Hatch Anxiety (UPDATED with PICS of the chickies!)

[Anne]

I have 3 broodies on 20 eggs in 1 nest. Two of the broodies are first-time moms. This morning there were 2 chicks -- one was out in the cold, shivering and looking lethargic. I put it back under the experienced hen. I saw one of the rookie hens trying to peck at the other chick, and had to put that one under the experienced momma too.

Unfortunately, I was already late for work and had to leave. I've got no backup plan, since we recently moved and my incubator is still at the old house.

Please cross your fingers for the poor little chickies! I hope the momma hens don't kill them... I've never had that happen before, but there's a first time for everything.

Thanks,

Anne

 

[justusnak]

Oh no Ann.....I sure hope all is well, when you get home. Please update us. Is there a way you might just get a piece of wood, or fence, and block the 2 newbie hens out?

 

[BeckyLa]

I agree, it sounds as though the newbies need to be separated from your older broody. I hope everything was ok when you came home.

 

[Anne]

Hi guys, thanks for your concern. I cut out of work 5 minutes early and RACED home last night to check on the babies!

One chick died, but there are 7 healthy live ones. The one hen still seems to want to peck at the chicks, but not hard enough to really hurt them. I think they'll be just fine. Pics coming soon.

 

[Anne]

OK, I got some pics -- enjoy!

 

[rosyposyosy]

wow i went to your website! your chickens are beautiful!! i havent ever really seen an araucana, just americaunas lol. are their eggs a little darker blue than americaunas?

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Oh I see a tuft one the last one!

can you tell yet if they are rump less? Or do you have to wait until they do or don't grow tail feathers.All the chicks and ladies are gorgeous!

 

[justusnak]

Oh my goodness.....cute , cute, cute!! I want that little grey one!!

The one pic...with the 2 hens together....the darker hen on the right....is her beak long or does she have someting sticking out of her mouth? Looks like if its her beak...might need a trim otherwise, she could get it caught in something and really hurt herself.

 

[Anne]

Hi rosyposy, thanks for the compliment!!! I'm very proud of my birds.

I would love to have eggs that are robin's-egg-blue, but I don't know if such a thing even exists. The best color I've gotten is a pale sky blue.

Angie -- Yep, the last one is tufted -- it took me forever to get that photo! I probably spent an hour laying on my stomach in the chicken coop with a camera, LOL.

The light is really poor in the coop and it was hard to get a photo that illuminated the tufts.

It's possible to tell the rumpless from tailed ones at birth (it involves feeling the end of the spine), but I'm not very good at it, and not too keen on having my hands pecked off by the broodies either.

justus -- Sorry, the little gray one is not for sale, LOL! The hen on the right has been broody for over 2 months -- needless to say, she's badly in need of a beak and toenail trim!!!