Broody and chicks: am I doing this right?

[featheredbelles]

I read as much as possible about this whole adoption thing before I did it, but didn't find anything on what to do with the eggs. I was afraid she might see the chicks as intruders if all eggs disappear at once.
I will remove them now. Thanks!!

 

[azygous]

Now that you're getting experienced with this business of broody/chick grafting you should write an article on the topic for BYC! Start taking photos so you can illustrate it!

 

[featheredbelles]

I took them out. I saw both chicks. All seems fine.

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

So sweet! What breed is mama? She looks like a Barred Rock but I didn't know they went broody. Dominique?

I slept the sleep of kings last night to make up for the night before. Just got up and came to look in on everyone and found this. Uh-oh. Back to checking every ten minutes. So far Nugget is just sitting there and hasn't done anything aggressive. I'm not sure how aggressively Bella will defend her chicks - I'm kind of surprised she wasn't front and center on this.

But she does make a pretty nice mother ship:

 

[azygous]

It sure appears they've bonded!

 

[featheredbelles]

So sweet! What breed is mama? She looks like a Barred Rock but I didn't know they went broody. Dominique?

I slept the sleep of kings last night to make up for the night before. Just got up and came to look in on everyone and found this. Uh-oh. Back to checking every ten minutes. So far Nugget is just sitting there and hasn't done anything aggressive. I'm not sure how aggressively Bella will defend her chicks - I'm kind of surprised she wasn't front and center on this.
View attachment 554792
But she does make a pretty nice mother ship:
View attachment 554793

Haha, the mother ship is the cutest!! Yeah, I can't really separate mine so well either, but she's the absolute boss. I don't think my 2 other hens will challenge her. I THINK she's a barred rock. She's been broody before, but I couldn't add chicks at that time. Now I was ready for it and just left eggs in her nesting and sure enough, she went broody.
I still keep checking. I want to be there when the other hens go in their besting box, making sure all goes peacefulLynn.
Yours seems curious, but not aggressive. Hope Mama will jump in if needed!

 

[featheredbelles]

Things are looking good so far. just have to see about my other 2 hens. They don't even come close to the coop, lol. I made a 2nd nesting box for them to lay their eggs.
Hope all is peaceful over at your place @bawkbawkbawk

 

[bawkbawkbawk]

That is the cutest pic! What a darling little chick!

We're good here. Tomorrow we will move mama and babies off the nesting counter to the floor so she can start taking them out of the coop into the pen and show them the ropes. It's so seamless when the broody bonding works

 

[featheredbelles]

That is the cutest pic! What a darling little chick!

We're good here. Tomorrow we will move mama and babies off the nesting counter to the floor so she can start taking them out of the coop into the pen and show them the ropes. It's so seamless when the broody bonding works

Oh interesting! See, I didn't even know I would have to do that. She's inside the coop and there's a ramp and I thought she would guide them down when it's time. My other 2 hens don't even dare to come close to the coop. I hope she will let them roost tonight. I didn't think I would have to worry about the adult hens.

 

[featheredbelles]

I might put up a little separation inside the coop. She's blocking the whole entrance, lol.