Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

Hello from NSW I put 12 eggs under my Australorp cross from tow different sources she hatched no 1 on Friday but no sign of any more. One of the other 'girls' has decided she wants to sit as well. the eggs I put under my girl were all laide on the same day. How long before we give up on the rest?

Howdy Batlow

I agree with Liz .. I would definitely not give up until Day 25. I haven't had to do it, but I imagine it would be difficult having to give-up and dispose of the eggs.

 

[Teila]

Wow Liz, they do seem to have it really well worked out don't they!
It will be interesting in 10 or so days time to see what Rousseau does .. I wonder if it is a timing thing?

 

[lizgarf]

Wow Liz, they do seem to have it really well worked out don't they!
It will be interesting in 10 or so days time to see what Rousseau does .. I wonder if it is a timing thing?

Who knows?
I just saw what a weird post I wrote! For some reason, it repeated that one line 3 times, and didn't include the whole paragraph I wrote about dogs and how wonderful and challenging they are, and probably some other things too. Hmm, maybe BYC NSA is editing the posts to keep them on topic??

I can't remember what I wrote enough to bother trying to repeat it, but yes, I understand your attachment to your Charlie-Bear, Teila. I have not lost a dog as an adult yet, and I'm not looking forward to that day! My crazy herder keeps my hands full, and I have to be careful with her around kids, but otherwise, I'm completely smitten.

The moms led the babies farther from the coop than I was comfortable with today! Oh my, this is going to be challenging to keep the cats and all the other hazards away as they're beginning to wander. Wish me luck!

 

[Teila]

Who knows?
I just saw what a weird post I wrote! For some reason, it repeated that one line 3 times, and didn't include the whole paragraph I wrote about dogs and how wonderful and challenging they are, and probably some other things too. Hmm, maybe BYC NSA is editing the posts to keep them on topic??

I can't remember what I wrote enough to bother trying to repeat it, but yes, I understand your attachment to your Charlie-Bear, Teila. I have not lost a dog as an adult yet, and I'm not looking forward to that day! My crazy herder keeps my hands full, and I have to be careful with her around kids, but otherwise, I'm completely smitten.

The moms led the babies farther from the coop than I was comfortable with today! Oh my, this is going to be challenging to keep the cats and all the other hazards away as they're beginning to wander. Wish me luck!

Lolz Liz, if BYC NSA were editing posts to keep them on topic I would never get anything posted! If they start limiting post size, I am definitely in trouble! lol

I saw the triple post and working in IT Support, immediately chalked it up to a glitch and not user error

I most definitely do wish you luck with the wandering; that is one of the reasons I moved the 'Ranch' as I was getting worried about how far the bubbies were wandering with and sometimes without Mum and trying to keep an eye on all 5 of them was going to be very tricky. I think a couple of weeks confinement to the covered run will probably be best for them. Dusty will still get to free range and Cilla will also be able to if she weans them in this time and wants to range; at the moment she seems very contented to stay with them.

It was a slightly apprehensive bus trip home this afternoon as today was the first day they were all in the combined 'Estate' together all day and of course, the worse scenarios were flashing through my thoughts. It was wonderful to get home and see that nobody looked any worse for wear and nobody was injured and no bodies (yes, I pictured that as well .. I am a hopeless case! lol).

Bedtime was easier and quicker once again and Cilla probably would have taken them to bed in the 'Ranch' without my gentle persuasion but the weather was looking overcast and threatening rain, so I wanted to make sure no-one got stuck out in the wet.

So, really, a pretty good day all round!

 

[Carrie54452002]

Hello All!

Been a BUSY BUSY weekend! Just caught up on all your posts and love all the good news I am reading!!

Liz and Teila- glad to see babies are doing super!

Welcome to all the new posters!

My little family is doing ok.... I say only ok because I let them out on Saturday to get some fresh air and monitor some interaction with the rest of my crew but the "baby daddy" was pecking them a little too harshly for my liking

He was verrryyy interested in them little peepers, and Momma wasn't protecting them at all. She seems to get very protective around the other hens but not him.... peculiar.. so they only get to leave their home when I am right there to supervise unfortunately for now. They are till so rediculously tiny so they are of no match to even a bantam roo.

Another issue I wanted to ask Team Broody about was she keeps pecking at their legs... is this normal. They have red marks (kinda like brusises I guess) But no blood. Is this her way of gettng them to do what she wants?? She is definitely not overly agressive but the leg pecking seems a bit much at times..

 

[16 paws]

Hi Carrie,
I would think that your right, Mama might be teaching them that way. Do you know if the Roo caused the marks? Maybe he was a little rough with them. I would just continue to watch them if it were me.
Marie

 

[Teila]

Quote: Hey there Carrie

I have no experience with Roosters at all, only seeing them on television and in cages at the local produce store .. that's it for me as far as Rooster-knowledge goes.. they look handsome! Tee hee
I know that I am probably better off here at work than at home while the integration continues or I would be running out every time a chick squeaked because I would be worried that they were being bashed to a pulp, but in reality, the pecking order is probably just gently being established with no malice intended. Who definitely knows? Not me, that's for sure!

Not much help today I'm sorry, but I got nothing on the leg-pecking either .. bit weird! No bugs or tiny critters on them? I have seen Cilla do the whole ninja-chicken routine to get to a fly!
The red marks are not bug-bites maybe?

I will be interested to see if anyone else has some light to shed on that one

 

[lizgarf]

Hello Team!
My chicks are three weeks old today (well, one is), and I am more confident than ever that my awesome co-broodies hatched 2 out for 2 pullets! So far, they are exhibiting absolutely no rooster-ish qualities and are showing all of the right pullet-ones. I found the list below on another thread, and while it covers ages a week older than my chicks, mine have a lot of the pullet characteristics listed, and none of the cocks:
According to UC Davis Veterinary Care Program.
2. Physical Characteristics (4-6 weeks of age)
a. Comb The cockerels comb is medium size and pinkish, the pullets is small and yellowish.
b. Legs The cockerels legs are sturdy and long, the pullets are finer and shorter.
c. Tail The cockerels tail is stumpy and curved, the pullets is longer and straight.
d. Back The cockerel has a thin line of stub feathers down the center of his back, the pullet has more advanced feathering along the center of her back.
e. Side of neck, flank and crop The feathering in the cockerel in these areas is poorly advanced, the pullets feathering in these areas is well advanced.
f. Wing bows In the cockerel the wing bows are bare, in pullets the wing bows are covered with small feathers.

Also, while not a scientific sample, looking at other BYC threads, it appears that cockerels tend to have pinkish combs and wattles by 2-3 weeks, and mine don't have that yet. Here are some pictures of my chicks, exploring today.
Note the good feather development on the "wing bows":







Still a family:

 

[Teila]

Aaaw Liz, they are adorable!

Fingers crossed for girls .. sounds like all the signs are pointing that way .. that would be so cool

I will try and get some pictures of my giant fuzz balls this coming weekend; they are growing so fast! Bed time is funny; they all try and fit under Cilla and it is not happening any more; one squeezes in which pops another out lol.

Day 2 of integration went well; all alive and well, no injuries. When I got home, a couple of them were in the 'ranch' having a play and hopping on the perches. Cilla is still being 'mumma' but I notice that she is not hanging so close. I think Dusty is also enjoying the company. Can't wait for the weekend so that I can see how they are together; I don't get to see at the moment because I am at work and Dusty goes out for a free range when I get home.
Mr Crow is still hanging around and Dusty took him on today .. she puffed up like a ball and then flew at him! He is pretty much the same size as her! lol

Note: these little guys are going to eat us out of house and home! Tee hee

 

[Carrie54452002]

Batlow Biddy- any update??

Liz- soo cute! And how lucky would you be with 2 out of 2 pullets... fingers crossed!

Teila- So glad they are all doing great!


I am still not comfy letting mine play together so she is in with the bubs until this weekend as well. I feel so awful making her stay in there all day and night Hopefully she doesn't take her agression out on them but it is just not safe to let them out during the day by themselves and I am gone 10 hrs a day.... dang chicken Mama guilt... I have enough Mommy guilt with my kids now I have chick Mommy guilt to boot! Geesh!

On a funny note, Ally (Momma hen) keep spilling the water by scratching at it but before she did one of the yellow babies who always perches on the side to drink fell in.. SO FUNNY! She/he was not a happy camper! At least I know now there is no worry about drowning cause boy did she/he move fast!!

Have a great day all!