Broody Pullet(s)

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

I've been following your posts. Thank you for the updates! Good learning experience. Sounds like you've got your hands full!

I think the pullets have their "hands" full, honestly.
I've seen two of the chicks pecking at her face and eyes.
... terrifying.

 

[WingItRanch]

I think the pullets have their "hands" full, honestly.
I've seen two of the chicks pecking at her face and eyes.
... terrifying.

Motherhood is no joke!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Motherhood is no joke!

She just might agree with you.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Had to do a night check.
No chicks on the floor.

Ameraucana hatched a new one. Barred Rock egg. She has 1 egg left, her own.

Austra White still has four chicks under her, and 2 unhatched eggs.
Those two eggs aren't from these pullets, and they're large eggs from hens (2+ years). I hope they hatch fine tonight or tomorrow morning.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Quick morning check, as as far as I can tell everything was the same as last night.

The half-barred rock chick and the half-golden cuckoo marans chick are both pullets
(Barred mom x non-barred dad = daughters without head spot, sons with head spot.)

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

First hatcher didn't make it. I'm not sure why.

Went out and two chicks were on the ground, two chicks in the first nest box, and both moms on the ground.

Ameraucana has taken two chicks and left her egg. Obviously, if your living chick is out of the nest, you take care of that one. And obviously, if you somehow find a good deal on a second one, you snatch it up?

Austra white was very confused because one of her chicks was on the ground with the other bird, and the other chicks are calling from the nest. She went back and forth a couple of times.

I put the abandoned Ameraucana egg in with the other two. Not sure if they'll hatch. I imagine all the eggs will be left for good if they don't hatch soon.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

The broodies had a discussion about who got the little ones.
(Lots of clucking)
I guess they quickly figured it out, because the ameraucana ended up with 3 and the austra white has 1.
I managed to get her 1 chick, put it back in the nest box, and she followed.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Another one didn't make it.

I'm not sure what's going on.
The two that are gone were buried under shavings.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Closed the birds in for the night. I guess the ameraucana officially got the 3 chicks. (She's... let's say "insistent".)

Austra white was back on the nest for the night (I left the 3 eggs).

I don't know if there's any hope to have for those eggs, but this is day 22 (day 24 of sitting in a nest) and she did get food and water today.

I'll intervene if/where necessary, but mostly just hoping they'll figure it out themselves.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

My mom confirmed the last 3 eggs are bad.
So they're out of the nest.

The moms are really attached to the chicks. Austra white really wants to be involved, ameraucana is really trying to keep them to herself. I often find them huddled near each other until the ameraucana gets fed up with the austra white and forces her away.