August Hatch-A-Long

[CluckNDoodle]

I was surprised at how unpleasant both other broodies were to their babies when they “kicked them out of the nest”! They are still pretty unpleasant if their former babies get too close... I much prefer Susan’s style!!!

I agree, I don't like it myself but I've never seen one actually hurt their chicks while cutting them loose. I think they hurt feelings more than anything else.
From my observations with my own flock it seems to be that they are establishing pecking order even with the young chicks at that point. My lower pecking order broodies seem to be the nicer ones, vs the hens higher on the pecking order being tougher on them.

 

[jolenesdad]

Thanks! How old are your opals?

17 weeks!!!! Most Opal people are getting eggs by 21 weeks.

Ok a few quick pics of the 2 broody moms with their 2 chicks eachView attachment 1878349 View attachment 1878350 View attachment 1878351 View attachment 1878348 3 black and one cream? The only Nn was scalped.... poor baby I dont think it will make itView attachment 1878352 oh and we are in lockdown week 2..... just 3 more to go? Looks like a few turkeys possible and some ducks and hoping for more delaware cross.... and necked necks of course

Those broodies are so pretty!!!!!

I found my first pip this morning. It's day 20 officially at 12pm. So we begin

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I agree, I don't like it myself but I've never seen one actually hurt their chicks while cutting them loose. I think they hurt feelings more than anything else.
From my observations with my own flock it seems to be that they are establishing pecking order even with the young chicks at that point. My lower pecking order broodies seem to be the nicer ones, vs the hens higher on the pecking order being tougher on them.

Interesting! Naruto is alpha, Susan is omega, and 9 Ball is pretty low for the adult hens. Naruto was the most brusque mom, but that may be unfair because she was the only one who had to brood with our velociraptor flock surrounding her! She was understandably anxious... Both she and 9 Ball turned on a dime when egg laying commenced, driving chicks away. It wasn’t so bad for 9 Balls babies because there were 12, and they stayed together. It’s been a lot harder on Narutos two babies, who seem pretty lost. I make them roost with Susan’s babies at night (though Susan tries to drive them off) because otherwise they pitifully try to snuggle next to Naruto and get pecked for their trouble...

 

[Kris5902]

Wow, you’re all scaring me with these broody stories! I’m almost glad I’m relying on incubators, stressful though it is! I’ve crept my humidity to 55%, taking it really slow because it tends to jump really quickly to 80%+. At day 20 and nothing yet I can see. I’m hoping for some progress soon. I’m going to be out most of Saturday working at the Market... so that might go better for everyone though, as I’m a hatching basket case and usually glued to the incubator for three days straight! Cows are so much easier.

@Compost King , thanks so much! I really think it’s mostly the genetics on my first chicks, though I was quite sad to lose my very first chick and largest Barnvelder boy (he was destined for my Meat and DP breeding) this spring, I’m now working with what I’ve got and trying to go from there. That’s why I was so interested in getting the eggs from the farm I sold his brother to! I do think that having the parents on a really good feed helps significantly. I’m mixing broiler and layer pellets, so they have more protein and fat, with OS on the side, as well as being on pasture. The mamas I’m working with right now are all basically rescues, while I wait for my girls to mature a bit more! Next year is going to be more interesting (if I had indoor brooding and incubation space of my own... I’d have a September hatch too again. We will see )

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Wow, you’re all scaring me with these broody stories! I’m almost glad I’m relying on incubators, stressful though it is! I’ve crept my humidity to 55%, taking it really slow because it tends to jump really quickly to 80%+. At day 20 and nothing yet I can see. I’m hoping for some progress soon. I’m going to be out most of Saturday working at the Market... so that might go better for everyone though, as I’m a hatching basket case and usually glued to the incubator for three days straight! Cows are so much easier.

@Compost King , thanks so much! I really think it’s mostly the genetics on my first chicks, though I was quite sad to lose my very first chick and largest Barnvelder boy (he was destined for my Meat and DP breeding) this spring, I’m now working with what I’ve got and trying to go from there. That’s why I was so interested in getting the eggs from the farm I sold his brother to! I do think that having the parents on a really good feed helps significantly. I’m mixing broiler and layer pellets, so they have more protein and fat, with OS on the side, as well as being on pasture. The mamas I’m working with right now are all basically rescues, while I wait for my girls to mature a bit more! Next year is going to be more interesting (if I had indoor brooding and incubation space of my own... I’d have a September hatch too again. We will see )

I think I’m just a basket case either way, but you certainly have more control with an incubator! When I first had broodies, I read a ton of BYC threads in broody hens and guineas. There are a ton of horror stories!!! Some of them have really stayed with me with their awful imagery! I have to believe that the majority of broodies and hens though are not bloodthirsty monsters, but that people tend to post on their traumatic events (another thread I happened on last night... whole flock killed by a fox. Young OP distraught, many many pages of discussion and comfort, young OP finally decided to get new chicks, which are killed by a fox two months later!).

Actually, I’ve been unsure what to do for my broody guineas with the chick, in that I’m not sure whether I should close off access to the coop so the other flockmates can’t get in and harm the new keet... I had left it open to them, as it’s been for most of their lives, until I saw a distressing interaction on the guinea can this AM. One of the dominant hens was pecking the more submissive guinea moms. I couldn’t see it all and was afraid that dominant hen had killed the keet! I tried to check on the keet but could only see a nesting mom... Finally, I saw that the keet was ok. That did it! I closed the coop door. I’m sure my guinea flock is now very unhappy about being locked out... Guinea moms are still sticking to nest - hope that means that the other egg is trying to hatch! Well, spike too soon! Just checked guinea cam and moms are off nest! I guess I should leave work, go home, and candle eggs...

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

So, guineas keep getting off and on the nest... I’m still at work, but really want to candle and see what is going on!!!

 

[Brahmachicken240]

I have 16 Brahma eggs in an incubator due to hatch this weekend that were taken from a broody hen that decided to join another hen and her chicks.

 

[ScottyGill]

Oh goodness me. I was thinking this incubating thing is a nightmare I’ll let the hens do it next time when they’re bigger. You’ve changed my mind

I’m really super happy that I managed to find a way to keep the humidity stable all day, the perfect size bottle cap. I did a quick candle of the other 3. The air here is so humid that nothing much happens to the humidity if I open lid briefly. Pretty sure one has stopped growing and the other two look like they’ve internally pipped. I see a weird shadow in the cell. Nothing much has happened with the other one but moving and cheeping. Going to sleep well knowing I’ve done all I can.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

I have 16 Brahma eggs in an incubator due to hatch this weekend that were taken from a broody hen that decided to join another hen and her chicks.
View attachment 1878869

Awww, they are all so picture perfect together!!!

 

[jolenesdad]

Unnmmnnnnng an egg exploded. I mean I think it did. So gross the smell. I’d assume it was an exploding egg I didn’t smell it earlier and then did smell it and am missing an egg so there we go. I feel like it wouldn’t have smelled this way if she cracked an egg.

And then I didn’t find much evidence. Did she eat it?

Sorry I’m behind in the thread I’ve spent all day getting the roosts done to move everyone so I can get her out of that nest.



I wiped a coated egg WITH MY BARE HAND and removed the parts left with my other and so it’s a good thing I’m moving the girls because now I’ll have to burn the whole thing down with my left hand.

I figured she would rub them clean and I’ll wipe them with a towel when I move them this evening?