Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

How did it go, Teila?

 

[Teila]

How did it go, Teila?

Hey Liz

Still nothing. She seems to have perked up a little and her tail is not drooping as much but still no egg. I'm wondering if it maybe has moved a little and is making progress now. I didn't get to try the steam because she had perked up enough that I could not catch her. She is probably a bit mad at me after I soaked her in her warm bath lol.

I'm kinda at a loss. Maybe I misdiagnosed. I'm really going to have to leave it until tomorrow now and she how she is. Maybe she will lay the egg.

Feeling a bit more optimistic though

 

[Pooman]

Hi all,

So I've been reading this thread, been making me jealous cause none of my birds were going broody... Well good news Dot "the Darkhorse" is sitting has been for 3 days and we raided her nest last night to remove the various eggs she had and the golf balls and have placed 10 eggs from our flocks. So I have around 8 new Orpingtons and 2 Ancona x Orp currently coming to temperature under my organic incubator lols.. Eggciting

This is my first time raising chickens, I'm so excited, I've done a power of reading (thanks byc and others) and I think that we are good to go.

Dot the Darkhorse is an Ancona who has been a mother before. I got her with the rest of the main flock earlier this year. They all came from the same small farm 4 Orpingtons inc Roo, and 2 Anconas. Recently got another 2 from a different breeder, Orp Hen and Roo. They are living in a separate coop/run. I wanted some different genetics to cross over.

I'm living near Melbourne, Australia so springtime is well here and its heating up 30oC yesterday. The Darkhorse is locked away in a broody box i built as Trixy the Buff Orp loves to hassle other girls on the nest and lag eggs on top. I didn't have to move her, she picked that spot out of many which I'm happy about.

I'll check to see if she is covering all the eggs in the morning, she was quite upset last night, and yes I believe she has night vision, her pecks didn't seem to miss often lol

I'll keep you updated

 

[coops gone crazy]

Welcome Pooman

Helen is separated. I think the bad eggs are just breaking/exploding maybe? I will have to check and see how many are left. No snakes like that here- thank goodness! All of your chic pics are so cute! Nice work all.

 

[Florida]

I have had great success with putting fertilized eggs one from my hens and one from ebay purchase under a borrowed hen. My sister in law had a broody and so I took her some eggs. Chicks and step mom all moved to my farm and she raised them here. My sister in law gave me Millie the wonderful mom and the chicks. That is the good story.

Now for the problematic one.

Never being around a broody hen before I thought Millie's extreme interest in eggs in nests suggested (only in my mind) that she was broody. So I ordered ebay eggs. Well Millie did not get the memo and off the nest she jumped. What to do, what to do. So I ordered and incubator. Eggs and incubator to both arrive Friday. The eggs were on time, but the fake hen didn't show until Monday. So on Saturday I grabbed up Millie and her and the eggs put them into a brand new coop built just for them. But Millie hated it and the eggs and would not sit.

It is iffy if any will hatch. What is more disturbing is the blue Orphington going blind. I feel for them and I worry about my blue Orphington chicks. They are gorgeous and love to free range.

 

[lizgarf]

Welcome, Pooman! How lucky for you that your broody chose a safe nest. It wound up working well for me to have my two broodies take over the main nest, but I could see how that could have been a big problem. The one crushed egg seems to have been from a local dog giving them all a scare in the coop.

Florida, I don't think you should worry too much about the time delay with your eggs. You need to let shipped eggs sit for a day anyway, for the air cells to settle. And eggs can go at least a week before the hen starts to set on them. It's after they've been setting awhile that a big break is a problem.

Good luck everyone! My little family of 2 chicks, 2 moms, 2 aunties seems to be doing well. I just wish someone would lay me some eggs to eat!!

 

[Florida]

Fell better now, thank you.

 

[16 paws]

First day of integration went well! The chicks managed to find and conquer every dangerous spot in the coop (including jumping about 18 inches to get back to their moms after they got stuck on the other side of a 2x2 wire barrier, and they're still with us! Auntie Bettina and Grace are behaving themselves well, and this whole crazy thing just may work.
Teila, when you take your pictures today, I challenge you to get a better family portrait than this one:

That is cuter than a bugs ear!!!!

marie

 

[Zeds Eggs]

Grin

 

[Pooman]

The Darkhorse hasn't moved all day. Some photos below...

From left Snowy's red bottom, Goliath the big boy, Lola (inside), Dotty (outside in shade) and Trixy

The Broody box with Dot inside (err, no Dot, must be a dif pic) two doors to get in, one on right hinges down for chick access when on floor, the rest is mostly avairy mesh. Made it from a pallet and some mesh, hinges and screws, plus old kitchen door