Hatching with 2 broodies

[texgardengal]

Quote: WooooHooo CC999 15 days......getting close! exciting... I noticed on your signature you have a Molly too...Great chicken name if I do say so myself.

Quote: TG, I hope the broody silkie does OK....how is it that she doesnt live where the birds are? WOW! The silkies are hatching any day now!!!!! how exciting!

Hope you have a great time with your daughters I always look forward to my daughters visits. She only lives about an hour away, but not having her at home makes it really special when I do get to see her.

OMG TG!! I LOVE the mottling! Is mottling less common? I dont see very many pics of this coloring??

Quote:

I am about an hour west of Fort Worth. Due north, I'm about an hour and a half from OK so that's totally doable! They are georgous!!!! Yep! I need the info on this breeder!!!!!

The D'Uccle is an adorable little squatty chicken!!!! sigh....I like too many chickens... I want them all...

Glad you are getting a little breather from all your work Liz.....A trip is well deserved!

 

[texgardengal]

Ok was able to get some pics today...
Another really windy day and I made them a little windbreak with plywood and bricks....Once I had them trapped I was able to get a pic of them together. In the back, ou can see the tallest one, he is the lightest one and the one I am sure is a roo.
Here is another pic of him...his name is Goose

Here is the other roo, Rider

Ok....that's enough...Molly was being a nice Mom today...shocker!!!!

 

[16 paws]

Hi everyone,
I have a problem here,
Yesterday I marked the 15 eggs under Penny with a sharpie.
Penny is in a large communal nest box in the far corner. The other hens have been laying their eggs on the other side of the nest box. Well today when I went to check on things, someone, (I think Penny) had put five of the marked eggs in with the other eggs laid today and took some fresh eggs and put them under her. In other words someone changed out the eggs under her.

Now I dont know what to do as she has been sitting on the marked eggs for a few days and now has fresh eggs under her too. I dont know how long the marked eggs have been sitting over on the other side so I wonder what to do with them?????
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
Marie

 

[lizgarf]

Oh, TGG, the babies are so cute!! It's so much fun to see them evolve. Yeah, marans are hard to sex! Who knows what you have? That one in the front left on the bottom pic is probably a boy with that red comb. How old are they now? I love their colors!
If you want another Bettina, you need to look for a dark brahma. They have the penciling and the big fluffy butts and feathered feet, and the sweet, sweet disposition. I can't recommend her breed enough. She actually may be too docile. Desi is always jumping on her, and I may need to get an extra large saddle for her if he keeps it up.

Yes, TG, I do snowboard. I'm so tired though, that I'm not inspired to plan anything. I know I need to get up to the snow and it'll make me happy just to see my dog so happy in it, and even just sled a little, or something, but I didn't get it together to go tomorrow, which means it'll probably be sometime next week or the week after that. At some point, I need to make myself do it!

The $10 egg customer is an accident of fate! I'm rarely on Craigslist, but I was looking for a new hen after losing Stella, and I saw this guy's ad, seeking organic, backyard, eggs for $10. I thought he might be a scam, at first, but he's into it! He thought I had the best set-up, and kept asking for eggs, but I had the great egg drought of 2013, so only just now started selling to him again. I haven't wanted to try to make a business out of any of my farming activities (seems more trouble than it's worth), but if the customers come to me, what can I do? You definitely have to raise your prices! No one should be selling home-flock eggs for under $5. Organic eggs cost over $4 at the store, why shouldn't you charge more? But, it does depend on what the customers will pay, I suppose, and it's also good to provide healthy food for people at a price they can afford, if you can afford it.

16paws (welcome back, by the way!), the eggs can be cold for a few hours, but if you think it's been more than 8 or so, then you may need to start over with new eggs. Sounds like you may need to separate her, if she's going to be moving eggs around, or else keep a pretty constant eye on the situation. You could try setting her up in her own nest in another part of the coop, though she may not take to it if she has access to her favorite nest. All my hens squeeze into one nest, and my broodies insisted on staying in it.

 

[number9]

I would have stuck the marked eggs under her and hope for the best. You have nothing to loose.

 

[Teila]

Another visit so soon? We are getting some serious rain at the moment and I am just keeping an eye on the radar for a small gap I see coming which might be enough time to dash out, make sure everyone is OK, top up their dinner bowls and dash back in again. Mind you, if there wasn’t the possible gap coming, I would be out there regardless!

TGG, George does sound like he is happy, what rooster wouldn’t be with that set up. It is lovely that you can still visit him. I think Cookie is always going to be a Team Broody favourite

Hey Liz, welcome back from under your workload! Wonderful news that you are finally getting more eggs. Oh, how I wish saying “you are not going to be broody” is all we had to do

I reckon a holiday sounds like a great idea; you definitely have earned it and when you get there you will probably be very glad you did. I have some time off over Easter and plan to not go anywhere! So looking forward to not getting up at 04:45am and being able to mooch around the house and in the garden, wash windows etc. That might not sound like everyone’s idea of a holiday but I am looking forward to it.

TG, I have seen the battery-hen link but have not had a chance to check it out yet. Many, many, many years ago I rescued 6 battery hens. When I got them home and let them out of the box they just stood there, it took them quite a few minutes to realize that they could move but boy, did they make up for lost time!

Good pick on the naming theme .. yep, all girl singers, Britney and Suzi (RIP my little angels) were Britney Spears and Suzi Quatro, Cilla (Black), Dusty (Springfield), Tammy (Wynette), Blondie (Deborah Harry) and Tina (Turner).

I am excited for you also. Tina doesn’t get any more special treatment or feed compared to the others.

(Here’s that gap in the rain .. brb lol)
(Hhhhm, the radar lied, it wasn’t a gap, just an easing off, so I am still dripping. Ah well, it was for my girls so that is OK. They are not particularly happy about no free range but they are fed and dry.)

Back to Silkies … I have read that one Silkie on her own is not good, but since losing Suzi, Tina seems to be doing just fine. She hangs with her Aunty Dusty and as previously mentioned, seems to want to say “Hi” to the bubbies. One Silkie tip is that they are not as waterproof as other chickens and while they sometimes stand in the rain, they do not realize that going to bed damp may cause them to catch a chill so they might need a dry off at bed time.

Another tip, if a Silkie sees one egg = breakfast for humans.. more than one egg = excuse to go broody! lol. I am still waiting on that first Silkie egg but I have been told to take it off her ASAP or she will sit and stay!

CC999, fingers crossed for a successful hatch!

TGG, aaaw love the bubbies! Some are similar markings to one of the little guys I rehomed and Tammy. Sorry, I am not going to take guesses on gender, had enough trouble with my own and still not sure on one! Lol.

16 Paws, if it was me I would go with what Liz and number9 suggest, maybe move her to a more isolated spot where egg swapping cannot happen but I would also give her back the marked eggs, I agree with “nothing to lose”.

The smart thing right now for me would be to change out of these dripping clothes but seen as I have to go back out later to make sure everyone got to bed OK, a quick towel dry might be more appropriate

Stay safe and happy chickens Team; including the little ones currently in egg shell pyjamas .. back soon

 

[texgardengal]

Quote: 16P How many days along are the eggs? I only have 2 hens...3 counting my Cookie but she is yet to lay an egg... Anyway, when Molly and Sassy became broody together their combined eggs (unless they laid 2 eggs a day...lol) had to have taken 4-5 days for out clutch of 10. They hatched all together over 2-3 days.... all 10 had hatched....I guess what I'm saying is, with my lack of experience, somehow it all worked out. She may have to sit a few extra days for the new eggs but she can hatch them all together. I put Molly in a small coop right after the first ones hatched so she could continue sitting on the eggs. The chickies stayed close to her. This way, she wasnt leaving the unhatched eggs chasing chickies. It seemed to work....She continued to sit until all hatched. I hope this helps...
Quote: Thanks Liz! They are pretty cute...your right, who knows what I have...the only ones that stand out at this point are the two big ones with the red combs. I caught the two of them bumping chests yesterday and playing big fighting roosters.....sooo cute!!!! This Saturday they will be 6 weeks old. I cant believe it's already been 6 weeks. Yes, I HAVE to have a Bettina...With TG's help and the folks in the website I'm sure I'll be able to find a local breeder who has Java chicks..or eggs.

Stay dry Teila....

 

[texgardengal]

OH...wait. Bettina is a Brahma...not a Java? Where did I get Java?? haha

 

[tommysgirl]

TG, I hope the broody silkie does OK....how is it that she doesnt live where the birds are? WOW! The silkies are hatching any day now!!!!! how exciting!

Hope you have a great time with your daughters I always look forward to my daughters visits. She only lives about an hour away, but not having her at home makes it really special when I do get to see her.

OMG TG!! I LOVE the mottling! Is mottling less common? I dont see very many pics of this coloring??

I am about an hour west of Fort Worth. Due north, I'm about an hour and a half from OK so that's totally doable! They are georgous!!!! Yep! I need the info on this breeder!!!!!

The D'Uccle is an adorable little squatty chicken!!!! sigh....I like too many chickens... I want them all...

As near as I can tell, the woman I have been in contact with re the silkie works for the petting farm where the mama has been "employed" as an ambassador for chickens everywhere

The petting farm is discontinuing the chicken portion of their program so Gracie Belle is being rehomed to lucky me. The other dozen or so birds...a collection of silkies and sizzles and one cochin are also getting new homes.

I agree mottled are so cool...we seem to have similar taste. I love the way various white and black birds look together on the green grass with their red combs and wattles. It makes me happy.

One SPW breeder is Blue Gum here on BYC. He sold stock to a gal named Carla-Kirby McEntire and she is the one I got my SPW eggs from. I am not sure where in OK they are but you can contact him here on BYC he seems very nice...or you could contact her through FB. She is on the Rare Chicken Breeds Sell/Swap FB page.

Ok was able to get some pics today...
Another really windy day and I made them a little windbreak with plywood and bricks....Once I had them trapped I was able to get a pic of them together. In the back, ou can see the tallest one, he is the lightest one and the one I am sure is a roo.
Here is another pic of him...his name is Goose

Here is the other roo, Rider

Ok....that's enough...Molly was being a nice Mom today...shocker!!!!

Your chicks are growing so big...I am glad you have so many. It makes weaning easier on them when they have buddies

Hi everyone,
I have a problem here,
Yesterday I marked the 15 eggs under Penny with a sharpie.
Penny is in a large communal nest box in the far corner. The other hens have been laying their eggs on the other side of the nest box. Well today when I went to check on things, someone, (I think Penny) had put five of the marked eggs in with the other eggs laid today and took some fresh eggs and put them under her. In other words someone changed out the eggs under her.

Now I dont know what to do as she has been sitting on the marked eggs for a few days and now has fresh eggs under her too. I dont know how long the marked eggs have been sitting over on the other side so I wonder what to do with them?????
Anyone have any thoughts?
Thanks
Marie

I think liz gave great advice but yes I would put them back under her too. Good Luck let us know what you decide. Dog crates are great broody nests and you can usually pick them up on CL or at yard sales pretty cheaply

Oh, TGG, the babies are so cute!! It's so much fun to see them evolve. Yeah, marans are hard to sex! Who knows what you have? That one in the front left on the bottom pic is probably a boy with that red comb. How old are they now? I love their colors!
If you want another Bettina, you need to look for a dark brahma. They have the penciling and the big fluffy butts and feathered feet, and the sweet, sweet disposition. I can't recommend her breed enough. She actually may be too docile. Desi is always jumping on her, and I may need to get an extra large saddle for her if he keeps it up.

Yes, TG, I do snowboard. I'm so tired though, that I'm not inspired to plan anything. I know I need to get up to the snow and it'll make me happy just to see my dog so happy in it, and even just sled a little, or something, but I didn't get it together to go tomorrow, which means it'll probably be sometime next week or the week after that. At some point, I need to make myself do it!

The $10 egg customer is an accident of fate! I'm rarely on Craigslist, but I was looking for a new hen after losing Stella, and I saw this guy's ad, seeking organic, backyard, eggs for $10. I thought he might be a scam, at first, but he's into it! He thought I had the best set-up, and kept asking for eggs, but I had the great egg drought of 2013, so only just now started selling to him again. I haven't wanted to try to make a business out of any of my farming activities (seems more trouble than it's worth), but if the customers come to me, what can I do? You definitely have to raise your prices! No one should be selling home-flock eggs for under $5. Organic eggs cost over $4 at the store, why shouldn't you charge more? But, it does depend on what the customers will pay, I suppose, and it's also good to provide healthy food for people at a price they can afford, if you can afford it.

16paws (welcome back, by the way!), the eggs can be cold for a few hours, but if you think it's been more than 8 or so, then you may need to start over with new eggs. Sounds like you may need to separate her, if she's going to be moving eggs around, or else keep a pretty constant eye on the situation. You could try setting her up in her own nest in another part of the coop, though she may not take to it if she has access to her favorite nest. All my hens squeeze into one nest, and my broodies insisted on staying in it.

Pretty sure I want a Dark Brahma too. How does she lay? I have skied for decades but started boarding about 3 years ago. I am not great at it. I have taken lessons though and think that the next time we go I may be really improved. I have strong thighs but the way I get down the hill now kills them! Boarding is still a struggle whereas skiing was effortless but I can't give up on it until I get good enough at it to know that I don't prefer it. Hope you and your dog get a chance to play soon. After the next egg drought...probably this summer if it gets super hot, I will for sure let people know that my prices have gone up. I only sell to three families but one gal has 5 kids and is a SAHM who bakes . She could use 5 dozen a week but I generally only get her about 4.

I would have stuck the marked eggs under her and hope for the best. You have nothing to loose.

yep give them back and then try to isolate her.

Teila stay dry. I feel silly that I didn't get all your rock star connections. I love that you have theme! I cried when I watched the wonder of the girls as they were able to do that yoga move where they stretch out a wing and a leg. Thanks for your silkie advice. Definitely keeping one of the babies as a companion for the mama bird. I would like to make the Broody coop a Bantam coop and pick up a ready made all in one like Misty Mountain has for broodies. With my newly acquired carpentry skill I think I could build a small predator safe run. I even have the spot picked out for it.

 

[16 paws]

Oh, TGG, the babies are so cute!! It's so much fun to see them evolve. Yeah, marans are hard to sex! Who knows what you have? That one in the front left on the bottom pic is probably a boy with that red comb. How old are they now? I love their colors!
If you want another Bettina, you need to look for a dark brahma. They have the penciling and the big fluffy butts and feathered feet, and the sweet, sweet disposition. I can't recommend her breed enough. She actually may be too docile. Desi is always jumping on her, and I may need to get an extra large saddle for her if he keeps it up.

Yes, TG, I do snowboard. I'm so tired though, that I'm not inspired to plan anything. I know I need to get up to the snow and it'll make me happy just to see my dog so happy in it, and even just sled a little, or something, but I didn't get it together to go tomorrow, which means it'll probably be sometime next week or the week after that. At some point, I need to make myself do it!

The $10 egg customer is an accident of fate! I'm rarely on Craigslist, but I was looking for a new hen after losing Stella, and I saw this guy's ad, seeking organic, backyard, eggs for $10. I thought he might be a scam, at first, but he's into it! He thought I had the best set-up, and kept asking for eggs, but I had the great egg drought of 2013, so only just now started selling to him again. I haven't wanted to try to make a business out of any of my farming activities (seems more trouble than it's worth), but if the customers come to me, what can I do? You definitely have to raise your prices! No one should be selling home-flock eggs for under $5. Organic eggs cost over $4 at the store, why shouldn't you charge more? But, it does depend on what the customers will pay, I suppose, and it's also good to provide healthy food for people at a price they can afford, if you can afford it.

16paws (welcome back, by the way!), the eggs can be cold for a few hours, but if you think it's been more than 8 or so, then you may need to start over with new eggs. Sounds like you may need to separate her, if she's going to be moving eggs around, or else keep a pretty constant eye on the situation. You could try setting her up in her own nest in another part of the coop, though she may not take to it if she has access to her favorite nest. All my hens squeeze into one nest, and my broodies insisted on staying in it.

Hi Liz,
I wanted to keep her in her same spot but this morning it was like a circus in there.

She had two other hens sitting on her, I kept taking them out but they would go right back. I think they are trying to help her or they want to try and be co-broodies. The problem is with all the other eggs getting mixed in and some of the eggs that are developing getting over on the other side and left out in the cold.
So I decided to move her this morning and set her up in a spot the others could not get to...made her a nice cozy nest, put the eggs in there and so far she is just pacing back and forth trying to get out.

Darn these stubborn broodies!!!!
Wonder what to do now????