I have a couple of standard laying hens and 3 adult OEG bantam hens (no roosters).
Decided I really want to try for a little BB Red OEG Bantam rooster, so I bought 6 hatching eggs on ebay (seller kindly sent me 11).
5 are under a very broody OEG girl (4 year old retired show hen, she likely has done this before). 7 are int he Brinsea incubator. I also have a 9 month old OEG hen that is brooding 4 infertile eggs (don't quite trust her with the fertile ones, but will sneak some babies under her if all goes well).
The broody in the coop with the real eggs has her own separate little nesting area that no one else goes into so that part is fine (box was added just for this, never used as a laying box before).
I hope to just separate off that part of the coop (under the shelf) and use that when the chicks arrive, and really hope the two broody's will partner up to raise these chicks!
Any thoughts? Pix below:
Broody in her special little nest box (no one else goes in there, no problem with eggs being disturbed after 1 week)
When we get ready for the chicks to arrive I plan to gate off the area under the shelf (see pic below) so the chicks (and both "mamas") can have a separate area if need be. I have a small flock with one older standard B.O. and an adolescent Dixie Rainbow so I hope the chicks will be safe with the bigger birds and be able to go into the grassy pen with their mothers.
Any advice on this plan? It is quite hot here so supplemental heat should not be an issue.
Decided I really want to try for a little BB Red OEG Bantam rooster, so I bought 6 hatching eggs on ebay (seller kindly sent me 11).
5 are under a very broody OEG girl (4 year old retired show hen, she likely has done this before). 7 are int he Brinsea incubator. I also have a 9 month old OEG hen that is brooding 4 infertile eggs (don't quite trust her with the fertile ones, but will sneak some babies under her if all goes well).
The broody in the coop with the real eggs has her own separate little nesting area that no one else goes into so that part is fine (box was added just for this, never used as a laying box before).
I hope to just separate off that part of the coop (under the shelf) and use that when the chicks arrive, and really hope the two broody's will partner up to raise these chicks!
Any thoughts? Pix below:
Broody in her special little nest box (no one else goes in there, no problem with eggs being disturbed after 1 week)
When we get ready for the chicks to arrive I plan to gate off the area under the shelf (see pic below) so the chicks (and both "mamas") can have a separate area if need be. I have a small flock with one older standard B.O. and an adolescent Dixie Rainbow so I hope the chicks will be safe with the bigger birds and be able to go into the grassy pen with their mothers.
Any advice on this plan? It is quite hot here so supplemental heat should not be an issue.
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