Hatching with 2 broodies

[texgardengal]

Hey all! WOW this thread is really buisy! Hope all the broodys are doing well!!! Hey TG congrats on the TWO broodys!

How fun. How do you keep both sitting on eggs? When Molly and Sassy did the broody thing together Molly ended up stealing all the eggs and Sassy was out of luck.

Penny looks like happy on her eggs.

Molly has been broody twice this year... These broody girls...I have to give Molly credit. This time she really has done a good job.

Molly is starting to get a little crabby with the bubbies. They dont get first dibs on the food anymore...lol they get a peck on the head if she is eating...They are starting to keep a distance during the day. But, she is still being the good little mom at night. I'm going to let the rest of the flock get aquainted in the middle run this weekend. Hopefully they will be all together in a week or two. Not sure I'm ready to deal with sleeping arrangements....A new roost. I'm going to need a lot more room!

Not happy with my pics...I'm going to take some more tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I have 2 roos. Goose...Is my only light colored chickie. His comb is very red already and he is the biggest. The other, Rider, is the second biggest and has a red comb too. He is the one who was always on Mollys back. She is not to tolerant of that anymore....But I really wanted to get some good pics...their feathers are coming in and they have some great colors.
I cant wait so see the Mille Fleur Silkies.... and the bantam/polish mix. So fun

Teila...your two little roos fighting...thats so cute.. Mine are still a little young for that I guess. They are just peeping around. I gave them the run of the big yard and the first thing they did was destroy all the hay around the little yard

It's a big hay covered yard now.....I rake it up, they tear it up....it's our new game....

 

[johndeerematt]

I have had a black australorp broody and I set eight eggs under her and she is a pro! Today was day 17 and when I had come in to check on her (she is in a seperate enclosure) and found that a chick had hatched sometime today and had drowned in the hens water...it had just happened because the little guys body wasn't even stiff yet. I was mortified and heartbroken to say the least. Hopefully this isn't the only one that will hatch

 

[tommysgirl]

Hey all! WOW this thread is really buisy! Hope all the broodys are doing well!!! Hey TG congrats on the TWO broodys!

How fun. How do you keep both sitting on eggs? When Molly and Sassy did the broody thing together Molly ended up stealing all the eggs and Sassy was out of luck.

Penny looks like happy on her eggs.

Molly has been broody twice this year... These broody girls...I have to give Molly credit. This time she really has done a good job.

Molly is starting to get a little crabby with the bubbies. They dont get first dibs on the food anymore...lol they get a peck on the head if she is eating...They are starting to keep a distance during the day. But, she is still being the good little mom at night. I'm going to let the rest of the flock get aquainted in the middle run this weekend. Hopefully they will be all together in a week or two. Not sure I'm ready to deal with sleeping arrangements....A new roost. I'm going to need a lot more room!

Not happy with my pics...I'm going to take some more tomorrow. I'm pretty sure I have 2 roos. Goose...Is my only light colored chickie. His comb is very red already and he is the biggest. The other, Rider, is the second biggest and has a red comb too. He is the one who was always on Mollys back. She is not to tolerant of that anymore....But I really wanted to get some good pics...their feathers are coming in and they have some great colors.
I cant wait so see the Mille Fleur Silkies.... and the bantam/polish mix. So fun

Teila...your two little roos fighting...thats so cute.. Mine are still a little young for that I guess. They are just peeping around. I gave them the run of the big yard and the first thing they did was destroy all the hay around the little yard

It's a big hay covered yard now.....I rake it up, they tear it up....it's our new game....

Thanks TGG..they are pretty funny but at this point they are doing alright together. There was a bit of musical nest box over the weekend but since Sunday evening they seem to have both been in their own designated box. Both are in that broody trance and the only response you get is if you reach under to check for eggs that don't belong.. That;s when you get the puffy growl. They are both on golf balls right now and they don't seem to be stealing them from each other. These two are hatch mates. Norma was the first chick I ever hatched and Petunia followed right after. They hung out in the incubator and the brooder together maybe that will make a difference. When I give them eggs I may separate them into different pens.

The Mille Fleur silkies won't be silkie until the second generation but they should be cute regardless. The girls in this hatch bred back to a silkie roo will have 1/2 their chicks just carrying the silkie gene and the other half will actually be silkie...or soemthings like that anyway...I get glazed over when people start talking chicken genetics but from what I understand the silkieness should show in the babies of these babies if they are bred to silkies. It may be a pipe dream but I would like to mate a couple of the females from this hatch if I get them with a male if I get one from the silkie broody I am picking up in a couple of weeks. It is fun to mix things.

I also know of a gal who has mottled D'Uccle and I love me some mottled chickens...maybe next year I will hatch some of those.

 

[Teila]

Hellloooooo Team Broody!

Quick visit while dinner is cooking … work is seriously interfering with my chicken chat!!

Big hello to everyone .. I miss you! A big howdy to all the new peeps also, lovely to meet you.

This week and next week are pretty much a write-off as far as spare time is concerned; rolling out the new software nationally and I am going to be one busy munchkin!

CL8, it is probably old news now and Liz and TG have covered your “Can I add some feed store babies to the chicks that hatch within the first couple of days? Will mom know she didn't hatch them?” question very well.
I guess if you want to give it a try you just have to be prepared in case it does not go well.
Sending positive thoughts your way for a very successful hatch and definitely looking forward to bubby pictures!

Number9, wow, what an amazing outcome! Well done!

Lots and lots of stuff going on at the moment Team! It is so exciting; lots of bubbies to look forward to. High-Five Team Broody!

Johndeerematt, I am so sorry to read your sad news. Day 17 is early. Good luck with the remaining eggs and don't forget to share some pictures

So, news from Casa Del Chookie …. The three little boys have now gone to their new home. Their new mum drove two hours to pick them up and they are going to be growing up together and then be introduced to some, apparently very pretty, Pekin Cochin ladies!

Unfortunately I was not home when they left (actually, that might be fortunately, less tears!). Hubby had strict instructions on the two that were staying and the three that were going; poor thing was probably getting tired of the spot quiz “OK, point to the two that are staying?”! lol.
Blondie is pretty obvious, being the only buff but Tammy (fingers crossed, still not sure) looked very similar to one of the boys and I considered tying a little red ribbon around her leg lol! Anyway, the spot quizzes paid off and I came home to the correct two little chickies.

That afternoon I took down the temporary fence allowing free range for Cilla and the bubbies. I swear I saw Cilla smile, she took off into the garden, Tammy and Blondie in tow and proceeded to introduce them to all her favourite spots. I also swear I could hear Tina and Dusty muttering something along the lines of “Oh gees, she’s baaack”! while they ducked and weaved out of the way .. lol. I also opened up the divider between the two coops and everyone was in the run together today. When I got home, everyone was still alive and no wounds! Another free range for everyone and if I had my camera handy I would have been able to get them all in one shot! Tina looks like she wants to say “Hi” to the bubbies and seems really curious … Dusty is ignoring them, probably because of their protective mum.

Anyways, bottom line, integration is going really well which I have to put down to having only wire between them and lots of chit chat through the wire.

The dinner bell s ringing! I will keep checking back to see how everyone is doing and hopefully on the weekend, more piccies!

 

[texgardengal]

Quote:
OH nooooo!

I'm so sorry!!!!! Thats rough. With my first hatch Molly sat on one of the chickies....just hatched, and I believe it was #2 to hatch. I was so upset too. I think my first hatch was the hardest. I was devastated when my little chickie that had made it a couple weeks died on a very cold night. It is tough to lose them. I'm sure the others are going to hatch and hopefully will be OK.
One thing I read on this site I found to be helpful is...the little water bowls...the ones with the inverted jars...the lids become the water bowl when turned over...anyway. They seem very shallow but the littles are small and weak enough to drown and one way to prevent this is to put marbles all the way around the dish in the water. This allows them to drink but will prevent them from falling in. Any wather dish over a half an inch should be removed right now and even those shallow ones should have marbles or something similar to prevent the little guys from fallling in..... I may be telling you something you already know...I didnt know this and was helpful to me.
Again I'm really sorry. Keep us informed of the rest of the hatch..hang in there

Glad you found a good home for your boys Teila!

Sounds like rooster heaven with all the pretty girls....I dont think you could have found a more ideal situation. They will be together....how perfect! I have visited George in his new home a couple times now. He is the only roo in what is now a group of about 15 ladies. He trotted right up looking for his snack ( he remembers me

) He looks great and was strutting around being his usual top dog self....I'm really hesitant to bring him back though. There's lots more room now, and I could even keep them separated if I needed to but my goal is to have one big flock. He seems happy and I will have at least...at the very least, two little roos growing up so I may just leave him in his new home. sigh. I really do like George, he was so pretty. But their little flock is happy and mine is happy so I may just leave it be.....
Quote:

I so relate to this!! I know Sassy and Cookie are dreading the return of Molly! You guys wont believe how big Cookie is. She is just one of the ladies now. She is yet to lay an egg but you wouldnt know she was the baby of the bunch... except for her comb it's still tiny...

Quote: Sounds like a plan TG! Pretty soon you'll have a flock of silkies.....Mottled, I get most of the colors but I'm not sure what mottled is..... I'm going to have to check this out. I do like the splash! So pretty and penciling. (I think I'm saying that right..lol) I really want to add some girls to my flock that have the penciling.....That will be the next addition to my flock. Wanted to get the yard enlarged and get the bubbies up and integrated. You mentioned you didnt want to use the hatchery eggs again. I havent done much research in exactly where....I will find my chicks. Do you recommend finding a private breeder or using local feedstore chicks????

 

[tommysgirl]

Quote:


Sounds like a plan TG! Pretty soon you'll have a flock of silkies.....Mottled, I get most of the colors but I'm not sure what mottled is..... I'm going to have to check this out. I do like the splash! So pretty and penciling. (I think I'm saying that right..lol) I really want to add some girls to my flock that have the penciling.....That will be the next addition to my flock. Wanted to get the yard enlarged and get the bubbies up and integrated. You mentioned you didnt want to use the hatchery eggs again. I havent done much research in exactly where....I will find my chicks. Do you recommend finding a private breeder or using local feedstore chicks????

I have a total crush on all things Mottled

This is a Mottled D'Uccle..
This is a Mottled Java which I also crave and hope to hatch this year. My first proven broody gets MJ eggs....

here is something else amazing a blue mottled cochin

And because a crested mottled bird is one of the best things God ever designed...

I give you the Mottled Houdan.

One day I hope to have all of the above as well as splash and penciled.

I will post a pic of the parent birds of my bantam hatch. I am hoping to end up with D'Uccles that are silky or carry the silkie gene.

re. feedstore/breeder I am glad you asked adn I hope no one here is offended by what I say but here goes.

Feedstore chicks are hatchery chicks. If you ask at your feedstore they should be able to tell you what hatchery they use. I ordered chicks in 2012 and 2013 but then I saw a couple of videos on youtube including this one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ--faib7to that show what happens at hatcheries and it made me sick to my stomach. I got backyard chickens to remove myself from the inhumane way eggs are raised but the big hatcheries are scarcely better. In addition there is not nearly as much quality control in hatchery birds. They are breeding for quantity and frequently cross leghorns or other production breeds into their lines to improve egg production. The quality local breeders are breeding for quality. So I am always going to encourage people to go with local breeders. You are in luck because Texas is FULL of them. I know big state and all that but I imagine that you have many good breeders of lovely birds within driving distance.

I even have a recommendation...not sure how close you are to OK but there are two breeders there of Silver Penciled Wyandottes that may have eggs or chicks or pullets available....Here is a pic of that breed

which I also plan to hatch again.

 

[lizgarf]

So, news from Casa Del Chookie …. The three little boys have now gone to their new home. Their new mum drove two hours to pick them up and they are going to be growing up together and then be introduced to some, apparently very pretty, Pekin Cochin ladies!

That afternoon I took down the temporary fence allowing free range for Cilla and the bubbies. I swear I saw Cilla smile, she took off into the garden, Tammy and Blondie in tow and proceeded to introduce them to all her favourite spots. I also swear I could hear Tina and Dusty muttering something along the lines of “Oh gees, she’s baaack”! while they ducked and weaved out of the way .. lol. I also opened up the divider between the two coops and everyone was in the run together today. When I got home, everyone was still alive and no wounds! Another free range for everyone and if I had my camera handy I would have been able to get them all in one shot! Tina looks like she wants to say “Hi” to the bubbies and seems really curious … Dusty is ignoring them, probably because of their protective mum.

Yay, Teila, that's such great news about the baby roos! It gives me a little hope in case I find myself in that situation in the future.
I am finally coming up from air after what has probably been the hardest work period I can remember (with this job) - so many tough deadlines in such a short period of time!! I still have lots to do, but the immediate time crunch is over, so that is a huge relief. I'm thinking about sneaking up to the snow with my dog soon, but just waiting for the right time, weather-wise. The rain started up pretty much the exact moment I finished my last brief, and looks like it'll be here for most of the next week.

Cute story about your visit with George, TGG! Sounds like he's happy where he is and you'll have plenty of boys to deal with, but I'm sure he misses you. When do we get to see pictures?

Not much new on the farm. It's nice to have plenty of eggs for a change. I have a regular customer who pays me $10 a dozen whenever I tell him I have extra eggs! How lucky is that?!? Just enough to cover my organic feed orders! I thought Jan might have squatted for me the other day, but still no blue eggs. Rousseau and Grace were snuggled up in the nest, making broody noises on some eggs, but they broke quickly when I took the eggs, shooed them out of the nest, and told them not to be broody. I want to wait until August and give Desi and Lucy some time to mature. I noticed Desi's tail feathers are a bit ragged - I wonder if sleeping in the man cave is taking its toll. I forgot to put him in the other night, and he didn't wake me up, but I don't want to risk it often.

Stay well, everyone!

 

[tommysgirl]

Hellloooooo Team Broody!

So, news from Casa Del Chookie …. The three little boys have now gone to their new home. Their new mum drove two hours to pick them up and they are going to be growing up together and then be introduced to some, apparently very pretty, Pekin Cochin ladies!

Unfortunately I was not home when they left (actually, that might be fortunately, less tears!). Hubby had strict instructions on the two that were staying and the three that were going; poor thing was probably getting tired of the spot quiz “OK, point to the two that are staying?”! lol.
Blondie is pretty obvious, being the only buff but Tammy (fingers crossed, still not sure) looked very similar to one of the boys and I considered tying a little red ribbon around her leg lol! Anyway, the spot quizzes paid off and I came home to the correct two little chickies.

That afternoon I took down the temporary fence allowing free range for Cilla and the bubbies. I swear I saw Cilla smile, she took off into the garden, Tammy and Blondie in tow and proceeded to introduce them to all her favourite spots. I also swear I could hear Tina and Dusty muttering something along the lines of “Oh gees, she’s baaack”! while they ducked and weaved out of the way .. lol. I also opened up the divider between the two coops and everyone was in the run together today. When I got home, everyone was still alive and no wounds! Another free range for everyone and if I had my camera handy I would have been able to get them all in one shot! Tina looks like she wants to say “Hi” to the bubbies and seems really curious … Dusty is ignoring them, probably because of their protective mum.

Anyways, bottom line, integration is going really well which I have to put down to having only wire between them and lots of chit chat through the wire.

The dinner bell s ringing! I will keep checking back to see how everyone is doing and hopefully on the weekend, more piccies! I hope your boys have happy little chicken

Ohhhh sorry you had to say good bye to your little guys...but I think that you not being there is probably the easier option. Kudos to your sweet husband for being able to pick Tammy out of the line up. How do you come up with your chicken names? I really like them and I imagine that some of them may be rockstar names...am I right? Dusty Springfield, Tina Turner, and because country music is world wide maybe Tammy Wynette...or is all of this in my imagination??

Have you seen the Aussie video of the battery hens ranging for the first time? it is beautiful. I was reminded of it when you said that Cilla smiled

So glad integration is going well and I hope you had a great dinner!

 

[tommysgirl]

Yay, Teila, that's such great news about the baby roos! It gives me a little hope in case I find myself in that situation in the future.
I am finally coming up from air after what has probably been the hardest work period I can remember (with this job) - so many tough deadlines in such a short period of time!! I still have lots to do, but the immediate time crunch is over, so that is a huge relief. I'm thinking about sneaking up to the snow with my dog soon, but just waiting for the right time, weather-wise. The rain started up pretty much the exact moment I finished my last brief, and looks like it'll be here for most of the next week.

Cute story about your visit with George, TGG! Sounds like he's happy where he is and you'll have plenty of boys to deal with, but I'm sure he misses you. When do we get to see pictures?

Not much new on the farm. It's nice to have plenty of eggs for a change. I have a regular customer who pays me $10 a dozen whenever I tell him I have extra eggs! How lucky is that?!? Just enough to cover my organic feed orders! I thought Jan might have squatted for me the other day, but still no blue eggs. Rousseau and Grace were snuggled up in the nest, making broody noises on some eggs, but they broke quickly when I took the eggs, shooed them out of the nest, and told them not to be broody. I want to wait until August and give Desi and Lucy some time to mature. I noticed Desi's tail feathers are a bit ragged - I wonder if sleeping in the man cave is taking its toll. I forgot to put him in the other night, and he didn't wake me up, but I don't want to risk it often.

Stay well, everyone!

Congrats on getting to a breathing point in your work load. In order to properly reward yourself for a job well done, I think you should definitely sneak up to the snow...soon! do you board? I hope that all your broodies continue to be easily discouraged until you are ready for them. I have collect three Bantam eggs for Petunia and 6 eggs for Blanche so far. I want to only give her CA Grey eggs but I have a couple of Dorking eggs I may toss in for giggles. 10.00

wow that's great. I get 3.00 a dozen but I think I am going to raise my prices next fall. Glad Desi didn't wake you wouldn't it be great if he forgot to crow early always?

Counting the days till I get to bring my new girl and her clutch home. I am going to try keeping a silkie roo from this hatch...now watch they will all be pullets

I am heading to New Jersey to visit my daughters next Monday so hope that my broody girls keep their current nest space respect policy intact. I will be gone a full week..my spring break...so hope things run smoothly in the coops. Today might be day 19 for the silkie clutch

that it all goes well. I think mama..who I am either calling Gracie or Belle is pretty much on her own. Don't know if I told you guys or not but the gal from whom I am getting her doesn't live where the birds are.

Teila I will need to know anything special about the proper care and feeding of Silkies. Super excited!

 

[chickencrazy999]

Hey Guys,
It's day 15 for the eggs under my hen Millie keeping my fingers crossed for next Tuesday

I am hoping that at least 1 or 2 hatch hope fully my new girlz have settled in well and are doing good :]