Hatching with 2 broodies

[ItalyChickie]

Meet Gael! She appears to be Blue and Red. Those are the school colors of St. Mary's College of CA where my daughters graduated; their mascot is the Gael so there you have it.

There is a third baby and the fourth shell is peeping up a storm. Not sure yet but baby 3 looks SPLASH!!!!!!!!!!

Awwww! That needed a cuteness overload warning!!!!

Tomorrow is lockdown. Will she really refuse to leave the nest til the babies hatch??

Mine have always gotten up all the way up to the hatch, some even on day 21 - I've seen pipped eggs with broody off the nest, and they all still hatched just fine. I have a hunch the whole lockdown concept was invented so we humans would keep our hands off the eggs in those last few days...

oh my gosh... I might have ANOTHER broody! it's like they knew the title of the thread haha, 2 broodies!!!

she is in the nest and her breast is picked clean! she doesn't get too mad when I remove her, actually she doesn't even make a sound. she just walks away like nothing happened, and she's still laying eggs so maybe it's not full broody mode yet. GAH! What am I gonna do with TWO broodies?!

oh and guess what...
Bertha was off the nest today and I looked in her nest. there are 2 extra eggs in there, both from my wyandotte! I am going to candle them tonight after dark. since I think those 2 are behind by about a week, they will go in the incubator with the other eggs which I just put in yesterday.

Ha! Broodiness is totally contagious! I wish mine would read the title of the thread, because I currently have 5! (two raising chicks, 3 sitting) Two at a time would be easier to handle.

As for what to do... give her some eggs?

Congratulations on your newest hatch. Isnt that a beautiful feeling when you pick up an egg and it starts moving? Love it

We will think Pullet...Pullet...Pullet...Pullet

Joining the pullet chorus!

 

[tommysgirl]

Awwww! That needed a cuteness overload warning!!!!

Mine have always gotten up all the way up to the hatch, some even on day 21 - I've seen pipped eggs with broody off the nest, and they all still hatched just fine. I have a hunch the whole lockdown concept was invented so we humans would keep our hands off the eggs in those last few days...


Ha! Broodiness is totally contagious! I wish mine would read the title of the thread, because I currently have 5! (two raising chicks, 3 sitting) Two at a time would be easier to handle.

As for what to do... give her some eggs?

Joining the pullet chorus!

Thanks IC...wait till you see the other 3

Totally agree @MistyMountain with what IC said re. hens and lockdown. many never get that memo and things go fine.

I have just one left on eggs and two raising chicks now. My Del babies will sometimes be mothered but you know how boys are...the little red star girl doe stick more closely to mana still

Al 4 EE/AM eggs hatched Gael, a Blue who my daughter named Suede, a Splash and a little brown chipmunk.
Thanks for the pullet energy. Most of my flock were chosen b/c of laying ability. BBS AM were chosen because they and their eggs are so pretty. I have said before that the excitement of the pending hatch and the thrill of the hatch and the joy of watching the little ones and their mama are wll worh the price paid for eggs...Seriously if you break it down to a per day amount that is some cheep fun

But there is a part of me that will be super bummed if neither Gael, Suede nor the Splash are girls....The brown chipmunk is darling and I hope she is a girl too but I am hoping to add new color to my laying flock.

nervous whining over....steal yourselves these babies have puffy cheeks! I have to upload the pics from my phone but expect them later today!

 

[tommysgirl]

Here they are...the most recent team broody babies!


Splash




Suede


Suede




Splash


Chipmunk...It's a little sleepy and not so steady on its feet yet so this is the best shot I could come up with.

 

[16 paws]

I have seen broodies get up even on hatch day...lock down is for incubators hens make up their own minds.
From your keyboard to God's ears...Thaks!

I helped #4 a bit but it is still in the shell as far as I know...at least it was about 2 hours ago.

Hoping it makes it!

Me too!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Here they are...the most recent team broody babies!


Splash




Suede


Suede




Splash


Chipmunk...It's a little sleepy and not so steady on its feet yet so this is the best shot I could come up with.

oh my goodness!!! this is so cute I can't even stand it! I love the blue chicks! and the chipmunk chick, does it have puffy cheeks too? congratulations they are so adorable!!


ItalyChickie, I hope it stops at 2! I am not sure yet about my 2nd broody. She doesn't act broody, or poof out, or make angry sounds in the slightest. She's actually my favorite girl, very calm and lets me pick her up at any time anywhere. no other hens act like that. However, she had an egg eating problem about 1 month ago. When Bertha went broody, I told my husband, at least it wasn't Beetlejuice! (the 2nd broody) and now of course, she is! I guess I have a fear that she will peck open an egg since she's done it before. I cured her egg eating by separating her, giving her nasty eggs, and putting curtains on the nest box. she doesn't eat eggs any more..

sooo not sure... I want to give her some more time, wait to see if she acts broody, puffs up or makes broody sounds. if so, I'll believe her. I might only give her fake eggs though. And maybe slip chicks from the incubator under her. OMG they are going to have so many chicks to raise! I didn't want this many chicks! haha

Edit:
oh I almost forgot.. I candled Bertha's eggs last night on day 10. I removed 2 java eggs of 6 that were clear. 6/6 BLRW eggs look good. 2 unmarked BLRW eggs were added to the nest in the last couple days by my BLRW Wendy Wyandotte so I pulled those and put them in the incubator.. Bertha has 10 eggs left.

 

[ShelbyCoral]

When should I separate my chicks from the mama? Or Should I put them and the mama in with the main chickens?

 

[Pooman]

Put em in with the chickens when the younger ones are old enough. Mum will look after them for a,while but will evetually peck at them and shoo them away lols. The poor little buggers dont know whats happened but still try and hang around. It all works out, just make sure that they can get food at this point as mum wont be helping anymore and make sure they are fitting in ok and maybe remove any bullies if they arent coping. It usually works out ok unless you have teenage boys running around.....

 

[Teila]

G’Day Team Broody!

Missed a few posts here and there, sorry!

SC, beautiful little bubbies! I agree with Pooman, while she is still protecting them is the best time to integrate as she will take on anyone who wants to pick on them. Of course, it goes without saying, keep a very close eye on everyone.

TG, aaaaw, how cute and exciting that the egg cheeped at you! Congratulations! They are so absolutely adorable!

Also sending positive pullet vibes your way

IC,

at the big butted boys!

MM, sorry, I have lost track of things, how long does MJ have to go? Me three on the lock down thing, Cilla missed that memo also!

PM, Cilla also missed the memo on cutting the cord and shooing away the bubbies, Blondie is just over 4 months old and still well and truly attached.

FV, sounds like you are having some fun times with your gals at the moment

Me? I got nothing, no broodies, no news and of course, still no eggs!

Not complaining, I definitely do not want any dramas and thoroughly enjoying spending time with my girls. I have, however, found myself drooling over all your beautiful bubby pictures and I am no longer wondering if I will cave on my ‘no more hatches’ resolution and now know for a fact that I will definitely give in .. already planning how to set things up depending on who becomes broody and who is going to need to change their sleeping arrangements etc to accommodate the broody …
*sigh* I am hopeless! lol

 

[16 paws]

ShelbyCoral,
I have always let mama raise them with the flock. But she always had them in there to begin with. I would watch them closely when you put them together. I always made sure the littles had a place they could hide behind if they needed to. Put something like a box in front of a corner. This way the littles can run behind it but the biggies cant.

Good luck and by the way they are precious in the picture you took.

Marie

 

[16 paws]

Dont worry Teila,

I am hopeless also when it comes to broodys!
Cant wait to see who gives you an egg first and who goes broody next. Gives us something to look forward to in this crazy mixed up world huh? Chickens are complex but also so simple. That is why I love them.
Marie