Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

Hey Liz, how are you doing? I was just thinking about you

Hi Teila, I'm doing well thanks. Chickens are doing find - all broodies are broken and Grace even went back to laying today. Still no eggs from Jan. My cat, Penelope, is enjoying being an only cat, and I can barely sit down without her getting in my lap. She even ventured onto the bed for the first time since after she found her way to my house 8 years ago. You see, Zorro was a very friendly cat to everyone except Penelope, so there is one member of the household who does not appear to be in mourning.

As much as I love everyone on this thread and all the recent arrivals are most welcome and fun to read up on, I'm feeling like I need to take a bit of a break from the thread. I have many good things going on in the non-virtual world, and I'd like to facilitate more of them, so I'm trying to limit my computer time to work, as much as I can make myself. I'm sure I'll check in now and again, but don't concerned if you don't hear from me for awhile. You can always PM me if you need to get in touch.
xo,
Liz

 

[Teila]

Good morning Team Broody

Got this from Tommy’s breeder this morning:

I wouldnt rush and get rid of him straight away if you really like him.If there are no other roosters in the area he will hardly crow.They only crow a lot when they talk to other roosters.A lot of people have roosters in suburbia and dont have any problems.You could also make up a rooster box and bring him into the garage or laundry at night.Check with neighbours , you might be surprised.
*Sigh*
Tommy has not had any crow attempts the last two mornings!
Liz, you have also got me thinking … if I can’t find the right home for Tommy, guess who is seriously contemplating trying to keep him?
I am secretly hoping no-one rushes to reply to my advert which will force me to keep him, for the short term at least

I have also read that Bantam (Pekin) Cochin rooster crows can sometimes not even sound like a LF rooster; maybe his crows could be mixed in with all the other bird noises in our neighbourhood ... our Crows and other wild birds come up with some very interesting noises. The Crows started before the sun or my girls were out of bed this morning

I will see what happens but will also keep thinking

I was looking for a chicken-project for my holidays .. building a rooster box could be the ideal project!

Welcome Lesa Mae
"I love that people have stalked us and then eventually join us. Pull up a chair and visit. Pop in whenever you feel like you want or need to" X 2

I wish I had the right answer for you but I have quickly learnt that each hatch is different; especially if you throw a couple of broodies into the mix. Liz, had a wonderful experience with co-broodies who raised two beautiful chicks together but she did lose some eggs due to breakage. I, on the other hand, have found that leaving my broodies and bubbies in with the rest of the flock is not such a good idea; fights for nest boxes and favourite spots resulted in potential danger for the chicks. Of course you will have read IC’s latest experience also.
(Note: I have just read IC’s reply and her "I wish I hadn't tried the experiment")

I guess one way to go would be to leave them and see if it works out rather than partitioning or separating. Obviously there are risks involved and I would be ready with Plan B if I were you.
If you wait and see how it goes you will at least know for future hatches if it is a viable option.
But, if you are at all concerned and not prepared to take the chance, I would go with the separation option.

TG, woo hoo on the Day 16 embryos!
Seriously laughing here at ""What in the world were you thinking last night??"".

Oh dear, these girls of ours certainly do like to keep us on our toes; switching and swapping all over the place and never sticking to our plan!
Good to hear that Gracie Belle & Co are doing well

MM, now I am laughing at "and if you are lucky I might be able to get one of the broody (me)!!.". Good job I am the only one in the office this time in the morning, folks would wonder just what I am doing!
Looking forward to piccies of the “school house”.


IC, moveable nest boxes .. good tip!
I hope that you are feeling better about things today. Love that Cenere and Ombretta are co-parenting so well. Also looking forward to more bubby pics.

Ah well, I guess I should start work now ... just today and tomorrow to get through and then I have a whole 10 days at home

 

[Teila]

Hi Teila, I'm doing well thanks. Chickens are doing find - all broodies are broken and Grace even went back to laying today. Still no eggs from Jan. My cat, Penelope, is enjoying being an only cat, and I can barely sit down without her getting in my lap. She even ventured onto the bed for the first time since after she found her way to my house 8 years ago. You see, Zorro was a very friendly cat to everyone except Penelope, so there is one member of the household who does not appear to be in mourning.

As much as I love everyone on this thread and all the recent arrivals are most welcome and fun to read up on, I'm feeling like I need to take a bit of a break from the thread. I have many good things going on in the non-virtual world, and I'd like to facilitate more of them, so I'm trying to limit my computer time to work, as much as I can make myself. I'm sure I'll check in now and again, but don't concerned if you don't hear from me for awhile. You can always PM me if you need to get in touch.
xo,
Liz

Howdy Liz

Good to hear that you are doing well.
Even better to read that you have "good things going on in the non-virtual world". While I totally understand, you will most definitely be missed and I look forward to those times you can check in.
Thanks also for letting us know, I would definitely have worried if we had not heard from you.

 

[Lesa Mae]

Had a pleasant surprise tonight when I went out to the barn to check in on the girls and put up a partition for the safety of all involved!!!! Guess I wasn't as on the ball as I thought

I would like to introduce you to our newest addition to the coop "Sara "

 

[Lesa Mae]

I did slip the 7th egg under broody with the others and then discovered the baby:/. So excited to see if we have any more little ones in the morning! Granddaughter was with me when we found " Sara " that's what she named it and has informed me all the babies will be Sara's

 

[Teila]

I did slip the 7th egg under broody with the others and then discovered the baby:/. So excited to see if we have any more little ones in the morning! Granddaughter was with me when we found " Sara " that's what she named it and has informed me all the babies will be Sara's

Congratulations Lesa Mae!

Too cute!
*Chuckle* at all their names being Sara .. makes it easy to remember their name I guess but not too sure how any possible roosters would feel about that dent to their masculinity ... reminds me about the song where the Dad called him Sue! lolz
Maybe you could have SaraW, SaraY etc (white, yellow etc)

 

[Lesa Mae]

Thanks so much!!!!!! e



It's amazing how a little ball of fluff can melt your heart . Probably more anxious to see if there are any more little babies out there tomorrow. How will I ever sleep tonight

 

[Lesa Mae]

Not to worry there won't be any Roos to be offended

 

[Teila]

Not to worry there won't be any Roos to be offended

Lolz Lesa Mae, your funny!

My first hatch of Silkies, 7 survived, 5 boys, 1 girl and an unsure (sadly passed away recently).

This hatch 5 survived, 4 boys, 1 girl

 

[ItalyChickie]

I did slip the 7th egg under broody with the others and then discovered the baby:/. So excited to see if we have any more little ones in the morning! Granddaughter was with me when we found " Sara " that's what she named it and has informed me all the babies will be Sara's

Congratulations!!! Hope there are more Saras on the way! That is hilarious, but it does save some time thinking up names. And calling them... "Here Sara Sara Sara!"

Also, fingers crossed that the name is right for the genders. I did have one hatch with 4 girls, no boys last year, so it isn't impossible...

Teila, I hope you can keep Tommy! I think Cochins are even less likely to crow a lot, just based on the really sweet, docile character. It's the more aggressive ones that tend to crow a lot, in my experience.

And thank you for your concern! Yes, I am feeling much better today, and beginning to relax a bit and let co-moms take over... funny how I still ended up with co-parents, even though they aren't the ones I had expected!!!

An update on the broody situation: I booted out the broody twins this morning. Eggtopsy on the remaining ones shows that there was no/very little development, so I am assuming all the egg switching was at least part of the culprit... They keep trying to get back in, and I feel awful for them, and will probably let them sit again in the future - separately! - but for now, I think they need a break.

Cenere and Ombretta, on the other hand, have given up to try and divide the babies who kept switching moms, and have moved in together. They are adorable!

Here are a couple of pics:












Yesterday, before the co-parenting arrangement was made: