grannys gone and done it

[Granny Hatchet]

how many hens ? and thats all you have is seramas ? I am so forgetful.

 

[campingshaws]

I just got home.  Searched back through the thread-  the first group of 8 Serama eggs were set on Jan 23.  Tomorrow will be 2 weeks for the most advanced.  If I candle, will I be able to see anything or should I leave them be?  I guess if any are glowing that means not fertile, yes?  Maybe I'll just look for glowing ones.  Eggs have to be pretty tough to hatch here. Jealous broodies steal and fight for them, so I suppose a quick candle won't hurt, and I can add some more bedding. 

  I just realized, I could have chicks by next week!  Oh my goodness!  I'm hoping they can just do a big community raising of chicks. I got rid of the one psycho hen that killed a baby before. :/  

I candled again! 48 hours of incubation.

@Sally Sunshine

 

[prostar]

Night one saw me with a very froze nose.

And hubs abandoned me twice to his own devices.

"Why would I go without you?"

Why indeed.

 

[campingshaws]

Hi Tippy! Hi Granny!! Has anyone ever let chicks be raised with the whole flock, or am I asking for trouble? Each broody will want a baby, so maybe I can take the roosts out and make the entire coop a brooder. There's already a heat lamp for them. Any ideas about this? You can see they are too small to get out of the nests by themselves. The entire inside is about 3x5, not including the nests. If I take the roosts out and everybody has to sleep on the floor with the babies, would that work?

They'll hop out of that nest sooner than you think. I'd leave the roosts alone; if the broody is good she'll keep everyone else away. I've had three clutches raised with the flock: the first I separated with a baby gate and the babies could walk right through and the mama couldn't get them. :/ the second I brooded together in a big dog kennel covered in chicken wire. Babies could get through that, too. The sussex stole all the chicks and moved to the coop within a few days. They could hop the 6-8 inches over thresholds. They will hop on mama's back like a step stool. The marans sat a few more weeks so I just her her some chicks. I lost them all (but one) to the raccoon. The sussex babies were on the roosts and were safe. Edit: just realized your whole set up is off the ground? You could give her/them a small dog crate nearby.

 

[campingshaws]

Night one saw me with a very froze nose.

And hubs abandoned me twice to his own devices.

"Why would I go without you?"

Why indeed.

 

[Wishing4Wings]

how many hens ? and thats all you have is seramas ? I am so forgetful.

What? You mean you aren't keeping careful track of every aspect of my life???

9 serama hens, 1 rooster, 1 bantam cochin hen.

10 large laying hens are in a different coop.

 

[Dannachic]

well !!

lol dh was hungry

 

[Wishing4Wings]

They'll hop out of that nest sooner than you think. I'd leave the roosts alone; if the broody is good she'll keep everyone else away. I've had three clutches raised with the flock: the first I separated with a baby gate and the babies could walk right through and the mama couldn't get them.

the second I brooded together in a big dog kennel covered in chicken wire. Babies could get through that, too. The sussex stole all the chicks and moved to the coop within a few days. They could hop the 6-8 inches over thresholds. They will hop on mama's back like a step stool. The marans sat a few more weeks so I just her her some chicks. I lost them all (but one) to the raccoon. The sussex babies were on the roosts and were safe.

Edit: just realized your whole set up is off the ground? You could give her/them a small dog crate nearby.

The hatch from 2 years ago I had them in cages in the run, but it is too cold for that this year. I will try a community brooder coop and if it looks like there is any danger, I will steal them and raise them in the house. Was going to take the roosts down so no one gets pooped on!


Here's how they access the coop from the run. Chicks could manage it at 2 weeks.

 

[Granny Hatchet]

you run out of wood for that ramp ?

I dont understand your coop. If they need to get that high for the nest then what is the bottom half ? And what kind of laying hens ?

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Quote: do you see a larger circle like area anywhere on that yolk?

same image one is marked where to look in the first fertile growing embryo 36 hours