - they are always outside - but my prime suspect is the SL Orp. Her comb is the biggest and the reddest, got noticeably redder between yesterday and today, and she has been VERY insistent in asking me for attention and squatting for me lately. It’s adorable but we had to have a talk that it needs to stay platonic I have a second coop cam aimed at the nesting box, so I’ll let it stream tomorrow and hopefully we can solve the mystery. My 6-year-old wants to camp out in the coop tomorrow to watch. Said she’ll bring water, too, in case she gets thirsty

 

[K0k0shka]

I found a way to “free range” the girls without the dangers of real free ranging. After I took down the garden, I’ve been letting them play around in it. It’s fully covered on all sides - HC for the first few feet, chicken wire the rest of the way up and overhead, so they’re protected. Not 100% predator-proof, but I only let them in there while I’m working in the yard nearby. Takes care of sneak attacks by bold hawks or raccoons sneaking up behind my back. The area is a decent size and there are some winter crops there that they can snack on, plus bugs and worms. They LOVE it! When it’s time for bed, they cluster in the corner closest to the coop and remind me to carry them back. There’s nothing in the garden that I care about for half the year, so I think this is gonna be a regular thing!

 

[K0k0shka]

I finally identified my first layer! It's the SL Orp, just like I thought. She's laid 4 days in a row now, and every day the eggs get a little bigger. I caught her in the act yesterday on the nest cam. It was interesting to observe everybody's behavior. After she went into the coop, her best friend followed her in and stood right at the entrance to her nest, with her head inside, looking in. She remained there the whole time, just watching over her, as the two talked softly to each other. Soon after the two of them went in, the rest of the flock trickled in one by one as well, and stood around the nesting box until their friend was done. At one point it looked like they were having a little discussion, it was adorable! After she came out of the box and announced her accomplishment, everybody went out of the coop together. This was my first time watching as it was happening (when we had chickens before, I'd just collect the eggs without lingering to watch, and also we didn't have cameras back then). I have to say, I did not expect this much solidarity and socializing! I love these chickens so much

Here she is, in all her glory!

 

[aart]

I have to say, I did not expect this much solidarity and socializing!

They are amazing......love the way you told this story.

 

[K0k0shka]

We got our second first egg today! At 33 weeks old, one of the Lemon Cuckoo Orpingtons (Zlatka, also known as Saggy Boob) laid her first egg after a week of drama. She has always been a drama queen (she’s also the jealous one who won’t let me hold the other chickens in my lap). She’s been doing the most dramatic, foot-stomping squats if you so much as walk past her. Sticking her head in the nesting box while her friend is in there doing her business. And yelling for no apparent reason, just pacing back and forth squawking loud monologues, especially if she has an audience. The first one to lay was very discreet and proper about it. This one kept yelling and complaining about her poor butthole even as she was in the nest squeezing the egg out. I’m so sad I had to miss the grand reveal - I had to go pick my daughter up from school right in the middle of the drama. When we came back, we found two eggs (Saggy had followed her friend into the nesting boxes and we’d left the two of them working on their deliveries next to each other). The proud girl even came in to show us her creation (she normally never cares to follow anybody into the coop, but did today for the first time, and went straight to the nesting box as we were collecting the eggs).

My second prediction was correct as well. My next bet is on the third Orp. The Barnevelders are at one finger and really taking their time.

Here are the two eggs side by side. The larger one is the second layer’s first egg, and it’s full size - exactly the same size as a store-bought egg, which was surprising, for a first-timer. No wonder she yelled so much. That poor butthole!

 

[adirondak5]

Congrats on the first eggs . My daughters Orps started laying a week or so ago . Enjoy the rent (eggs) !

 

[MaryAlice]

how did they turn out. I am on second batch of orpington from papa's I do love his eggs and birds. my Barnivelders are from my pet chicken and Myers not as double aced as hoped for but not third molt yet. can you post the papas pictures. I got one lavender with Carmel lacing I love but afraid it is a cocrael. so sad as just beautiful. thanks for such a well documented hatch.how was your hatch rate? hope all went well. I am just ending my second hatch. such fun. congratulations.Your Barnies are older than my sept 14 hatch date so I would very much like seeing them in a photo if you have time.