Hatching with 2 broodies

[coops gone crazy]

Wow! A lot happening for you all!!! What cute chicks. And thank you for the fluffy butt pictures Teila! Didn't actually expect it. HaHa. How exciting. Man do I hope to be holding a Marans chick in a couple weeks! Long shot but can still hope.

For the good news- got 6 eggs from my layers today so far. I added another feeder of oyster shell yesterday. Maybe it is helping. The original one is a metal chick feeder attached to the wall and I am wondering if they don't like reaching into the small holes of the lid to get the oyster shell. I have a plastic one that I filled and am leaving the lid open on. Maybe I don't need those ceramic eggs afterall! Also- Helen has at least 6 intact eggs left under her. Several have been smashed but at least 6 were there last night. 3 blue (Lavender Ameraucana) and 3 brown (FBCM) remain. A few minutes after I placed more bedding from the top hatch over the nest and put her back in I looked in the small coop and saw a blue egg on the floor. It was warm and intact so I put it under her in the nest. I am not sure if it was 1 of the 3 I saw intact from the top hatch over the nest and she had pushed it out or if it was on the floor when I re-bedded the nest box and I still have 4 intact blue eggs. I wasn't going to pick Helen up again to find out. She is too cranky. I will have to candle them soon to see if there is any sign of life.

Good work Team Broody- keep it coming.

 

[Teila]

how cute...babies

with the water container, it is hard to tell from the pic if you have or not, sorry if you have, but it would be best to put a brick or rock in there, so the chicks won't fall in and drown

Thank you country chick!
Being a total newbie advice/tips are always welcome, no need for apologies! The water is chick proof and had just been changed when I reached for the camera, hadn't quite finished putting it all back together.

 

[Teila]

Omg, Omg! CONGRATULATIONS LIZ!! I am so very happy for you! Wonderful news

Cilla pecks her babies when she wants them to do something; she pecks, they squeak, no one really appears to be getting hurt.
Team Broody are the best!

 

[Teila]

Yeah, I'm not sure either, but I think they're just telling it it's not ready to venture out. I'm getting some helpful responses on a specific thread I posted about it.
The other eggs don't look anywhere near hatching - it's still early - not even a full 21 days yet since I put them under her, so who knows if/when the others will hatch. I'm going to try to let them be and keep monitoring the situation. In the meantime, I've managed to sneak it out again, and they don't seem unduly aggressive with it, and they're holding tight on the other eggs.
Aaannnnnd, here is chicky #1!:

Absolutely adorable!! Congrats again Liz, I am thrilled for you .. the stress was definitely worth it! :-D

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks, Teila!! So nice to hear from you, as always!
I am still plenty nervous, of course, with the unhatched eggs. I think two moms for one chick might be a bit much!! Since this one came early, it could be another 3 days before the others hatch! Who knows?!
So helpful to hear about your pecking experience. It seems to be working out better now. I actually regret trying to start another thread on the topic, because there are some kind of mean chicken people out there. Someone gave me a hard time about "stealing" the mom's chick to take that picture. It's kind of a stressful time, in addition to a joyous one, and it's so nice to have this thread's support through it!
xoxo from all of us here in Team Broody Oakland!

 

[Teila]

Wow! A lot happening for you all!!! What cute chicks. And thank you for the fluffy butt pictures Teila! Didn't actually expect it. HaHa. How exciting. Man do I hope to be holding a Marans chick in a couple weeks! Long shot but can still hope.

For the good news- got 6 eggs from my layers today so far. I added another feeder of oyster shell yesterday. Maybe it is helping. The original one is a metal chick feeder attached to the wall and I am wondering if they don't like reaching into the small holes of the lid to get the oyster shell. I have a plastic one that I filled and am leaving the lid open on. Maybe I don't need those ceramic eggs afterall! Also- Helen has at least 6 intact eggs left under her. Several have been smashed but at least 6 were there last night. 3 blue (Lavender Ameraucana) and 3 brown (FBCM) remain. A few minutes after I placed more bedding from the top hatch over the nest and put her back in I looked in the small coop and saw a blue egg on the floor. It was warm and intact so I put it under her in the nest. I am not sure if it was 1 of the 3 I saw intact from the top hatch over the nest and she had pushed it out or if it was on the floor when I re-bedded the nest box and I still have 4 intact blue eggs. I wasn't going to pick Helen up again to find out. She is too cranky. I will have to candle them soon to see if there is any sign of life.

Good work Team Broody- keep it coming.

Oh dear @ cranky Helen
Coops, very much hoping you have Maran chick pics to share in a couple of weeks also! It sounds very hopeful that you have got the egg eater beaten also .. good news all round!
Liz, Cilla's bubbies are bantam silkies.
Gotta start work now, been here 35 minutes and basically have spent the whole time revelling in wonderful news with you gals. I'll be back at lunch time for an update Liz :-D
Go Team Broody!!

 

[tommysgirl]

Thanks, Teila!! So nice to hear from you, as always!
I am still plenty nervous, of course, with the unhatched eggs. I think two moms for one chick might be a bit much!! Since this one came early, it could be another 3 days before the others hatch! Who knows?!
So helpful to hear about your pecking experience. It seems to be working out better now. I actually regret trying to start another thread on the topic, because there are some kind of mean chicken people out there. Someone gave me a hard time about "stealing" the mom's chick to take that picture. It's kind of a stressful time, in addition to a joyous one, and it's so nice to have this thread's support through it!
xoxo from all of us here in Team Broody Oakland!

There are snooty meanies all over the place. There are always small people who can't wait to tell other people how big their screw ups are. Sorry you are being subjected to bad behavior.

I am telling you for the nicest group...outside of this thread of course ... you can't beat the Northern California thread. I bring all my questions there and I not only get answers I get support and chitter chatter and general pleasantness. You don't have to be a Nor Cal person either so all of you guys are welcome

 

[lizgarf]

By the way, things seem to be settling down here with the 2 moms and their chick. The chick pops out now and then and they don't really peck at it - just sometimes nudge it back under. No signs that any of the other 5 are going to hatch any time soon, and I can' really see them now anyway.

 

[Zeds Eggs]

How long do hens tend to stay broody? We have one that is broody and were thinking about moving it to a small coop with a clutch of eggs. We were just worried it would be too late to start a brood.

 

[lizgarf]

How long do hens tend to stay broody? We have one that is broody and were thinking about moving it to a small coop with a clutch of eggs. We were just worried it would be too late to start a brood.

I've heard they can go over 40 days. Mine went broody about 6 days before she got her eggs, which was 21 days ago.