This year I like to add a few chicks to my flock again. I have 6 bantams and there are a few good mothers amongst them.
First step: I bought some fake eggs a couple of weeks ago. Planned what would be a nice time for baby chicks and decided that the first week of May would be perfect. This is after we return home from a long weekend in France.
Step 2:
Last Sunday I put 5 fake eggs in one of the nestboxes (1) and rebuild a separate third nestbox on another spot. This way the chickens can lay eggs without disturbing the broody. I put one fake egg in the other 2 nestboxes.
Pearl was behaving like a broody the next day. The other nestbox was now favourite to lay eggs (2) and Janice became broody in the second nestbox the next day.
So Janice and Pearl are both broody for a couple of days now. Really stuck to the nest. They seem to do great. Are very tranquil and growl to any chicken or human that is trespassing.
The other hens use the third nestbox now to lay. And they don’t disturb Janice and Pearl.
Yesterday I bought 11 hatching eggs. 6 normal size bantams (20 days to hatch) and 5 tiny Dutch (often need only 19 days to hatch). I put 3 bantam Sussex red porcelain and tree fake Dutch eggs under Pearl. Janice has 3 bantam Vorwerk and 2 fake Dutch eggs. Tomorrow I will change the fake Dutch for real ones.
Thumbs up that the broodies do well and the outcome will be good this time. But also happy if I get two pullets. This time I try to keep it open (again). But if necessary (fuss), I can divide the coop.
Let’s see how things work out this time.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. And maybe I will have some questions too in the near future. So whoever likes natural breeding and has some experience is welcome to follow.
First step: I bought some fake eggs a couple of weeks ago. Planned what would be a nice time for baby chicks and decided that the first week of May would be perfect. This is after we return home from a long weekend in France.
Step 2:
Last Sunday I put 5 fake eggs in one of the nestboxes (1) and rebuild a separate third nestbox on another spot. This way the chickens can lay eggs without disturbing the broody. I put one fake egg in the other 2 nestboxes.
Pearl was behaving like a broody the next day. The other nestbox was now favourite to lay eggs (2) and Janice became broody in the second nestbox the next day.
The other hens use the third nestbox now to lay. And they don’t disturb Janice and Pearl.
Yesterday I bought 11 hatching eggs. 6 normal size bantams (20 days to hatch) and 5 tiny Dutch (often need only 19 days to hatch). I put 3 bantam Sussex red porcelain and tree fake Dutch eggs under Pearl. Janice has 3 bantam Vorwerk and 2 fake Dutch eggs. Tomorrow I will change the fake Dutch for real ones.
Thumbs up that the broodies do well and the outcome will be good this time. But also happy if I get two pullets. This time I try to keep it open (again). But if necessary (fuss), I can divide the coop.
Let’s see how things work out this time.
Don’t hesitate to ask questions. And maybe I will have some questions too in the near future. So whoever likes natural breeding and has some experience is welcome to follow.
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