Chickens Just Wandered into My Yard.

[BY Bob]

I agree. 2 thumbs up. That is the picture of success! Great job.

 

[moniquem]

That picture is hilarious!

 

[lazy gardener]

 

[lazy gardener]

 

[MickWithChicks]

It's been a while and I thought I'd update you all on their progress. They're bonafide members of the flock and all 17 hens roost together now... well, sort of.

The Silver Laced Wyandotte is a terrible egg layer. I think she's an old bird. She lays soft shelled eggs and malformed eggs, often from the roost at night. She went broody this spring and as her eggs aren't good anyway, I bought her a clutch of fertile eggs. She has managed to hatch 10/14 of them (I had to cull one chick though ). I'm pretty sure 2 eggs aren't viable, and the last 2 I was late to get under her and should hatch by tomorrow if viable. She's an excellent mother, is gentle with her chicks and lets me approach and handle them.

She's happy to show the chicks around the aviary I have her and another broody in, and so far has been returning to the nest to sit and wait for the others to hatch.

 

[CSAchook]

It's been a while and I thought I'd update you all on their progress. They're bonafide members of the flock and all 17 hens roost together now... well, sort of.

The Silver Laced Wyandotte is a terrible egg layer. I think she's an old bird. She lays soft shelled eggs and malformed eggs, often from the roost at night. She went broody this spring and as her eggs aren't good anyway, I bought her a clutch of fertile eggs. She has managed to hatch 10/14 of them (I had to cull one chick though ). I'm pretty sure 2 eggs aren't viable, and the last 2 I was late to get under her and should hatch by tomorrow if viable. She's an excellent mother, is gentle with her chicks and lets me approach and handle them.

She's happy to show the chicks around the aviary I have her and another broody in, and so far has been returning to the nest to sit and wait for the others to hatch.

Glad to hear your mystery ladies are doing so well. And those chicks are adorable! What breed are they?

 

[WVduckchick]

Awesome! Thanks so much for the update! The SLW is a beauty!

 

[MickWithChicks]

Glad to hear your mystery ladies are doing so well. And those chicks are adorable! What breed are they?

They sure are! The yellow ones are French Wheaton Marans (5) and the striped are Barnevelders (4). There's still 2 of each egg under her. Also 2 Yokohama eggs, one of which has pipped and zipped today (day 21 for them).

Awesome! Thanks so much for the update! The SLW is a beauty!

All good and she sure is. Her eggs aren't great, but she's a good mother

 

[MROO]

All good and she sure is. Her eggs aren't great, but she's a good mother

And THAT is the best argument of all for keeping "spent hens" around. We all have our place ... and it's not always in the freezer!

 

[aart]

And THAT is the best argument of all for keeping "spent hens" around.

Well, it's a good argument for that 'spent hen'.....but not all fall into that category.
And not all of us want a terminally broody bird, I gave one away this summer.