Broody for the nth time

[brownysfp]

Into the woodshed last evening to collect the day's offerings: greeted by churrs, trills and much fluffing of feathers. In the gloom a grey head peered over the edge of the nest-box; one of the four Coucou de France girls was sitting again. I think they wait until the end of the day before selecting the biggest clutch and I've lost count of how many times they've pulled this trick.
She was moved this morning, clucking indignantly, into an isolation cage -as the woodshed is not predator-secure; I made a quick check of her haul: nine.

 

[SkyWarrior]

Dang. I have no broody hens. Some people get all the luck!

 

[brownysfp]

She's really picked her moment as we've got a dozen Limousin (Coq du Peche) eggs coming this week. The supplier says she's always had problems with getting incubator eggs to hatch so our Coucou's purloined clutch will go into our incubator and she can sit on the Limousins. Result..!
We have four CdF hens and three have spotless records with eggs and chicks; the only blot was a chick that got crushed during the night.

 

[Gypsy07]

Quote:
Wow, she's got great timing! Good luck with your hard-to-hatch eggs.
I've never heard of either of the breeds you mention. They have very cute sounding names.
Can you post some photos of them please? I'd like to see them..

 

[brownysfp]

Hi, have a look at this link:

volaillepoultry.pagesperso-orange.fr/franc2.html

as it's an okay-ish intro to French breeds.

Along with the Coucous and the Limousine, our other French breeds are Clear and Dark Faverolles, Houdans, and Copper Black Marans.
We're in the Haute Correze where the Limousine originated and there's an annual exhibition of the breed in Neuvic which is about 13kms from us.