Delightful Broody adoption! -Our first!

[Haffertee]

Last Thursday we brought our broody Black Jersey Giant hen, "Emu" into the garage with her six wooden eggs that she had been setting on. Around 8:30 pm we swapped out 4 eggs for 4 chicks. K stayed out there in the dark to makes sure they were accepting each other. We were a bit nervous, but they were all well in the morning! 3 days later, we brought 3 more chicks home from the feed store. Late in the afternoon we added these 3 to her brood and took the last two eggs. She has accepted all 7 beautifully!

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

That is a very good mama hen- hang onto her whatever you do. Sometimes they refuse chicks - so she is a VERY good broody hen.

 

[aart]

WOW, that's cool!

The first 4 not surprising...but 3 days later she took on more?!?!

I agree, keep her around for sure!

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Amazing

 

[kkwinwy]

Very exciting!! We have 8 days to go for my broody hen's first hatch. Fingers crossed!

 

[Haffertee]

That is a very good mama hen- hang onto her whatever you do. Sometimes they refuse chicks - so she is a VERY good broody hen.

We were quite nervous about the attempt. But she'd been broody for at least six weeks! She didn't seem too impressed at first, but she settled into this like a pro.

WOW, that's cool!

The first 4 not surprising...but 3 days later she took on more?!?!

I agree, keep her around for sure!

Yes, 2 of the first 4 were 13 days old, and the other two were 6 days old. When we got the other three, one was 8 days old and the last two were 1 day old.

My daughter was just watching them & eating a graham cracker. Emu looked at her as if to say, "Aren't you going to share?" So she offered her a piece, which she immediately pecked and knocked to bits to share with her chicks!

 

[aart]

Quote: That's amazing!!! I thought they were day olds.