Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

Well, I am officially exhausted and border-line sun-stroked! lol

It was a successful day but, as always with our little feathered loved ones, not all went to plan!

Attached the 'ranch' to the run without too much drama so now I have the 'chateau' at one end and the 'ranch' at the other. Let Dusty out for a free-range so that Cilla & Co could have the covered run by themselves for the day, just to settle in. Mr Crow swooped a couple of times .. ha ha, foiled your plan Mr Crow! I built a cover for their food as it used to be in the 'ranch' with them but figured it was time to move it out. I put in the two perches that came with the 'ranch'; cleaned it all out etc .. beautiful!

Cilla is used to the run as she was using it before she became broody and she seemed quite happy in there with the bubbies today. I even got to spend an hour or so just watching them scratch, explore and enjoy their new found 'freedom'.

That is when the plan took a curve! Bedtime .. Cilla doesn't want to go to bed in the 'ranch'; she wants out of the run and back to where the 'ranch' used to be! It took probably an hour to gently coax her into the 'ranch' when she promptly proceeded to try and squeeze under the low perches rather than over them, managing to push them out of their rests and drop them on the ranch floor, frightening herself and the bubbies who made a mad dash back out into the run, closely followed by Cilla. OK, start again! Removed perches, lots more coaxing, finally got her and the bubbies settled for the evening.

Note to self: try and work out a way to secure the perches so they can't be pushed out from below!
Second mental not to self: enter Cilla in a Limbo competition!

While that doesn't sound like a big deal, I am exhausted at this stage and pinking up nicely from too much sun! lol

Anyway, they are tucked up in bed now and with the new set-up, when they get up tomorrow they will be able to scratch and explore for most of the day rather than just when I can supervise a free range.

Couldn't really get a good picture because of the position of the sun but just to give you an idea ....

'Chateau' end (PS. got rid of the water-bowl and splashed out on a water bottle feeder).
You can see the end of the cover run where the 'ranch' now sits) Obviously taken at an earlier date as my beloved wrecking-ball is in the shot)


and this is the 'ranch' now at the other end .. 2.4 metres of play-area. If you look closely you can see the cover I built for their food. You don't have to look too close to see fluffy-butts tee hee:


Now I am going to have some dinner and drop my old aching body into a recliner for some well earned rest! lol

 

[lizgarf]

and this is the 'ranch' now at the other end .. 2.4 metres of play-area. If you look closely you can see the cover I built for their food. You don't have to look too close to see fluffy-butts tee hee:

Oh my goodness, they're getting so big!!!!!!! Amazing how the silkies get more fluffy over time. Cilla should take a cue from Frida and take some time for herself - those big babies are going to overtake her any day now! Nice work in setting up their little estate!

Yogurt is easy to make, if you have a digital thermometer. Heat milk on the stove to 190, let it cool to 120, mix in some old yogurt, pour in jars and keep it overnight in the oven, with the pilot light. I make it for myself and give them a little taste when I'm feeling generous. But our hens' eggs are valuable! Someone once paid me $20 for a dozen eggs! True story! (I didn't have change for the $10 he offered). And, then, right after that amazing sale, all my hens stopped laying.

I suspect Frida heard I bought eggs and that's why she headed back to the roost. She's back to co-mothering this morning. We'll see who's in the nest tonight!

 

[chickencrazy999]

Hello guys I have been following this thread from the start and have loved reading all about your adventures I think I have never read a thread that is so close and friendly it's all most as if you guys are family you are there to support each other through thick and thin with life's and losses and I have loved reading every post I am hoping to pick up some eggs to hatch in my 2 incubators. I have 6 hybrid hens 2 gold star 1 coral hen who is recovering from a recent attack from a fox and then 3 11-12 week old hyline brown hens which are not laying yet due to weather as its getting nearer to winter over here and is quite cold also I have 2 miniature white silkies which are about 7 months old and should start laying sometime next year called Millie and muffet and also I have one black mottled pekin bantam called Alice (who is my faviroute shhhh ) and a buff brahma bantam called dandelion I am hoping that one of my chickens go broody next year so they can hatch out some chicks I hope you guys all the best with your hatches and chicks Kind regards Ella

 

[Teila]

Oh my goodness, they're getting so big!!!!!!! Amazing how the silkies get more fluffy over time. Cilla should take a cue from Frida and take some time for herself - those big babies are going to overtake her any day now! Nice work in setting up their little estate!

Yogurt is easy to make, if you have a digital thermometer. Heat milk on the stove to 190, let it cool to 120, mix in some old yogurt, pour in jars and keep it overnight in the oven, with the pilot light. I make it for myself and give them a little taste when I'm feeling generous. But our hens' eggs are valuable! Someone once paid me $20 for a dozen eggs! True story! (I didn't have change for the $10 he offered). And, then, right after that amazing sale, all my hens stopped laying.

I suspect Frida heard I bought eggs and that's why she headed back to the roost. She's back to co-mothering this morning. We'll see who's in the nest tonight!

Tee hee Liz, yep, they are growing and fluffing up quickly, I think almost hourly .. I actually went back through the text messages with the lady I bought the fertile eggs off to double-check that she did say "fertile bantam silkie eggs" and not "fertile giant silkie eggs" lol.

Good on you for making your own yogurt. I luv yogurt also and have a tub every day, shop bought of course. Sadly, I have an electric oven, no pilot light.

He offered $10 for eggs!? Excuse my ignorance but why? I am sure any eggs from your girls are precious because they are your girls!
The priciest free-range eggs in the supermarket here would be $4-$5 and that is definitely the high end of the scale .. do you have a shortage of chickens/eggs? lol. Now I understand why you are sad they are not laying .. tee hee.
When my 3 were all laying, I was giving away eggs to my colleagues at work.

Maybe after hearing you bought eggs, your girls had a little meeting and decided that someone should do something about their lack of production before you start making some changes! lol

 

[Teila]

Hello guys I have been following this thread from the start and have loved reading all about your adventures I think I have never read a thread that is so close and friendly it's all most as if you guys are family you are there to support each other through thick and thin with life's and losses and I have loved reading every post I am hoping to pick up some eggs to hatch in my 2 incubators. I have 6 hybrid hens 2 gold star 1 coral hen who is recovering from a recent attack from a fox and then 3 11-12 week old hyline brown hens which are not laying yet due to weather as its getting nearer to winter over here and is quite cold also I have 2 miniature white silkies which are about 7 months old and should start laying sometime next year called Millie and muffet and also I have one black mottled pekin bantam called Alice (who is my faviroute shhhh ) and a buff brahma bantam called dandelion I am hoping that one of my chickens go broody next year so they can hatch out some chicks I hope you guys all the best with your hatches and chicks Kind regards Ella

G'Day chickencrazy999, nice to meet you Ella

I don't think I could have managed as well to date without Team Broody; they definitely do rock! I know there are heaps of 'close' threads with some very nice people, but sadly I have also experienced the judgmental few also. Being a bit of a newbie I have a heap of questions which some may consider 'silly'; Team broody have always helped and never judged! I love hearing everyone's stories and sharing in their happiness, excitement and at times, sad moments.

So, assuming I got my chicken-math right, you have 16 girls and hopefully more to come? I mentioned on an earlier thread that I was in awe of Pooman's set-up/enthusiasm and I am also now in awe of yours .. I really do struggle sometimes keeping up with my little family; I can't imagine how I would go fussing over so many girls .. I reckon I would be close to certifiable lol.

Your secret of having a favorite is safe
I don't think I have a favorite but if I was put on the spot to pick one, I guess it would be Cilla, she is a bantam black cochin and was the first chicken I bought .. she has also done such a wonderful job to date of raising her bubbies and is a great Mum. She is my little feathered ball and I so love watching her waddle around the place .. she has a very gentle nature also; excepting when she is doing the 'step away from the babies' routine! Sadly, the poor little thing sometimes has the brain capacity of a ball also .. lol

I am sorry to hear about the fox attack experience. You mention she is recovering so I hope that goes well for her; she must be a very lucky girl. Living in suburbia in Aus, the biggest threat to my girls is Mr Crow. Next door's old, fat cat, 'Ziggy' loves to watch them through the fence but that is as far as his enthusiasm goes; too much effort for him I think

I hope you continue to stay in touch and look forward to some pictures of your girls and maybe, down the track, some pictures of your successful incubator bubbies!

 

[Teila]

Integration Update:
After a week or so of letting everyone mix it up on a free range and under supervision from their paranoid mum (me); I bit the bullet this morning and opened up the 'estate' so that everyone can access all areas. Then, with great difficulty, I walked away and left them to it. Now, I do confess to taking a peek 4-5 times and also sending hubby out twice and it has only been an hour lol, but so far, so good. They seem to be doing their own thing and I think the only problem is going to be if one of the bubbies gets under Dusty's feet; she will probably give them a warning peck but while that may freak me out, I am sure she is not out to kill! If we make it through today unscathed I will be able to go to work tomorrow with some confidence that they will all be OK and happy that Dusty has some company and is not alone

I know they all need to work things out and integration is beneficial for everyone but I am secretly freaking out! lol

 

[lizgarf]

Tee hee Liz, yep, they are growing and fluffing up quickly, I think almost hourly .. I actually went back through the text messages with the lady I bought the fertile eggs off to double-check that she did say "fertile bantam silkie eggs" and not "fertile giant silkie eggs" lol.

Good on you for making your own yogurt. I luv yogurt also and have a tub every day, shop bought of course. Sadly, I have an electric oven, no pilot light.

He offered $10 for eggs!? Excuse my ignorance but why? I am sure any eggs from your girls are precious because they are your girls!
The priciest free-range eggs in the supermarket here would be $4-$5 and that is definitely the high end of the scale .. do you have a shortage of chickens/eggs? lol. Now I understand why you are sad they are not laying .. tee hee.
When my 3 were all laying, I was giving away eggs to my colleagues at work.

Maybe after hearing you bought eggs, your girls had a little meeting and decided that someone should do something about their lack of production before you start making some changes! lol

Haha! I was surprised at the price too! I have seen organic, free-range, eggs at the farmers' market for around $6-$7, but that is the most I've seen. In the store, they're around $4-$5. I had traded a dozen eggs for some home-pressed olive oil (zing!), and then I saw this guy's ad on craigslist, looking to buy organic, backyard, eggs for $10. I was a little nervous about him at first, but he was very nice and used to have chickens, but lost them to predators, and misses the taste of their eggs. He said my set-up was the best he had seen, and sent me a bunch of emails for more eggs, but that was right before the great Fall egg shortage of 2013. With just these 4, layers, if they start laying again, I don't know if I'll get enough eggs for my needs and to sell, but I hope to do so on occasion! I do a lot of baking for fun. Now, it's looking highly likely I'll have 2 marans to contribute their dark eggs to the mix (but I've learned I mustn't count my eggs before they're laid!)

You can probably find a warm enough place for your yogurt to sit. Some people use a slow-cooker. It just needs to stay between 90 and 115 degrees for about 8 hours, and I realize I'm giving you the wrong degrees, but I don't feel like calculating it to celsius. Maybe stick some jars under Cilla?

I also don't know how many more chickens I could handle! Right now, it's easier to let them out, because the molters aren't wandering and attacking the garden like they used to. But, even so, I could not get Grace and Bettina to return to the coop today, when I wanted to head out, and finally had to enlist my farm dog to convince them to leave the backyard. Funny how I got a farm dog before getting a farm - she's remarkably useful at times! Also today, I set her up at one end of the path (ie, tied to a post), while the chicks were doing a highly supervised exploration outside the run. I might post some pics later, if I got some good ones. Sadly, she was not set up in the right location the day the neighbor dog came into the yard and got Stella.

Try to relax on the integration - I'm sure they'll be fine! At this point, Dusty must surely realize that she can't beat the fuzzy little giants and will amicably join them.

 

[Teila]

Haha! I was surprised at the price too! I have seen organic, free-range, eggs at the farmers' market for around $6-$7, but that is the most I've seen. In the store, they're around $4-$5. I had traded a dozen eggs for some home-pressed olive oil (zing!), and then I saw this guy's ad on craigslist, looking to buy organic, backyard, eggs for $10. I was a little nervous about him at first, but he was very nice and used to have chickens, but lost them to predators, and misses the taste of their eggs. He said my set-up was the best he had seen, and sent me a bunch of emails for more eggs, but that was right before the great Fall egg shortage of 2013. With just these 4, layers, if they start laying again, I don't know if I'll get enough eggs for my needs and to sell, but I hope to do so on occasion! I do a lot of baking for fun. Now, it's looking highly likely I'll have 2 marans to contribute their dark eggs to the mix (but I've learned I mustn't count my eggs before they're laid!)

You can probably find a warm enough place for your yogurt to sit. Some people use a slow-cooker. It just needs to stay between 90 and 115 degrees for about 8 hours, and I realize I'm giving you the wrong degrees, but I don't feel like calculating it to celsius. Maybe stick some jars under Cilla?

I also don't know how many more chickens I could handle! Right now, it's easier to let them out, because the molters aren't wandering and attacking the garden like they used to. But, even so, I could not get Grace and Bettina to return to the coop today, when I wanted to head out, and finally had to enlist my farm dog to convince them to leave the backyard. Funny how I got a farm dog before getting a farm - she's remarkably useful at times! Also today, I set her up at one end of the path (ie, tied to a post), while the chicks were doing a highly supervised exploration outside the run. I might post some pics later, if I got some good ones. Sadly, she was not set up in the right location the day the neighbor dog came into the yard and got Stella.

Try to relax on the integration - I'm sure they'll be fine! At this point, Dusty must surely realize that she can't beat the fuzzy little giants and will amicably join them.

While having a sad part, poor Stella, the rest of your post gave me a good chuckle.

I don't blame your egg-guy Liz, before I had chickens I used to buy free-range at the supermarket but the eggs my girls lay are still much tastier and have more colour than the 'bulk free-range' variety.

Yep, fingers crossed that you do have two little girl Marans!

Quote: "Maybe stick some jars under Cilla? " .. lols!

I used to have a dog, Charlie-Bear. When I first moved to Queensland from the Northern Territory I lived in Bundaberg. I was staying with a friend and looking for a place of my own and a job; so basically not settled and nowhere to call home. I am walking down a shopping mall and this little Border Collie X Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is looking at me through the pet shop window. I walked into the shop, bought the puppy and then asked the shop-owner if I could pay her board to keep Charlie-Bear until I found somewhere to live. To this day I swear that dog picked me and not the other way round! One week later I picked her up and we spent 12 beautiful years together. She developed epilepsy at 3 years old and while the medications kept it reasonably under control, she would have a break-through seizure every 6 weeks or so. Sadly, the older she got, the more frequent the seizures and they were getting more severe in that she was suffering blindness for hours afterwards; multiple medication changes did not help and after 6 or so bad seizures in a 24 hour period, the Vet advised that it would be better for her if I put her to sleep. Hardest thing I have ever done! That was Christmas day coming up for 4 years ago and I still can't bring myself to have another dog!

So, Dusty v Fuzzy Little Giants went pretty well .. Dusty did get to spend quite a majority of the day 'helping' me in the garden but the few hours they were all together in the Estate was OK; some pecking and Cilla was doing a lot of 'warning' but on the whole; successful I think.
Bedtime saw Cilla still needing a little coaxing to take bubbies into the 'Ranch' but she got there and a lot quicker than last night! I secured the perches today so even though she practiced her limbo-routine 3-4 times, no perches fell and it was really cute when one of the bubbies decided that he/she was going to roost on it .. well, for 5 mins before jumping down and cuddling up to Mum!

 

[Batlow Biddy]

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?

 

[lizgarf]

So, Frida was on the roost again last night! She still acts like a mom by day, but I think she's started her weaning process. Rousseau is still in the nest with the bubbies, which is fitting, since she went broody about 10 days after Frida did. They've been such good co-moms, I'm not worried about the chicks yet.

Teila, thanks for sharing the story about your dog. Reggie (Regina) is my first dog and I'm blown away by the love and the challenge! Sounds like yours may have been similar, as a part-boarder collie. Mine is a ranch-mix mutt - probably Aussie and boarder collie, and maybe something else, but she is 100% herder. She's actually a liability around kids (at least ones that look like they could use some herding), so I have to be very careful with her in public, and I can't take her with me when I play ultimate frisbee anymore (I'm mostly retired now anyway), because her need to get involved is too great, and she is also way too protective of me at home. She's good with the chickens though, if a bit too enthusiastic. She's completely in love with the chicks - could stare at them for hours. I've actually considered getting sheep for her!! But then I remind myself, that I don't want to take care of sheep. Anyway, even with all of her challenges, I can't imagine not having her, and I understand how you feel about your beloved pooch. Sadly, 12 years is a good long life for the pups.

Hi Batlow Biddy - I've read that eggs can take up to 25 days to hatch. I wouldn't remove them before that, unless they're getting knocked around a bunch, like what was happening in my nest after the first 2 hatched.