Ever had a winter broody?

[tarutgers]

good mommies!

 

[tarutgers]

Sweet babies!

 

[Indigosands]

We lost one last night. I went out to check food and water and I spooked one and it ran under the roost. I thought it would come out as soon as I left so I didn't try to get it out. Turns out it had squeezed itself behind the nest box and clear into the corner and couldn't get out. It must have died of cold last night. I feel awful!

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

We lost one last night. I went out to check food and water and I spooked one and it ran under the roost. I thought it would come out as soon as I left so I didn't try to get it out. Turns out it had squeezed itself behind the nest box and clear into the corner and couldn't get out. It must have died of cold last night. I feel awful!

Awe so sorry

 

[Indigosands]

Thanks, I hate it when it's something senseless like that.

I've noticed that 5 of the chicks are feathering in very rapidly, has anyone else noticed this in theirs? They are 3 days old and their whole wing up to the shoulder is pinfeathers. Two have the normal just the edge of the wing in pins. They have a heat lamp, I can't imagine the inside of the coop is getting below 50 degrees.

 

[zippy722]

I did not put a heat source in my coop. My broody hen is keeping them all very warm. We woke up to 1 degree F last week, but mainly lows in the teens and 20's. As for early feathering, I don't have a good reference to compare. Only had chicks once before this past June.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks, I hate it when it's something senseless like that.

I've noticed that 5 of the chicks are feathering in very rapidly, has anyone else noticed this in theirs? They are 3 days old and their whole wing up to the shoulder is pinfeathers. Two have the normal just the edge of the wing in pins. They have a heat lamp, I can't imagine the inside of the coop is getting below 50 degrees.

Yes...your naturally hatched and brooded chicks will feather in quickly and mature faster and in my experience are healthier and stronger. I even have to adjust my time frame as they will often look a week or two older as they grow so much better. I have had trouble putting store bought chicks to foster with hatched chicks with a broody momma, especially in winter...the hatched chicks run all over the store bought ones as they thrive from day one while the store bought (and started with heat lamps) lag behind.

Also don't feel bad about the chick death, although I know how hard that is. I call it "stupid chick tricks." Believe me, they can always find the hole out but can never find the way back in. You have to be especially diligent during winter brooding for that fact that they can expire in the cold very quickly. Summer is less risky for "stupid chick tricks," but I've had that happen to.

I've learned to crawl and poke into corners before each hatch to make sure no new holes have opened up. I have lost them behind a short partition. I have lost them in between back to back fences. They are amazingly good at getting into trouble that first few weeks.

Good luck with your winter hatch. Have fun with the little fluff beaks.
Lady of McCamley

 

[3dogcp]

They are so cute. Mine are doing well too, but the ground has been freezing or covered with snow and they can't go outside yet. I always pic the Mother walking around with her babies in tow, but they will be grown before the winter is over. Going to take until spring for all this snow to melt.

 

[luvmypets]

trying to make a hen go broody is hard. Tried with like five different girls, and only one was good. Found a broody in a box on a RIR eggs so I moved her and her egg into our BROODY BOX and she kept getting on and off. Curious how it will turn out.

BTW shes a silkie pullet. She has seven eggs and the current date is 12 - 21 - 13

 

[Chicks Galore3]

Must. Hatch. CHICKS!!!! The pictures are ADORABLE!!!!!