Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

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!

Lunch time! Hello Team Broody .... Tee hee Liz, looks like we posted within a minute of each other and crossed.
I am going to start here and work my way through anything I missed so if some of it is not up-to-date, I have an excuse

Has either of the Mums claimed #1 for herself or are they still sharing? .. poor little tack will be confused as to where to go when called
I think some people sadly confuse experience with authority, some confuse advice/opinions with instructions and others believe there is only one way, their way! I take comfort in the fact that while we may not be experienced Team Broody are doing pretty well. Far be it from me to judge and there is no way I want to start a political war/debate .. but does the whole 'stealing' the chick thing mean that we can no longer collect eggs and should ban the incubator? .. at least you gave the chick back *Chuckle*
*Teila tucks away her soap-box and scrolls down to the next bit of news she missed

 

[Teila]

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

Thank you tommysgirl .. might just take you up on that invitation

 

[Teila]

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.

Cue sounds of fingernails strumming on desk ...
What? No news? You tell them two that I think they are slacking off! Only kidding, will keep scrolling through the stuff I missed and check in again when I get home .. 1/2 an hour lunch is restricting my chicken-chat time!

 

[country chick1]

deleted post

 

[country chick1]

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.

no worries

 

[tommysgirl]

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.

once they get a clutch of eggs they tend to go the distance but you never know. I would give her a few local eggs that you aren't terribly invested in to try her out. That's what I do with untried broodies. Give them a few mutt eggs to hatch as a trial run. Good Luck!

My current broody sat for about 20 days before we gave her eggs 12 days ago.

 

[lizgarf]

Cue sounds of fingernails strumming on desk ...
What? No news? You tell them two that I think they are slacking off! Only kidding, will keep scrolling through the stuff I missed and check in again when I get home .. 1/2 an hour lunch is restricting my chicken-chat time!

Sorry, nothing to report! The last I saw, little chickadee was making him/herself at home under both moms. I haven't seen anyone else pop out from under them yet. I'm trying to not interfere too much.
Thanks for all the good wishes and support re: the meanie! Yeah, it didn't make a lot of sense to me, but still felt bad. I am a sensitive sort!

 

[Teila]

Sorry, nothing to report! The last I saw, little chickadee was making him/herself at home under both moms. I haven't seen anyone else pop out from under them yet. I'm trying to not interfere too much.
Thanks for all the good wishes and support re: the meanie! Yeah, it didn't make a lot of sense to me, but still felt bad. I am a sensitive sort!

Aaaw chickadee .. cute!
No problemo about "nothing to report" .. I will keep checking, considering it is the middle of the night there, I will check in again tomorrow before work.

Cilla & Co are going well. One of them was in the chick-start today scratching with his/her tiny little feet .. so adorable! They also rub their tiny little beaks backwards and forwards after eating, just like Mum!

Hubby got home from work and asked "So, have you been chicken stalking?" "No" I said, "Not me!" .. Hhhhm, probably should have put back the chair I had strategically positioned at the end of the 'Ranch' .. lol

I am hoping to get some advice please? I tried doing some research last evening but didn't really come up with any definite answers. Cilla is perking up nicely and appears to have settled in the 'Ranch' quite well. Considering the rush-purchase, it is actually ideal! Lots of room for everyone and very safe. I picked Cilla up today and she is so light, which I know is a side effect of not eating much for the last 3 weeks or so. She is eating the chick-start (purchased from our local produce store) and I wonder if that is enough for her?
Plan A: As a treat I tried to give her a little bit of cheese (she loves that) but she took it from me and promptly and I think deliberately, dropped it in front of the babies, one of them gobbled it up so I wasn't game to try and give her more .. I have read that the chicks should only be eating chick-start.
Plan B: Try and give her some big-bird food (lay mash) but when I held the seed in front (up high so the bubs couldn't get to it; even though they were trying lol) she flicked at it with her beak causing it to fall in with the bubs .. again, I have read that they should not be eating it.
Plan C: Put her and the seed outside of the ranch so that she could eat it but she was not having a bar of that and wanted back in with the bubs.

Ran out of Plans! lol

So:
* Is Cilla OK on just chick-start and for how long?
* Is there something I can give her that it is OK for the chicks to eat if they happen to pinch some?
* When is a good time to start the little ones on something besides chick-start and any suggestions of what is a good thing to start them on?

Thanks in advance .. Go Team Broody!!

 

[MzPlacedHippie]

I've been letting my Broodies have mostly chick start. They seem to be doing well with it.

 

[tommysgirl]

Aaaw chickadee .. cute!
No problemo about "nothing to report" .. I will keep checking, considering it is the middle of the night there, I will check in again tomorrow before work.

Cilla & Co are going well. One of them was in the chick-start today scratching with his/her tiny little feet .. so adorable! They also rub their tiny little beaks backwards and forwards after eating, just like Mum!

Hubby got home from work and asked "So, have you been chicken stalking?" "No" I said, "Not me!" .. Hhhhm, probably should have put back the chair I had strategically positioned at the end of the 'Ranch' .. lol

I am hoping to get some advice please? I tried doing some research last evening but didn't really come up with any definite answers. Cilla is perking up nicely and appears to have settled in the 'Ranch' quite well. Considering the rush-purchase, it is actually ideal! Lots of room for everyone and very safe. I picked Cilla up today and she is so light, which I know is a side effect of not eating much for the last 3 weeks or so. She is eating the chick-start (purchased from our local produce store) and I wonder if that is enough for her?
Plan A: As a treat I tried to give her a little bit of cheese (she loves that) but she took it from me and promptly and I think deliberately, dropped it in front of the babies, one of them gobbled it up so I wasn't game to try and give her more .. I have read that the chicks should only be eating chick-start.
Plan B: Try and give her some big-bird food (lay mash) but when I held the seed in front (up high so the bubs couldn't get to it; even though they were trying lol) she flicked at it with her beak causing it to fall in with the bubs .. again, I have read that they should not be eating it.
Plan C: Put her and the seed outside of the ranch so that she could eat it but she was not having a bar of that and wanted back in with the bubs.

Ran out of Plans! lol

So:
* Is Cilla OK on just chick-start and for how long?
* Is there something I can give her that it is OK for the chicks to eat if they happen to pinch some?
* When is a good time to start the little ones on something besides chick-start and any suggestions of what is a good thing to start them on?

Thanks in advance .. Go Team Broody!!

Cilla is GREAT on chick starter. It will put the weight back on her faster than anything else because it is 20% protein. You can scramble her an egg too and give that a few times a week. When I have chicks EVERYONE gets chick starter and calcium supplements on the side. My regular feed is a 20% multi use pellet that has no added calcium but they all love the crumbles when there are babies around. The chicks can eat the 20% pellets pretty quickly I just get a bag of starter and when it runs out I switch them to the pellets. When the chicks are about 16 weeks you can switch them to a layer pellet if that is easier for you but only if you don't have roosters. Roosters and Chicks can get sick from the calcium. Since I have roosters and this will be my third crop of chicks since spring it is easier for me to just keep them all on the multi-use pellet except for when the chicks are brand new.