Broody -- Success in December!

[DAFox]

Quote:
Of course, I would also perfer to have my broody inside a regular coop, but all I have is a chicken tractor. There is no way to partition it. So, I'm doing the best that I can at the moment. I am keeping an eye on the weather and have made room in the garage if the weather turns really bad. I don't want to tramatize her, by changing location or changing boxes, unless I need to for her safety.

Thanks very much,
Dale-Ann

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
(giggle) ... good try!

I don't want to tramatize her, by changing location or changing boxes, unless I need to for her safety.

I agree. I think that's best.​

 

[DAFox]

Ok, today has a 30 percent chance of rain and snow showers. The temp is supposed to go down to the mid-20's at night for the next several days at least. I am biting my finger nails. My hen has 2 days to go before hatch. I am afraid to move her at this time since she is so close. Besides adding more hay to the nest, I think I am going to try to add some sort of insulation to the outside of the tote and rabbit cage. What should I do? Blankets, scrap wood...
I never did move her to the double tote thing I thought about doing because the weather was decent

Anybody else hatching this week? Nail bite together?
Dale-Ann

 

[DAFox]

I ended up moving Matilda to the garage. The forcast for last night ended up to be low 20's with a windchill down to the mid-teens. I figured a new wet chick would freeze pretty quickly if it wasn't completely covered by Mama. I, then, put one of my husband's flannel quilted jacket over the tote. (Shh...I didn't tell him.) I did not add a light for heat, because I did not want to confuse my hen. But, at least she and the eggs are out of the wind and a little bit warmer.
Biting my nails and on pins and needles,
Dale-Ann

 

[DAFox]

I've got one (at least) peeping!
Dale-Ann

 

[DAFox]

Yesterday morning was in the low 20's. I went to the garage and was happy to find Matilda's water wasn't frozen. Last evening she hatched an EE! And I saw a pip hole in another one. When I woke up this mornng, I was anxious to see what happened overnight. The thermometer stopped me in my tracks! 13 degrees! We were expecting low 20's again...
I went to the shed to find my brooding lamp and couldn't locate it in my chicken stuff. I waited for my husband to wake up and tell me what he had done with it. By this time it was daylight and getting warmer.
I set up my lamp on the rabbit cage and took a look under her...
Another chick...I am betting on an Australorp x
And found two more pip holes and one more starting to pip!

Dale-Ann

 

[The Sheriff]

 

[Happy Chooks]

Congrats!

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

for winter Broody girls and their chicks!


I have two hens with chicks outside - the chicks are 8 weeks old today. Morning temp was 12 degrees. I also worried about the babies but moms are great. Only time I gather them up and put into the coop is when it is really wet and blowing. Course here in NV it is hardly ever wet - think 3 days in the 8 weeks.

for you all.

 

[DAFox]

We are up to 4 hatched chicks! Pip holes on 2 and 4 are peeping. That leaves 2 that are questionable. I haven't candled.

Dale-Ann