Broody drama

[mstricer]

Yesterday when I got home from work, the heat was out of control, the air was stale, and the wind was like it was blowing off a fire. So I go out to the coop to check on the 3 broody hens. One is in her cage complaining along with her chicks. Broody number 2 was raised up off her eggs, because it was so hot. Broody number 3 in the brooder house complaining, so I had this bright idea, I will let out the d'Uccle and her babies out of the cage and allow Ms. Cruella to roam around the run. BIG MISTAKE. I went to move my meaties robs cooler spit by the woods, when I hear all kinds of commotion coming from the coop, thinking that the teens were bothering the moms, so I walk over to find both moms in the coop confused, all the chicks were running around trying to figure out which one was clucking for them. I then proceeded to get the right chicks with the right mom. Kinda hard when the are all little D'Uccles and look alike. Well I don't know if I got the right chicks with the right mom, but everyone seemed happy, after I got them settled. Mental note don't let them together after only two days after a hatch.

 

[Life is Good!]

Were you peeking in my coop this am?
I had 3 broody mom's on the floor with 7 chicks and a nest of 3 eggs still on the floor too - only 1 chick has hatched out of that clutch yet. But all that changed this morning....

Yesterday, I finished a new broody duplex coop (too late obviously but it'll work for chicks too) and was moving it into position and heard a ruckus like I've not heard in a long time from the coop. Peek in the door - and ALL 3 Mom's are battling like they were cockerals! Jumping on each other, pecking, ducking, moving around - the chicks are scattered about the floor cheeping and hiding and trying to find cover! YIKES!

This was about 20 minutes before I had everything ready to move one hen and her clutch into the broody coop - that was exciting! Chicks flying everywhere and Mom calling to them as we walked her out the door. I managed to get only 3 of her 4 chicks - trying to figure out where #4 was (amongst her coopmates) was a trick and a half. Now, one mom and clutch is in broody coop; 2nd mom and chicks are out in the yard and 3rd mom and nest (and chick) are in the coop on the floor. Whew.....

Never dull, is it?! Hormones are wacky things!

 

[mstricer]

They are crazy. For me, mine are d'Uccles, and luckily they are not flighty, they let me grab them as Ms. Cruella was trying to tell me. Don't touch my chicks. I wonder what I will come home to today. :/