Ella2025's Experiment Broody Hen Hatch-A-Long

[redinator]

Handsome guy!

He's sweet heart too! He doesn't come over for cuddles, but he doesn't run when I try to pick him up. He leans into a good muff scratch and his comb and wattles flush like he's blushing.

 

[ChickenChick46]

With any luck I'll have Buff Orpington/EE crosses to hatch next spring

Those will be so cute!

 

[ella2025]

Quick almost 2 week update!
They are crazy active and voracious eaters. Also getting huge. I found a little coop/rabbit hutch on FB marketplace for them to spend the warmer parts of the day outside. So far they have loved being outside and running around the little coop.

Saffron looks like (s)he will have blue barred/cuckoo feathers. I've never, ever seen that feather pattern on a chicken. Not sure about Pepper, but both of them are starting to grow little nubby tails.

Somehow, today they have spent the day outside, in the 60's with a breeze, completely without shivering, huddling together, or acting cold in any way even when I'm cold In my hoodie and sweatpants. They're currently running and flapping around in the little coop and it's adorable. I really didn't think they are so hardy at 2 weeks old. It's weird how it's usually recommended to keep them at 80-85 degrees at this age but every time I've raised chicks so far it hasn't been the case.

 

[ella2025]

The parents are enjoying kale lol.

 

[redinator]

View attachment 4230407
The parents are enjoying kale lol.

Is that Jubilee Orpington next to the Buff Orpington?

 

[ella2025]

Shes a Speckled Sussex. I'm hatching 4 of her eggs and hoping for some colorful chicks!

 

[redinator]

Another to add to my list, lol.

 

[kattabelly]

Somehow, today they have spent the day outside, in the 60's with a breeze, completely without shivering, huddling together, or acting cold in any way even when I'm cold In my hoodie and sweatpants. They're currently running and flapping around in the little coop and it's adorable. I really didn't think they are so hardy at 2 weeks old. It's weird how it's usually recommended to keep them at 80-85 degrees at this age but every time I've raised chicks so far it hasn't been the case.

It's a very conservative estimate, the lowering temperatures by 5 degrees a week thing. Chicks just need to be able to get warm; they don't need to always be warm. So long as they either have somewhere to go and warm up, or you're watching them and can take them back into the warmth as soon as they start getting cold, they'll be absolutely fine.