Hatching with 2 broodies

[16 paws]

Very beautiful mama and cute little fuzzie dodo. Did I just say that?

 

[KendyF]

Very beautiful mama and cute little fuzzie dodo. Did I just say that?

Funny, I call the chick, fuzzy butt. The baby is kind of Grayish,Black with a yellow butt! Hysterical. We don't know what it is, in the excitement of our first broody, we called someone who has BCMs, but they only had some odds eggs, so they said we could have them for free, but to let them know what they turned out to be!

 

[Sonya9]

Wow. You don't waste words! Here is my pic it is a few days old.

Beautiful mama and cute chick. That Lavender Orpington in your sig line also looks quite stunning! Forgive my ignorance but what breed is a BCM?

On the heat thing, I guess it depends on how many chicks she has. I havent had the need for one as my broody provided all the heat herself. Unless it is a huge amount of chicks I would just let her do the warming. Is it pretty warm where you live? I am in Calif. so it is pretty mild here.
Good luck
Marie

Thanks. Yes it is warm here, and the chicks will be born in the hottest time of the year which is a bonus. Georgia is like one big incubator in August with high humidity. , but it can drop to the low 70's at night during August.

FYI I am a Northern Cali native, moved to the Redneck south several years ago and love it!

I would wait and see how many eggs hatch and if the one mama indeed does give up. I am glad she seems to be feeling better and maybe you will find that all is well. You can always use a heat lamp until the radient heater arrives if things go south and you need to have a brooder in side .

On the other hand if the egg seller wraps each egg in bubble wrap, nestles them in a bed of peanuts surrounded by more bubble wrap then puts that box into a slightly larger box super padded with bubble wrap and peanuts people tend to have way more success...

Yeah the oeg egg seller wrapped each egg in tissue, then put them in a cardboard egg crate/box, and put that into a large box packed with paper. Shipping appears to be super important indeed, I probably also wouldn't ship Fed X, those guys throw the boxes around brutally.

Good advice on waiting to see if we need extra heat. I will have a small brooder set up in the house just in case of emergencies anyway,.

 

[16 paws]

Oh Sonya, I have always wanted to move somewhere for a slower pace but was always afraid the weather would not be as nice as here. Where is the Redneck South and what is it like there? Is the humidity unbearable? I always wanted to check out Georgia but havent had a chance.

 

[Teila]

Wooo hooo … TGIF and Friday afternoon ta boot .. I am one happy chicken mumma; counting down the hours to the weekend!!

Hhhhm, TG that definitely is not a good rate on the shipped eggs. S9 yep, my second batch were very well packed and I am definitely going back to that breeder when someone goes broody; love the feathered beach balls and want more and also, she delivered what she promised and well packed.

Lolz KendyF, not my rule!
Aaaaw, toooo cute, love mumma also!

 

[Sonya9]

Oh Sonya, I have always wanted to move somewhere for a slower pace but was always afraid the weather would not be as nice as here. Where is the Redneck South and what is it like there? Is the humidity unbearable? I always wanted to check out Georgia but havent had a chance.

Well for mild weather it is just about impossible to beat So. Cal.

The summers are hotter and yes humid (I really like the warm summers) and in the winter we do get freezing temps regularly and a day or two of snow. The huge benefits are that it is incredibly lush and green 10 months out of the year (except in winter), everywhere you look is lush green grass and lots of thick beautiful trees. For animal lovers it is ideal since it is easy and inexpensive to find privacy and space away from the cities. There are some real cultural differences as well, and that can be a challenge for Californians at first; it takes us a while to catch on.

 

[tommysgirl]

Oh Sonya, I have always wanted to move somewhere for a slower pace but was always afraid the weather would not be as nice as here. Where is the Redneck South and what is it like there? Is the humidity unbearable? I always wanted to check out Georgia but havent had a chance.

There is Nowhere on the planet with a better climate than San Diego...just sayin

 

[16 paws]

There is Nowhere on the planet with a better climate than San Diego...just sayin

I think your right about that....
hows all the chickies doing at your place?
Marie

 

[ItalyChickie]

I was able to get this picture of a chick sticking it's head out by sitting in front of Wendy's nest for.....way too long! worth it.


edit: I literally cannot stop going down there every 30 minutes! help meeee

Aww, that is adorable! And sorry, can't help you - I set up the kindergarten area so I can actually see it from the window/patio... guess how many times a day I check on them, in addition to going down there every 30 minutes or so??? Actually, don't guess, I don't know myself, lost count!

ItalyChickie,
Loved all your pictures, looks like you have your hands full there and I bet you wouldnt have it any other way. Your garden looks awesome. A lot of work to remodel but afterwards it feels good doesnt it? Teila can answer to that one I bet. Anything to keep them safe and happy. I didnt know Leghorns could fly so well. I just have a teenage one so I will watch her. Thanks
Sorry about the Americana eggs

Thanks for your concern over my lovely neighbor, like I said before, it helps so much to be able to talk it over with someone who understands. I havent heard anything so far. She caught my husband in the yard when I was at work and asked him to come over and talk to her. He basically told her we are allowed to have roosters and we will keep them. So we will see what happens....

She is such a @&^%!@@#%%$^%$

Thanks, yes, it does feel good, though I bet that actually being done with all the remodeling would feel even better! That's never going to happen, is it?

I guess no news is good news where it concerns your lovely neighbor. If you ever need extra recordings of roosters crowing, gimme a shout, we have a lovely chorus going over here between me and the neighbors. Oh, and dogs barking, that might be useful too!

Heya
TG no that's fine don't worry yes I am only having the heat lamp on as not all the chicks go under her at night so I just leave it on just in case they can't all fit under her but once they get to 3-4 weeks old they will not need the lamp anymore and especially the firsts couple of days for the incubator chicks just in they don't get that they can go under sunshine for warmth
Ella

I actually considered using the heat lamp with Bonnie, too, in the opposite corner, since I wasn't sure all 13 would fit, but they did, thankfully. Of course, that was no longer the case just a week or so later, since they grow so fast, but it has been very warm here, and they all huddle together, some under, some next to her, so it all worked out. I imagine with 16 it might have been necessary though.

Alright heya team broody so I need your advice what do you think I should do okay so at the moment with the silkies I have three white hens one white cockerel and two blue hens that I am going to collect in the next couple of weeks and I am thinking of purchasing two other hens and I am not sure what colour to chose I don't want anymore white or blue any suggestions
Ella

I love patterns, but I'm not sure which ones exist with silkies... or splash! Whatever color you get, can't wait to meet them!

IC don’t you just love it when we think we have everything all sussed out and these gals of ours throw a curved one! I totally sympathise on the emergency remodelling and planned remodelling, been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!

Beautiful pictures and adorable bubbies IC .. what would we do without our little garden-helpers?

Sorry to read about your Americana eggs also.



I am still not convinced about the whole stigma of the challenge attached to shipped eggs. I picked up a batch of fertile eggs 1 hour round trip in the car, got home, gave them to Cilla straight away; 5 from 5. Second hatch, eggs got shipped overnight in the post, sat on the kitchen bench for 24 hours to settle, gave them to Cilla, 7 from 9 hatched.

It has been a busy few days, work-wise, not home-wise; everything cruising along pretty nicely.

The remodel has been filed away as a success and after nearly a week, more good points than bad points.

LuLu is having a great time … she alternates who she sleeps with, one night = Dusty; next night = Tina, then back to Dusty the following night .. Dusty? not so thrilled about sharing her bed!! Even though Tina is sort of sleeping on her own some nights she does not seem to mind and the new Ranchateau means she is not really alone because she can hear Dusty whinging about sharing with LuLu

I have never bathed any of my chickens; no reason to; until I had a Silkie that is! Those of you with Silkie’s can relate to this story ….

Speaking from experience Pekins, Langshans, Frizzles, Leghorns; poop gets stuck in their vent feathers, couple of days; drops off .. all good.

Silkies, not so much!! Wind blows those silkie soft feathers at just the wrong moment and poop gets stuck, couple of days; backlog! No chance of anything dropping off! These things are banking up and sticking firm to the point that no poops are hitting dirt! So, Tina had her first warm bath today and not only is she much more comfortable, I think she thoroughly enjoyed it .. also a nice little trim of the bustle to reduce the chance of a recurrence.

See, I was that desperate for news, it had to be about Tina’s poopy bottom .. lol

Dinner is ready, gotta scoot .. take care, be safe and happy chickens

Hmm, I never got the T-shirt! Was that supposed to be included in the remodel kit?

I think I'd have a few extra cucumbers and zucchinis without my little garden helpers, but happy chicks are more important, right?

Based on my vast experience with shipped eggs (a grand total of 3! yes, the experience bit was sarcasm), I think that it depends on a few factors, but most importantly, the packaging.

My first one (the Cochin and Orp eggs) came enclosed in those big paper cartons cut to the size of shipping box, stuffed above and below with foamy bits (seemed to be cut up from those bigger ones they use for electronics). Air cells all fine on arrival. I put 16 eggs in the bator, 2 never started developing, 1 never pipped, the rest - the gang of 13 - all made it right on time and without any help. Delivery time 1 day, eggs were at most 3 days old.

Second shipment, Araucana and booted bantam eggs, a very original and absolutely stellar packing job - looked like mattress foam, very thick, with round holes cut out inside, I imagine with a special cutter as they were very precise, the cut out pieces packed into the holes to close them up. Perfect air cells, all eggs started developing, though two (under Pallina) got blood rings, and another one had a hairline crack visible at candling, probably happened when laid (I tried nail polish, it had started developing, can't tell if it's alive now). Delivery 1 day. We'll see how it goes.

Third shipment, Ameraucana, packaged in plastic cartons and extra space filled with wood shavings and newspaper. Air cells all detached on arrival. I attempted incubation in carton, but only two (out of 15!!!) seem to be developing... Delivery also 2 days rather than 1, and slightly older eggs, I think 5 days at most, which may have contributed to it.

So there you have it. There's shipped and then there's shipped, you were lucky with your first try (I was too with the Cochins and Orps).


Glad to hear Tina's bottom is all clean and fluffy again!

I gave Pallina the spa treatment shortly before she started laying, she seemed egg bound... don't think she was, as she didn't lay until a few days later, but maybe some discomfort was present - she perked up right after her soak and seemed to enjoy it, too.

I think the big concern with shipped eggs is often detached air cells. I bought my bb red oegm eggs off ebay, the shipper sent me 5 extra (total of 11) in case of problems and he packed them very well. Only one had a detached air cell and that one was a dud, but I have heard of folks ordering eggs and discovering ALL had detached air cells, which could be a complete loss. Also the eggs may be a bit too old, or may have gotten hot during shipment. or even maybe some aren't all really fertilized to begin with.

Yep, that. Exactly what happened to my Ameraucana eggs I so desperately wanted.

I think we baby brooder chicks far more than is neccessary...myself included...I was really nervous about putting the 3 week olds out but they are fine. Looking at their wings and combs and things I know I have 2 cockerels and 1 pullet but the other two have me flummoxed. I think they are pullets but this cockerel maker has no faith in her pullet producing potential!

I am noticing that a lot lately... chicks and chickens are usually much tougher than I think. Especially broody-raised ones. Gotta stop being so anxious about everything!

Whoa, 8/50 is pretty bad on those shipped eggs! I guess I have been very lucky with 2 out of 3 shipments!

Yay for olive eggers all doing well, and I'm looking forward to more pics of those adorable baby Marans and whatever else you have (praying for lots of GIRLS!).

Wow. You don't waste words! Here is my pic it is a few days old.

Awww adorable little family!

Well for mild weather it is just about impossible to beat So. Cal.

The summers are hotter and yes humid (I really like the warm summers) and in the winter we do get freezing temps regularly and a day or two of snow. The huge benefits are that it is incredibly lush and green 10 months out of the year (except in winter), everywhere you look is lush green grass and lots of thick beautiful trees. For animal lovers it is ideal since it is easy and inexpensive to find privacy and space away from the cities. There are some real cultural differences as well, and that can be a challenge for Californians at first; it takes us a while to catch on.

Italy isn't too bad either in case anyone was considering moving here.

(Actually, the climate is quite similar, only a little bit colder in the winter/hotter in the summer over here - I lived in So. Cal for about 8 years.)


I don't think I have any major news, except for the fact that Ombretta has stopped babying those 3 month olds that are bigger than her, finally, and laid me an egg today.

Pics of growing babies, teenagers, adolescents, etc. coming over the weekend! Hope everyone has a great one.

 

[Sonya9]

Well I think today will be the coop cleaning/setup day. God willing we will have little bantam babies hatching in 6-7 days.

I will try to quietly replace the shavings and wipe down the coop walls, also need to set up the pen area for the babies. Should probably also give them a spray of frontline to ward off mites/bugs before the chicks arrive. Hopefully i can do all of this without upsetting the broodies too much! The older hen seems to be turning into a puffed up broodzilla.

I usually lock the others out of of the covered pen when she takes her daily break so I can give her a dish of wet food including yogurt, avian vitamins, and liquid b12 to help combat the stress and low caloric intake. if the other birds come near her, near her food, if they even look at her she screams at them. I hope she calms down after the chicks arrive but I doubt if she will.