Hatching with 2 broodies

[16 paws]

Very cute babies there Lesa Mae, congratulations. Is that 2 broodies?
Never mind Teila just answered my question. They are too cute mothering together

 

[16 paws]

Congratulations ItalyChickie,
Cant wait to see pix of the newbies. So very hard to wait to see them. I was just reading your list of broodies, WOW

 

[Farmer Viola]

Hear Ye hear Ye!!! Have news it we are now up to 4 fuzzy butts!!! 2 eggs remain both momma's still taking turns sitting on them and teaching the others the ropes!!



No worries here !!! There is always someone watching every move they make

so precious!!!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Edited to add another shot of the above scene, as it is a much funnier view!

ROFL that pose, how long did she hold it! too funny. is the boy in the first photo an EE? he is pretty

I've decided to put the four day 14 eggs under Wendy Wyandotte... she has been sitting for about 2 days and I was removing her to see if she was serious, but she always gets back on. That would be about a 9 day hatch for her. the most recent eggs she laid are likely not fertile, or at least I don't want to take the chance. I culled the rooster who fertilized her a full 3 weeks now, and I know they will stay fertile for 2 weeks, but past that?....

Also, Wendy was contributing to Bertha's nest and taking shifts with Bertha for the last ~10 or so days of her hatch. She would sit on the nest when Bertha took breaks, and laid in that nest exclusively. She would also make broody warning sounds if I approached while she was sitting on Bertha's nest. but she wasn't actually broody, she'd get up, walk around, and act normal afterward, but was definitely "planning" her clutch!

 

[Farmer Viola]

Bertha & Beetlejuice in their broody apartments

the tarp covers them all the way at night & is clamped down
shortly after this photo was taken, I combined the two families! no one seemed to mind, there was no fighting, they didn't even seem to notice. so far, the chicks answer to both the hen's clucking for food.

yesterday was food and water, today seems to be a foraging lesson since they have now destroyed the apartment lol. I removed the cat carrier when I combined them, and there is now straw, sand and dust everywhere



there was definitely some accidental chick kicking/stepping during this wild forraging lesson, scared me!

they have not yet left the little apartment or mingled with the flock. I'm going to wait until they seem restless or like they want to get out

 

[missnu01]

you always write such inclusive warm and funny posts. I enjoy reading them So IC what is your current broody count? Mine is 4 with babies...4 weeks, 11 days, 6 days and 2 days 2 on golfballs one waiting for chicks in an incubator and 1 who will get eggs in a few days.

Aww, thanks! My current broody count: 1. Ombretta, who does not want to give up the mom role even though the "chicks" are far too big to even be called that and are getting to be bigger than her... yet still sleeping under her! 11 weeks old! 2. Bonnie and the 13 troublemakers/balcony jumpers/heart attack factors: they are exactly one month old today. 3. Rosita on Pallina's eggs - I had thought/said July 2 hatch date, but then I remembered that Pallina is a banty, so that probably means a day earlier - tomorrow!!!! e 4. Pallina on booted bantam eggs... day 2. 5. Chiocciola on Ameraucana eggs... day 2. ...plus the bator with the rest of Ameraucana/Araucana/booted bantam eggs also day 2.... I could use another broody if over 60% of them hatch! Teila, can I borrow Cilla if she does go broody?

IC, welcome back .. re: “Hmm, so if Cilla does go straight to broody, are you going to give her eggs? “ see above! No, no, no … eggs!

You know, you are so adamant, someone might even think that the strong reaction is a sign of denial... not me of course... but you know, someone might. I'm kidding, I'm kidding... but seriously, can I borrow Cilla? I need another broody or two.

@ItalyChickie I went out and picked up my little black girl. Her comb area is totally flat but it is light so it stands out. That picture makes it look like it is WAY more than it is whew....

Yeah I actually almost deleted my comment yesterday when I saw a bigger picture, because on closer view, the color is too dull and I figured it was just the light/angle. Sorry to needlessly worry you!

How did you give the broody the chicks? At night? How long had they been sitting for, ive never tried this and wanted to but not sure whats best.

I know you weren't asking me, but I also gave Bonnie 13 bator chicks this year, and she accepted them with no problems. Last year, Cenere had hatched two, and I added two more 5 days later. The recommendation is generally to do it at night and slip them under her... I followed that last year (all went well), but not this year. - the bator chicks had all hatched in the afternoon/evening, and were getting restless the next morning, and I didn't feel like waiting... so I did a test with a couple of them first. Bonnie had been sitting for the full 21 days, only hers did not develop, so I swapped a couple of eggs for chicks, waited a bit, saw her chatting to them, and proceeded to bring the rest in twos and threes. All went splendidly except for the initial overwhelm at about 11 when she didn't seem to be able to fit them under, but a bit of shuffling and waiting more fixed that too. A month later, they're a big happy family.

I may have spoke too soon. We lost one chick tonight. No clue on who the guilty one is. MJ had the remaining 8 under her in the coop at bedtime. I really wish day one would have gone better. I expected loss, but ugh, I was hoping it wouldn't be from one of my own. Got some thinking to do tonight, that is for sure.

Oh no, I am so sorry!

what??? Wendy Wyandotte heard you wanted another broody hatch a long!!! she is sitting pretty in the most heavily trafficked nest box and ROARS at me when I stick my hand in. oh boy.....

Do you have a computer in the coop? They seem to be following this thread! Yay for hatch-alongs!!!!!!

it would be really awesome if I could give her those 4 eggs due in a little over a week.. cut down on the brooding time...

I did this last year, with Cenere, because of an eggcident with the original ones she was sitting on - I was thinking none might hatch because of a broken one, and added some more 5 days after the original ones... what actually happened was, two of them did hatch and she got up... then we had to invent a very improvised bator box (didn't have an incubator at the time) which was basically a heat lamp in a box plus a bowl of water... three more hatched, on two different days, and I added them at night (two different nights, that is). She accepted them all with no problems, even though the first hatched were a week old by this time. It always depends on chickenalities, but I'd say worth a try - though a back-up plan is a good idea. I have no other news to tell, except for the fact that I think I heard peeping from Rosita's eggs... no pips yet, so I could be hallucinating... or they could be internally pipped and that's why I hear them... anyway, another day or at most two to go! e Oh, and have I shown you how pretty the pretty boy from the first hatch is becoming? I haven't, have I? Here he is: The orange girl is a cutie too, I'm thinking both of them are keepers: And one for Cenere fans, since it has been a while... a kiss from one of her best pals. Edited to add another shot of the above scene, as it is a much funnier view!

my woods broody hatched 15 of her own and brought then down from the woods. The next day I gave her 6 more in broad daylight. Just took them out there and let then go in the crate she was in with the other babies and she was too worried I was going to do something terrible to the original chick's that she didn't notice. She was too mad about seeing me with chicks in my hands because we all know all chicks are her chicks. Lol

 

[missnu01]

Also I only kept woods broody penned with the chicks for one day. The next day I opened the door of the crate and she takes those babies all over the yard all day long. The other chickens don't come within 15 feet of her or any of the chicks. That's apparently her striking distance. They won't come to the food if she is there, I mean they all avoid her like the plague. In sadder news one of the chicks I gave her didn't make it. He or she wasn't growing like the rest. Still acted and looked like a brand new hatch, stumbling, tiny, not feathering in. Just followed her and would peep constantly if she wasn't sitting on him. He just wasn't growing and now the other chicks are all over the place, jumping over logs and following mom up the banks. And the little couldn't keep up. So often you would hear really loud peeping and go to check and there that OE would be peeping his face off while mama and the coordinated chicks would be far away scratching in the dirt. Another thing. The proper growing chicks were constantly acting like chickens scratching in the dirt, Or pecking things. Never saw the little scratch or peck. Never saw him eat. Figured I would bring him in so he might have a chance, and the dog stepped on him while trying to investigate what was in the warm box in my room. Might he or she have made it? Maybe... but it didn't peck at the dirt. It would sometimes peck straight in front of it, and it was constantly looking up, he would eat but seemed to have a hard time with even that. He would peck the food then stumble back wards shaking his head. Odd indeed. So I'm figuring most likely he or she wouldn't have made it anyway, but now the world will never know

 

[ItalyChickie]

Hear Ye hear Ye!!! Have news it we are now up to 4 fuzzy butts!!! 2 eggs remain both momma's still taking turns sitting on them and teaching the others the ropes!!



No worries here !!! There is always someone watching every move they make

Yay, congratulations to you and the two moms! Gotta love the team work.
So, are those adorable fuzzy butts are going to be named Claudette?

Lols at "can I borrow Cilla if she does go broody?” IC … Tina is packing Cilla’s little suitcase, passport and Visa and pushing her out of the coop, while waving bye bye lol!

I love Cenere!!

Am I getting the right impression from those pictures .. Cenere does not want a kiss?

Pretty Boy and Orange look like keepers to me too

beautiful!.

Woo hooo, more fluffy butts! You know the rules, we do not believe you until we see the piccies lol

That mental picture I have of Cilla's suitcase being packed is too hilarious!!!!!! Make sure to let me know her flight, I'll be at the airport with a basket full of eggs ready for her!

Yep, you're getting the right impression, Cenere doesn't really want a kiss, but she is too nice to say so!

Hmm, I'm going to have to come up with better names than Pretty Boy and Orange, huh? (I tend not to name them until I decide I'm keeping them.) Suggestions are welcome!

And since rules are rules, here's an awful quality pic for now - please keep in mind I risked the use of my hands to get even that one. I've seen three chicks so far, two light ones are in the picture, the other one is darker but is hiding at the moment, all have darker stripes on their backs... I've also seen an unhatched egg, so I'm leaving them alone for now in case someone else is on the way. (Better pics once I move them.... their apartment wasn't ready to use because I have the 3 occupied by Bonnie and two other broodies, so had to improvise a 4th. For now, left her right where she was, which is dark and small and hard to take pictures of.)

Congratulations ItalyChickie,
Cant wait to see pix of the newbies. So very hard to wait to see them. I was just reading your list of broodies, WOW

Better pics soon, I promise! And I know... can you believe I actually would like yet another broody? Lol, must be going crazy!

ROFL that pose, how long did she hold it! too funny. is the boy in the first photo an EE? he is pretty

I've decided to put the four day 14 eggs under Wendy Wyandotte... she has been sitting for about 2 days and I was removing her to see if she was serious, but she always gets back on. That would be about a 9 day hatch for her. the most recent eggs she laid are likely not fertile, or at least I don't want to take the chance. I culled the rooster who fertilized her a full 3 weeks now, and I know they will stay fertile for 2 weeks, but past that?....

Also, Wendy was contributing to Bertha's nest and taking shifts with Bertha for the last ~10 or so days of her hatch. She would sit on the nest when Bertha took breaks, and laid in that nest exclusively. She would also make broody warning sounds if I approached while she was sitting on Bertha's nest. but she wasn't actually broody, she'd get up, walk around, and act normal afterward, but was definitely "planning" her clutch!

She held that pose long enough for me to think about taking the picture, get the phone, and snap about 10 pics... so at least 5 minutes!

The pretty boy is actually Cenere's son, he was the first to hatch so I was able the egg shell before it was crushed to pieces. Besides, I don't see where else he could have gotten the blue, she's the only blue I have. The dad is 3/4 Silkie (dad white Silkie, mom Silkie x unknown breed, she was wild type colored with dark skin and 5 toes) .

That makes the pretty boy 1/2 Cochin, 3/8 Silkie, and 1/8 no idea! Can't wait to see if he inherits his dad's bright orange neck feathers.

shortly after this photo was taken, I combined the two families! no one seemed to mind, there was no fighting, they didn't even seem to notice. so far, the chicks answer to both the hen's clucking for food.

yesterday was food and water, today seems to be a foraging lesson since they have now destroyed the apartment lol. I removed the cat carrier when I combined them, and there is now straw, sand and dust everywhere


there was definitely some accidental chick kicking/stepping during this wild forraging lesson, scared me!

they have not yet left the little apartment or mingled with the flock. I'm going to wait until they seem restless or like they want to get out

Awww how cute!

I love co-moms, they are just too much fun to watch. I wouldn't worry about the chick kicking - I get that a lot especially with Cenere and her fluffy feet, and was completely terrified at first, but the chicks seem totally unfazed by it, in fact, they seem to enjoy it.

Also I only kept woods broody penned with the chicks for one day. The next day I opened the door of the crate and she takes those babies all over the yard all day long. The other chickens don't come within 15 feet of her or any of the chicks. That's apparently her striking distance. They won't come to the food if she is there, I mean they all avoid her like the plague. In sadder news one of the chicks I gave her didn't make it. He or she wasn't growing like the rest. Still acted and looked like a brand new hatch, stumbling, tiny, not feathering in. Just followed her and would peep constantly if she wasn't sitting on him. He just wasn't growing and now the other chicks are all over the place, jumping over logs and following mom up the banks. And the little couldn't keep up. So often you would hear really loud peeping and go to check and there that OE would be peeping his face off while mama and the coordinated chicks would be far away scratching in the dirt. Another thing. The proper growing chicks were constantly acting like chickens scratching in the dirt, Or pecking things. Never saw the little scratch or peck. Never saw him eat. Figured I would bring him in so he might have a chance, and the dog stepped on him while trying to investigate what was in the warm box in my room. Might he or she have made it? Maybe... but it didn't peck at the dirt. It would sometimes peck straight in front of it, and it was constantly looking up, he would eat but seemed to have a hard time with even that. He would peck the food then stumble back wards shaking his head. Odd indeed. So I'm figuring most likely he or she wouldn't have made it anyway, but now the world will never know

I'm sorry you lost one, but it does sound like something wasn't quite right with him/her...
Glad everyone else is well and sounds like your woods broody is doing an amazing job!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Me again, with a slightly better pic of what I think are two different chicks from before - or at least one of them is, as there was a lighter one by her tail at the same time, and I caught a glimpse of another one still wet and drying under momma!

edited to add a better picture and an update - all 6 are out and transferred to their new apartment.
They all look similar, just some lighter and some darker, the fuzz varies from yellow to light brown, can't wait to see what the feathers will look like!

But mostly, I'm writing because I have to share a potentially shocking (in a good way) bit of news... don't know if you remember how I had said that I initially thought the brown one from the first hatch was a girl, but then the comb got really really bright and I figured there's no way a hen could have that at 8 weeks? Well... I just saw "him" run into the coop making the typical "gotta lay" noises.

The "chick" in question is 11 weeks old. I have no idea what is going on, could totally be a false alarm, but I'm beginning to think that I might have been right on my initial guesses, and if that is the case, I gotta stop changing my mind as they grow, as apparently I somehow get it right at days 1-3 and then start messing up...

 

[Sonya9]

I have two broody bantams now, both in the coop (one with fertile eggs, the other with infertile but I have eggs in an incubator and plan to share).

I really really would love it if these chicks (all from a batch of 11 purchsed bb red oeg hatching eggs) would have two mommas. Should I move their little nests closer together as the day arrives? Right now they are on opposite ends of the small coop, does that matter when it comes to co-raising chicks?