Hatching with 2 broodies

[MistyMountain]

A couple developments here on the homestead. Momma and babies are doing great. Wow, what a difference between broody babies and those raised in the house! So much more alert and not sluggish at all! Quiet too, no chirping because they are hot, cold, hungry, thirsty. Mom does it all!!

MJ buried the last egg, so I went ahead and took it out. I couldn't just throw it away without knowing so I gently opened the air sac to see inside. It was not alive, but made it quite far in development. It was never meant to hatch, though. 90% hatch on the first try is pretty stink in' good, I think!

Took hubby out to see the babies today (and he wanted to raid the black raspberry briars before the chickens or other wildlife could get to them). He convinced me to open up the brooder coop and let the 9 week olds out to free range with the flock. One leghorn cockerel got pecked down by Darth Vader, but she is bottom of the pecking order so that was to be expected. Otherwise a couple brown leghorns we mingling nicely with them. Willie even hung out with them a little and I caught him trying to find treats for the little bits through their little fence.

I listed the brown leghorns and the white cockerels for sale today. We will see if anyone bites. I couldn't part with the white hens just yet, those jumbo eggs are impressive when the EE's take their day off.

Whew, that is all, I think. Not much time for commenting but want to say

to everyone! Back to work. Got T-shirts to design!

 

[Farmer Viola]

New pics! Don't know if the final egg hatched yet though!

I am pages and pages behind, I apologize if I didnt reply to those who replied to me, Im still catching up! but MM I wanted to say these chicks are so flippin cute! love love love the pics

 

[tommysgirl]

Hey guys how many chicks would you give a big ol fluffy mama? She is my biggest girl and when pancaked can easily fill/ overflow the 14/14 nest box. The chicks are due on the 4th and she will get them probably on the following Monday or Tuesday.

Also my contact who I am chic sitting for hatched Marans babies yesterday. I don't know how many but 9 were set. She is giving me chicks in exchange for watching them while she is on vacation. My sizzle girl has been on the nest for over 24 hours. If she sticks I will give her those chicks on Friday. How many can I give her?

 

[Farmer Viola]

Guess what?! Woods broody has returned with 15 peepers following right along

OMG YAY! You just knew it didnt you!!! good for her, and for you! That is so awesome so happy she's back

 

[missnu01]

Ah there could still be babies out there, scared... Dx

there could still be eggs. Anything that hatched she would have brought with her.

 

[missnu01]

Well my woods bantam hatched 15 and is covering all 15 chick's no problem. So with it being really warm I would think quite a few

 

[Teila]

Good morning Team Broody

Aaargh, busy work week

Time to play catch up on the all news, sorry if I miss anyone

SC how is Artemis doing?
So sorry to hear about you chick loss and illness

IC sorry also to hear that Cenere’s eggs are not fertile this time around but congratulations on getting your hands on some Ameraucanas.

Oh dear at Dora the Explorer!

I have had a teeny tiny egg once also; you know, back when my chickens actually laid eggs lol

MM loving the bubby pics … gorgeous!

Aaaw at Willie treat-hunting for the littlies

TG got everything crossed for a successful hatch for you on Saturday

I agree with MN01 that you could probably give your fluffy mama quite a few chicks; maybe 12-15?
As you know, I am no expert but maybe 7-9 for your Sizzle?

MN01 wooo hooo

What a wondeful end to the tale and of course, yours and our suspense….beautiful!
Definitely supports the fact that these Broody's of ours know exactly what they are doing

LM hoping for a successful hatch on Thursday for you also.

Your Sara’s definitely are cute!

In general news:

With the food-spreading dilemma, I had a similar issue with Cilla and her big feathered feed; she would scratch in the little food dishes and spread food absolutely everywhere; tipping up the little dishes etc. I made a little wooden dish holder that the chicks could jump up onto and peck from the dishes. The dishes were held in place by the frame and Cilla could not dislodge them.

No news from Bambrook Bantams, everyone well and happy, no broodies, no eggs, no dramas, one happy little family and of course, happy me also

Love my little girls so much! They never fail to make me smile, laugh and treasure every little quirk and aspect of their amazing chickenalities

Thoroughly enjoying catching up with all your news, chicks, eggs etc .. having your pictures and stories so makes up for our current no chicks/no eggs mode. Thank You

 

[Farmer Viola]

OMG... you wont believe what just happened. I saw the chickens chasing each other with something dangling from one of the cockerel's beak, and I thought it was a mouse or a mole since we have mole holes all around here. I laughed and watched them play, until they got closer and then I saw it... is that a baby chick???

it was

there was Broody Bertha in the back taking a dirt bath. I went into the run, and found the egg shell. it was not in the coop or near the nest, it was way out in the run. I am thinking she must have accidentally carried it out in her wing, and dropped it on the ground? part of the shell was missing, and there was bright red blood and yolk in the remaining shell. I was able to catch the runner and get the dead chick away from her, and threw it and the shell in the burn barrel.

sigh.. of course, it was a java egg from the breeder, too. just 3 javas left..
they are 16 days old, so it was mostly developed =\

 

[Pooman]

What a bugger farmer....

And yay for woods broody, thats a sensational job

Someone asked about the deep litter i use. Its just aged wood chips, like when a tree man chops trees into bits with one of those massive mulchers. Our council provides huge piles for people,to mulch gardens with... Free, so i just use that but contacting a tree man might lead you to a free source. (Must be aged though, otherwise they wont work as well.)


So, i switched the incubator back on this morning. And guess what, Wilma has laid an egg. Have 5 laying now. And one of the new ones was crapping on like it wanted to lay yesterday.

Stripey, the young Plymouth Rock roo has started to crow (how long till he will be fertile?) but he has the funniest crow. Its one tone, but he flaps his wings like crazy when doing it, none of the others do, he looks so funny.

 

[Pooman]

I started using it in the brooder too, cause i had to clean it twice a day otherwise. It totally stunk everytime i would open it up, but after the deep litter much better, would just have to turn it over every few days after they got bigger, nothing when they were still small.