Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

NO! Not crazy at all! I would be doing the same thing if I had the room .. two little girls who had an uncertain future are now going to be part of your family; couldn't think of a better story ending!
That plan sounds like a good one! There will probably still be some minor spats but as long as no-one is too rough, they will work it out. The other good thing is that you have lots of room for them to 'retreat' from each other so that they are not immediately all over the top of each other. Space during integration is important.

Check out what was on our car this morning ... we got wheel clamped! Today is one day I am very happy I catch the bus ... this fella is Hubby's problem lol ......

 

[Pooman]

Thats a preying mantis, awesome to have around your garden, it will eat lots of various other bugs around the place. It is your friend

 

[Pooman]

Hi Girls,

Sorry i have been quiet. It's was quite sad and quite happy. But the sadness ruled. Goliath died on a very hot day we had here, before Xmas. I'm not sure if it was from the heat or from another snake. He was found in an area of the run where he didn't normally hangout, not in the shade, not in his normal dust hole. I feel responsible cause he would be alive if i had kept him inside the coop, but Dotty was being (still continues to be) a very defensive mother so he was outside during the day and inside to sleep at night. The poor bugger, I was away and I told my other half to put him out like normal... Usually he was just sleeping in the shade all day. Ahhhhhhh chooks, what an ordeal.

A few days later I found Rocky in the coop in the morning with a totally bung leg.... It is very slowy getting better but dont know how it happened, assume it was chasing the girls around inside. So at that point we incubated the remaining fertilised eggs... Only 6, 4 of which have hatched last night and this morning. 2 were discarded at day 5 having the dreaded blood rings. Unfortunately they dont have a broody to go to so i built a brooder... Heat lamp, etc this is going to be interesting.

Of the breeder eggs i purchased we only got 2 (Dark barred Plymouth Rock). It was again a total balls up, the incubator eggs hatched a day earlier than the broody eggs, so we put the chicks under mum, who then abandoned the eggs she was sitting on, they were hatching at the time. Then she didn't move for 3 days and the 2 chicks we put under lost a lot of condition... Bahhhh gee im learning a lot

Bought a couple of year old chooks, cause the egg production went way down and I was getting hungry lol i got a Dark Barred Plymouth Rock and a Bantam Austrlorpe. The previous owner was selling the entire flock cause a fox killed 4 and it upset his kids etc. he told me none had layer since. But both have started again and seem to be doing an egg a day.

The Austrlorpe is quite amusing, she goes where she wants, most of my fences are only waist high which is fine for containing the large birds who cant jump or fly well, but Betty, no, she goes to visit the Kiev's and other areas of the yard if she wants... But I'm fine with that, they both seems relaxed and generally hang out with the other girls.

So there are chicks going everywhere, injured or dead, new ones, a new brooder, a renovated sparrow proof house for the Kiev's. It's all going on. Hopefully everyone stays healthy now and Rocky gets his strut back. I'll get some photos of the new chicks and the brooder, and my new coop sorted.

The Dark Barred Plymouth Rock is a beautiful bird too, I'll be getting more of those for sure.

Total numbers upto 19 now

 

[lizgarf]

Oh wow! So much happening!
So sorry to hear about all your woes, Pooman, esp. the passing of Goliath, but it sounds like you got some good new layers and are keeping-on keeping on.

I have two new hens! They had a lovely flock of 5 Ameraucanas and one likely black sex link that got snuck in with their chick order Apparently they tend to keep flocks for a couple years and then get rid of them when they need a break. Other than that big difference, their set-up wasn't that different than mine. They also live in the Oakland hills and their hens appear well-cared for, if un-named. I brought home the mystery bird and one of the Ameraucanas - it was hard to pick, they were all beautiful. The Ameraucana is super sweet, and let me hold her with no fuss. The other gave them a bit of chase before we could put her in the box with her friend, but they assured me that these were the calm, friendly ones (they had already gotten rid of the noisy mean ones), and we'll see!

My flock was still up when we got home and I put the newbies immediately in the crate, which is equipped with food, water, and even a roost. There was a bit of clucking and checking each other out, but no one seemed overly stressed. Later, I heard them making purring noises at each other. I'll play it by ear tomorrow - the crate is a little small for keeping the hens in there very long.

And, here they are (with Grace, the obvious ambassador):




I think they're both exquisite! I'm not a big fan of beards, but I love partridge birds. I'm still working on names, but I'm leaning towards Jan and Marsha, with Jan being the awkward bearded younger sister who lays blue eggs (I hope!!) and Marsha being perfectly beautiful and bossy.

 

[texgardengal]

Hi Pooman. Where ya been? hahaha just kidding.. I know the answer to question since your post. These chicks are exhausting..both emotionally and physically. So sorry to hear about Goliath. We've both had a bad run of luck lately. You may be right Pooman but that doesnt look like any praying mantis I'ver ever seen. Holy Cow. Must be an "Aussie" praying mantis... Scares me! Hi! Misty Mountain. You are right. The cold is brutal! you probably read that I just lost one of my chicks to the cold. And am still fighting this cold snap ...It hasnt been over freezing all day for a couple of days. The day after the chick died I found Mean Miss Molly had literally booted the chick out of the nest. That may be what happened to the little black chick. She will have nothing to do with the chick. She doesnt protect it from Sassy who has now dedicated her day to chasing and pecking this poor chick. Paybacks for her being the low man on the totem pole for so long maybe? And I thought she was so sweet

. But I cant figure out why Molly wont intervene anymore. George could care less. Bart has become the adopted Dad. Everyone else chases it away but George lets it eat along side him, and it tries to nestle under him for warmth and I think that may have been what saved it the other night...It was beside Bart on the roost. I saw it trying to get under Bart for warmth, under his wing...under him...poor Bart has no idea what is going on, he just stands there with one leg up and lets the chick stand there. I watched this all day yesterday but left it in there....There is a little wood box they sometimes use if it is raining or windy. An old home made dog house. The poor little chick stood in the box, with it's face in the corner..all day trying to stay out of the wind. It was heartbreaking. I brought it in last night and it stayed in a box as it was down to 18..Put it back out there this morning and watched it run from Sassy all day again. It was about 32 deg. all day and It seemed to do OK. I guess it has enough feathers. I dont want to do too much, hoping Molly might snap back into it. No help from Mom. It stayed active, running from Sassy and looking for Bart. But...it is back in it's box in the house tonight. I watched him try to get on the roost several times, trying to make his way to Mom or Bart but Sassy continued to peck it down every time. I'm lost as to what to do. I just brought him in after several attempts to get on the roost when it just gave up and tried to stay in the nesting box by itself. I'm not waking up to another dead chick.
I'm excited for you Liz. I introduced the two hens to my two roosters in the evening...basically. I made a little side pen... Let them make friendly and by the night with a few flying feathers they all slept well together. I took both, instead of just one for the very reason Teila mentioned....I was hoping the two hens would be "buddies" and not let my two "pet roosters" bully a lone hen. Your new hens are beautiful!!! I'm sure they will be fine.

 

[tommysgirl]

Oh wow! So much happening!
So sorry to hear about all your woes, Pooman, esp. the passing of Goliath, but it sounds like you got some good new layers and are keeping-on keeping on.

I have two new hens! They had a lovely flock of 5 Ameraucanas and one likely black sex link that got snuck in with their chick order Apparently they tend to keep flocks for a couple years and then get rid of them when they need a break. Other than that big difference, their set-up wasn't that different than mine. They also live in the Oakland hills and their hens appear well-cared for, if un-named. I brought home the mystery bird and one of the Ameraucanas - it was hard to pick, they were all beautiful. The Ameraucana is super sweet, and let me hold her with no fuss. The other gave them a bit of chase before we could put her in the box with her friend, but they assured me that these were the calm, friendly ones (they had already gotten rid of the noisy mean ones), and we'll see!

My flock was still up when we got home and I put the newbies immediately in the crate, which is equipped with food, water, and even a roost. There was a bit of clucking and checking each other out, but no one seemed overly stressed. Later, I heard them making purring noises at each other. I'll play it by ear tomorrow - the crate is a little small for keeping the hens in there very long.

And, here they are (with Grace, the obvious ambassador):




I think they're both exquisite! I'm not a big fan of beards, but I love partridge birds. I'm still working on names, but I'm leaning towards Jan and Marsha, with Jan being the awkward bearded younger sister who lays blue eggs (I hope!!) and Marsha being perfectly beautiful and bossy.

@Pooman I am so sorry for your troubles. Hope all goes well with the littles

@lizgarf I love your new girls. Congrats on them and the run

@Teila I think you gremlins are darling and I am glad your H is the sort of sweet man that take you away for sun and fun

TGG...so sorry about your loss.

My 3 BOYS are growing quickly. no pics right now I am maintaining distance from them because they are going to end up on my table. The Silver Penciled Wys are so so pretty. The sheen in their black feathers is blue/purple and beautiful. Sigh.....on the bright side, a SPW breeder in OK is going to send me hatching eggs in the spring when I get a broody and all I will pay is shipping.

Next broody hatch is going to include a combo of Delaware eggs that could be pure or by a New Hampshire roo and California Grey eggs with either a Delaware or NH roo as the daddy. That's if it is a first timer. I hope to have some really nice red stars for myself and to share,,,ahem liz.

if it is Beakface that goes broody again though she will get Mottled Java eggs since she has proven herself twice now to be a superb mama. She hung with the boys for over 9 weeks!

I am adding 2 quality New Hampshire girls to my flock this spring. Eventually I will replace my hatchery NH roo with a high quality one. In my future dream life I have a laying flock of a variety of Red White Blue Splash Black and Silver and a high quality breeding pen of both New Hampshires and Delawares. When I dream really big I have a BBS breeding flock and a California Grey breeding flock. Maybe I will do Dels and Hamps for awhile and then switch to the Ameraucanas and Cal Greys later...

Does anyone else struggle with breed choice like I do? I seriously adore my California Grey. I feel a responsibility to them because they are not APA recognized and therefore totally under the radar and there are so few flocks of them left. It is likely that without a PR person they will become extinct and it is sad. Yet I love my Dels to pieces and New Hampshires have been totally ruined by hatcheries in the U.S. and if it weren't for the fact that we sent thousands of them to Germany after WWII and they hadn't respected protected and developed the breed, they would have no resemblance now to what they were...sigh... Right now I am just going to be happy about my current addition plans.

 

[lizgarf]

Nice to hear from you again, TG! I'm so sorry to hear of your 3 roos! Such bad luck! At least you will eat them - I can't bring myself to do that as a vegetarian for over 20 years! I'm definitely nervous about future hatches, but I'll just have to see how it goes. Good luck with your breeding plan. I have no idea what Marsha might be - maybe some sort of Ameraucauna mix or she has a dormant gene that made her beardless or something? She looks like she has something smaller than a single comb, so she's probably not a black sex link. Any ideas? I might have a better idea if she starts laying and I can see the egg color.

TGG, I'm glad you brought the baby in. That sounds like such a hard situation! Can you find another chick somewhere to raise with her/him? Maybe from your farmer friend? I guess my 12-week + co-broodies are the exception to the rule. I miss the eggs, but I'm glad they did such a good job with their babies.

Integration tomorrow should be interesting! Wish me luck!
--Liz

 

[Teila]

OK, it looks like I have no choice; in order to keep up with all the goings on in Team Broody I am going to have to give up work! Now, how to break the news to Hubby? Lols, I wish!

Apologies if I miss anyone .. lots to catch up on and I was only off line for a couple of hours! lol

Pooman, our green visitor is a Stick Insect. I personally think that this one should be a Tree Trunk Insect; way too big to have ‘stick’ in it’s name. With regards it being my friend, I prefer my friends to have skin, feathers, fins or fur .. I draw the line at armour! One of this fella’s parents has to have a dragon in it’s family history somewhere. Lol!

Good to hear that Rocky is a good measure down the road to recover and soon to completely turn the corner.

Wow, you continue to amaze me with your chicken-stamina .. at this point I think I would be certifiable! Commiserations on your losses and congratulations on your bubbies and new family members. I hope for your sake that things do settle down for you now also.

Look forward to those pictures!

Liz, I totally understand how your new girls previous parents need a break sometimes but I can’t begin to imagine giving away my girls … your gain though!

I love the names Jan and Marsha; they are beautiful girls! Congratulations, good score! Was that the crate you found on the side of the road? Also a good score!!

Good luck with the integration. So far it sounds like it should go fairly smoothly for you and I sure do hope that is the case. Very excited for you and can’t wait for the integration update

TGG, aaaw poor little bubby! Just a thought, can you buy a couple of day old chicks somewhere to keep it company? Any chance Bart would maybe tolerate one or two more? (Footnote: I see Liz has suggested this also) Do you have a stuffed toy you could put in the box with the chick? I saw the most gorgeous picture the other day of a first hatch chick cuddled up to a stuffed duck until his brothers and sisters hatched.

TG, I am in aaaw of your chicken-stamina also! Like Liz, I wish you luck with your breeding plan. I have to admit that I am seriously getting attached to Silkies but still adore my Bantam Black Cochin and Bantam Langshan. To date, I really can’t pin down a favourite breed and I have been lucky that everyone I have picked has turned out to be a beautiful chicken .. then again, all chickens are beautiful aren’t they?

Things running pretty smoothly here. The Gremlins are still giving Mum and Aunty Dusty a wide berth and still get the occasional peck for their trouble but nothing serious. They all look forward to their afternoon free range and I am now confident that soon the Gremlins will have built up a little more confidence and take Dusty and Cilla's pecking with a grain of salt! It appears that sooner rather than later I will get my wish of seeing them all happily pecking away together as one little family

Being spoilt, as per usual, Hubby has finished cooking dinner so I must away .. catch up tomorrow on all the news!

 

[MistyMountain]

Teila, I am not too squeamish when it comes to bugs with a huge exception: Spiders. That gigantic stick bug may have me thinking otherwise though. We have much smaller "twig" looking ones here. Even then, I can only stand to hold it for so long. I have two little boys, so Mommy has to be tough and not let her own phobias rub off We brought in a praying mantis egg sac on our Christmas tree last year. I put it outside in a jar and in the spring it had exploded with what seemed like hundreds of babies. To the garden it went!

Pooman, So sorry to hear about Goliath. I lost one to a hawk on Christmas day. Never a good thing. I sure hope Rocky bounces back quick for you. Very exciting to hear about the new additions! I am considering some myself. My husband is not too excited about it, but I hope to add about 5 Guineas to the flock as watch dogs. We lost the one silver spangled hamburg (dotty or spotty, don't know which because they look identical) and then another one got hit about 3 days later. We had kept them locked up for a few days to throw off the pattern. My husband happened to look outside to see it swoop down and land by the coop. We chased it off and when we did a head count all of the pullets except another silver spangled hamburg (peanut) and the SLW Roo Willie were in the brush hiding. We peeked in the coop and there was Willie, guarding the door with peanut huddled in the corner. I had my husband grab her because that just did not seem right. Sure enough, she had been hit. I treated her laceration on her head and she spent 3 days in ICU in the basement before she was reintroduced to the flock. She has been renamed "Lucky" and besides the scar and possible blindness in one eye, is doing well. So… some watchdog guinea hens are in order! Excited to see pics of the new chicks!

Liz, Beautiful Ameraucanas!! They are my favorite in my flock. I also have one that does not have the beard or the muffs. I will try to get a pic of her when I go do water changes. I can not wait to see what color they will lay!! I can see myself converting my entire flock to these one day!

Texgardengal, Yup, cold is not fun. I can tolerate it well if I am working outside, but it just makes life a bit harder. This is coming from a WI to VA transplant too… I thought I got away from the -degree plus windchill weather!!! I did read about your chick, I am so sorry . I have a similar battle going on here with my reintroduced "Lucky". Chica, my favorite NH who is like a puppy dog turns out to be the meanest of the bunch when picking on little Lucky. I also think it is because Chica was the bottom of the pecking order until Lucky got hurt and spent time in my basement. I just don't know why they can't all just get along! I wonder if you will have to just bring the chick in and hand raise it?

TommysGirl, You are not the only one who can't decide on a breed! I think I will have a giant mix of whatevers forever! Though I do love my Ameraucanas. I hope to add a few welsummers or marans to the mix this summer. The husband… is kinda on board with this!

Whew, all that and I now have to add a few logs to the fire and scoot out for some water changes. I shall return with pics of my wild crew.

 

[MistyMountain]

Alright everyone, I would like to introduce you to some of my favorites. There is nothing special about them, hatchery stock and all, but they are mine

First off is Sandy, my ameraucana with no beard or muffs. Photo bombed by MJ

Next up is poofy head Cleo

This is Darth Vader (son named her)

Brownie

Chica

And Lucky girl, formerly Peanut

Whew. That is all... For now!