Barred Rocks!!

[Mercys Fight]

Just received my girls today from My Pet Chicken. They are healthy and wonderful

 

[DesertChic]

Just received my girls today from My Pet Chicken. They are healthy and wonderful

Yay! So cute! I think you'll love this breed.

 

[Mercys Fight]

Yay! So cute! I think you'll love this breed.

I have heard great things so I am excited. I love their color and look.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

So for two days I was heartbroken, thinking I had somehow lost my Iris, the last bird from my original flock. Today I found her, way up high sitting on about a dozen eggs. I did not know Barr Rocks went broody. I would let her hatch them but I do not have a Rooster (My oldest male is only 14 weeks, he is crowing and mating, but I doubt he is very fertile.)

I pulled her down and made her eat and drink, I do not think she has in two days, we will see if I find her back up on those eggs, maybe I will find her some fertilized eggs.

 

[DesertChic]

So for two days I was heartbroken, thinking I had somehow lost my Iris, the last bird from my original flock. Today I found her, way up high sitting on about a dozen eggs. I did not know Barr Rocks went broody. I would let her hatch them but I do not have a Rooster (My oldest male is only 14 weeks, he is crowing and mating, but I doubt he is very fertile.)

I pulled her down and made her eat and drink, I do not think she has in two days, we will see if I find her back up on those eggs, maybe I will find her some fertilized eggs.

I'm so glad you found her! Broodies do know how to surprise us, don't they? I have several hens that I never expected would carry the broody gene surprise me in the best and worst possible ways. Right now I'm battling 5 broody hens that don't know well enough to not hatch during our scorching summer heat.

 

[rfreedlund]

Quote:
I was surprised, too, when one of mine decided to go broody last year. She ended up hatching out a few chicks for me.I have another one this year (the same one??) who wants to sit now, but my hatching season is done, so I need to break her.

You never quite know who will want to do the job. Last year I even had a White Leghorn hatch out some chicks for me and they are "never" supposed to go broody. But she did a good job raising her three chicks.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I think I I'll find her some chicks. I kind of want to know how she would do

 

[DesertChic]

I think I I'll find her some chicks. I kind of want to know how she would do

If you're planning to slip live chicks under her, I would recommend waiting until she's been broody for at least a week to lessen the chances of her killing the chicks instead of caring for them. Once those hormones kick in, they have "timers" that tell them how long they should sit before expecting to hear the pitter patter of little chick feet, and those hormones can trigger a defensive reaction if chicks are provided too soon. And then slip them under her at night when she's less alert. It will feel more natural to her.

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

I think I I'll find her some chicks. I kind of want to know how she would do

If you're planning to slip live chicks under her, I would recommend waiting until she's been broody for at least a week to lessen the chances of her killing the chicks instead of caring for them. Once those hormones kick in, they have "timers" that tell them how long they should sit before expecting to hear the pitter patter of little chick feet, and those hormones can trigger a defensive reaction if chicks are provided too soon. And then slip them under her at night when she's less alert. It will feel more natural to her. 

I do not have any chicks yet, I am just beginning to look for some, but advice taken. At night shouldn't be too hard

 

[rfreedlund]

I do not have any chicks yet, I am just beginning to look for some, but advice taken. At night shouldn't be too hard

I had a broody receive chicks in as little as 12 days, but always use caution. Putting them under her at night is always the best way, but you don't want to see any chicks hurt or dead once the sun rises.