Colorado

[samsr]

I have a question about broody silkies and their chicks. I have a silkie that hatchedbout three eggs. One was hers and the other two are muts from my other hens. The muts are just about her size now and cant get under her or under a wing for warmth. What would you do in this case. Simply take them away from her and put them in a brooder? Or just let nature take its course. They are three weeks old now and mostly feathered. Her little silkie chick is good as it is quite a bit smaller than the other two.

 

[Mtn Margie]

I would let them be. If it gets REAL cold, you can bring them all in or give them heat. You can give them extra bedding for now and know that chicks are tougher than we give them credit for. I bet they will be just fine.

 

[Percheron chick]

My first broody! She was showing such dedication to sitting on a golf ball for 2 weeks, I thought I'd give it a try. Gave her 6 golden brabanters. Lost one. I think she swished it. It was flatter than Stanley. It is fascinating to watch how nature does it after only raising chicks in a brooder. She has never been my favorite as she's a poor layer but this makes up for it. I'll let her raise chicks for me from now on. Sure is easier.

 

[Percheron chick]

Someone asked about processing chickens. There is a farm up in Berthoud that advertises processing get togethers a few times a year on CL. If I remember right you bring your chickens and they will show you how to do it. I think it's a couple bucks as long as you do the work. If that's not your deal, you pay a fee and they will do it for you. They sell lamb, spent layers, meat birds and eggs as well.

 

[Pozees]

samsr I agree with Mtn Margie, and Percheron chick, how wonderful! I agree, a good broody is worth her weight in gold! I just had a young RIR hen decide she was broody, so last night I gave her 3 eggs, a RIRxSS mix, a shipped Light Brahma and a shipped Black Jersey Giant - if they all hatch I will be able to tell the chicks apart LOL.

I've been looking at juveniles all week, growing out 10 RIR right now, and also the 5 Welsummers that I hatched from shipped eggs, 2 pullets and 3 cockerels. The pullets are impressively good sized, only one of the males seems to be keeping up with them in growth rate, megshenhut is that what you experienced with yours as well?

 

[trsturself]

We have 1 MF D'Uccle and she is my daughter's favorite. She uses her for 4H showmanship. She has taken a break from laying for the last month but before that she was a good layer. Very sweet and gentle. We would get another if we had room in our flock.

I love seeing your broody. We have our first broody too. She's been showing dedication for over a week now so I'm going to get her some eggs to hatch. I can't wait to see her hatch some eggs.

 

[Percheron chick]

I thought about giving her some eggs but she was already 7 days into it when it dawned on me. The only thing I have are guinea eggs and at 28 days incubation, that's just too long. Plus 8 guineas is more than enough. Has anyone pulled eggs out of the incubator to let a hen hatch out?

 

[Ashdoes]

Pozees, is that Cream male from my eggs? If so, can I see a pic of him? I'd like to see how they're growing out.
~Ashley

 

[Pozees]

Yes you can give her some started eggs, or even new ones, she won't know how many days she needs to sit. Some hens are better than others at keeping themselves properly fed and exercised, and a new one you can't really predict how they will do. If the eggs in the incubator are not valuable or critical to a project you can go ahead and give her a few to finish for you.

 

[Pozees]

Ashley we will try to get pics this weekend. I have two males right now, one from your eggs and one from Hardin Poultry (now known as Heirloom Orps) - I removed their leg bands and did not replace them and now I don't know which male is which - stupid on my part. I am really disappointed about the tail on the one, his color is really nice, definitely more cream, and I was tempted to try him anyway and then scolded myself for placing color over shape and decided I need to rehome him before I change my mind again. The tail is only slightly wry.