BDutch's bantam flock & natural breeding projects #5 🪺 🪺 and #6

[BDutch]

I bought 6 bantam Amrock eggs today, and got 4 extra as a present.

When I got home I weight the eggs, because they looked so big. 40-50 g is standard. But these eggs were 50-55 g. I contacted the owner and she said the Amrocks weren’t big at all, bc her bantam Wyandotte are the same size.
If the Wyandotte have the right weight for a standard hen they weigh about 1000 g. The Amrocks should be 800-900 g.

I think 6 eggs of this size is too much for Black my little Dutch bantam. Maybe I give her just 4 or 5 eggs.

I wonder what to do with the other eggs? Just eat them? Or… Maybe I should buy a small incubator and change the eggs if there are empty ones after candling in 5 days.

 

[fluffycrow]

I'm voting incubator. And if they all make it to hatch, you can give her the hatched incubator chicks so she can raise them

 

[BDutch]

I'm voting incubator. And if they all make it to hatch, you can give her the hatched incubator chicks so she can raise them

Nope. I don't want more than 4 or 5 chicks. The main reason is: I really had too many problems with 9 chicks last year.

The hens probably thought there were too many invaders and didn’t want the chicks to roost in the coop extension (the main roosting area). Didnt have such problems before with only 3 chicks.

Another problem is free ranging. A large group is too difficult to watch and protect for a little Dutch bantam.

And finally my whole setup is just right, up to 8 - 9 hens and one cockerel. So finally there’s only room for 2 - max 3 hens. Selling chicks (giving away cockerels) is not my hobby and I try to avoid getting more than the max.

 

[MaryJanet]

Nope. I don't want more than 4 or 5 chicks. The main reason is: I really had too many problems with 9 chicks last year.

The hens probably thought there were too many invaders and didn’t want the chicks to roost in the coop extension (the main roosting area). Didnt have such problems before with only 3 chicks.

Another problem is free ranging. A large group is too difficult to watch and protect for a little Dutch bantam.

And finally my whole setup is just right, up to 8 - 9 hens and one cockerel. So finally there’s only room for 2 - max 3 hens. Selling chicks (giving away cockerels) is not my hobby and I try to avoid getting more than the max.

Very sensible. So many people hatch one clutch after another without thinking.

 

[BDutch]

I think 6 eggs of this size is too much for Black my little Dutch bantam. Maybe I give her just 4 or 5 eggs.

I have an option for a mini-incubator. Second hand for 10€ to pick up tomorrow. Its for 4 eggs only.

Because its nice to discard any infertile eggs when I can only put 4 -5 under Black its great to be able to change the infertile eggs with eggs from the incubator.

And….. just now I caught Ini mini co-brooding (or laying an egg?) So maybe I can add a few more eggs. 6- 7 eggs under 2 co-brooding broodies is probably okay.

With a little luck I end up with 2-3 pullets either way.

Black and Ini mini are my broody favourites.

 

[BDutch]

My broodies Black and Ini mini are very pleased I leave them to sit in the nestbox. I gave them 7 hatchery eggs tonight. The count down starts today! The first chicks are expected on June 19.

Its busy in the small old coop with the nestboxes now. Pearl and Tintin sleep in the other nestbox.

 

[MaryJanet]

My broodies Black and Ini mini are very pleased I leave them to sit in the nestbox. I gave them 7 hatchery eggs tonight. The count down starts today! The first chicks are expected on June 19.

Its busy in the small old coop with the nestboxes now. Pearl and Tintin sleep in the other nestbox.

 

[BDutch]

No words needed.

 

[ManueB]

No words needed.
View attachment 3848319

Crop the picture and put it for POW or for the caption contest !

Sorry, I meant to reply before about the number of eggs : Chipie had five standard eggs and one bantam egg and she hatched five out of six, so I think it was a correct number. I believe she is the same size as your chickens.

I try various things to get her out of the broody trance and it doesn't work !

 

[BDutch]

Crop the picture and put it for POW or for the caption contest !

Sorry, I meant to reply before about the number of eggs : Chipie had five standard eggs and one bantam egg and she hatched five out of six, so I think it was a correct number. I believe she is the same size as your chickens.

I try various things to get her out of the broody trance and it doesn't work !
View attachment 3848368

You could let her sit for 3 weeks on a couple of her own eggs .
She looks so wonderful I wouldn’t mind to have her offspring. Great for Chipie to have a few daughters of about the same size.

Hope you dont mind my silly response. I know you dont want more chickens and certainly not more roosters.