Hatching with 2 broodies

[Teila]

So adorable!!!!!!!!!!!! Makes me want silkies! Is that Tina on the right in the 2-chick shot, 3 photos down? She's got a certain pullet-like shape about her.
Cilla is such a trooper to keep trying to cover everyone. I wonder how/when she's going to put an end to it?

Thank you Liz .. they are funny looking at the moment

I don't think that is Tina in that photo; Tina is the one in the second photo sitting in front of Cilla in the ranch.

Yeah, I feel for poor Cilla at the moment; they are becoming quite the handful for her; I picture her throwing her wings in air, strutting off and sqwarking "your on your own" as she goes .. lol

 

[Teila]

Cute Cute Cute!!!

here are my family portraits




The little black one was under her this morning so I couldn't get a good shot these two are Silver Penciled Wyandottes and I am

that at least one of them is a pullet. The little Black one has a CA Grey for a mama and a Delaware for a dad it has what I think is a cuckoo pattern developing on its wings. I will try to get a shot tonight when I get home

Aaaw beautiful! I love the devotion you can see between mumma and babies. I don't think you can beat the bubbies poking out everywhere from mum shots

 

[tommysgirl]

here are some closer pics that include the little black one...is that a cockerel stance or what?? Wait don't answer that the jury is still out on this baby





Going Cuckoo VVVVVVV


Funny how this little one's feathers are growing in so quickly...hopefully the thing Liz said about feathered wing boxes on pullets hold true. These guys hatched one each on the 23 rd (the black one) 24th and 25th so it is a older.

 

[lizgarf]

Quote: Hmm, from those pictures and at that age, I think the only clue you have is the dot. Personality may e more telling.

 

[16 paws]

Thanks for sharing all your pictures team broody, it is fun watching those little chickadees growing up.

Savanna is trying to get her babies up on the main roost with all the others at night to sleep. They are only 4 weeks old, 2 polish babies. I will try and get a picture of this, it is so funny watching the babies get under her up on the roost.I was surprised the older hens and roo weren't trying to knock them off.
The other broody Penny is still in the dog crate at night with her 5 babies, she jumped on the roost for the first time in a couple months also last night, maybe she is starting to wean them. Wonder if they might wean them at the same time since they went broody together. Her babies are about 5 weeks old now, bantam cochins.
Things change fast in the chicken world don't they?

Thanks for your kind comments on the coops, we had help framing but my son and I did a lot of the work ourselves.
Happy chicken hugging!
Marie

 

[Teila]

Thanks for your kind comments on the coops, we had help framing but my son and I did a lot of the work ourselves.
Happy chicken hugging!
Marie

You did a great job .. they really are beautiful! You should be proud of your son and yourself!

They didn't have a little green emoticon for 'jealousy' so I went with bowing to your talent!

 

[Teila]

Something happened while I was at work today!
To lead in, I feed the local parrots and Doves so we always have lots of birds in the garden and 4-5 nests in our trees. Anyway, I get home and all 7 feathered-children were squeezed together under the chateau. It is a favourite spot because it is secluded, covered and has dirt for bathing. It was Cilla one end, bubbies in the middle and then Dusty. I'm thinking 'wow, integration is going really well'. It was a bit strange that Dusty did not run up to greet me and beg to be let out for her free range but I didn't worry too much and proceeded on the normal routine of getting the cats from inside and putting them in their outside play-run. Then I went to start the chicken feeding routine. Managed to coax Cilla and bubbies out from under and then drop the separating door so I could open the doors for Dusty, she came out, looked around, went back in again! Cilla and bubbies had not moved an inch from the separating door and were still cuddled up. Even the removal of the food dish from the run, which normally sends everyone into a frenzy because it will be coming back filled up; nothing!

At this stage I'm thinking "surely they can't all be sick just like that at the same time" and of course, starting to worry.
I walked down the length of the run where I was going to sit and try and see what is going on with them when I notice a circle of little white feathers on the lawn and 4 or so wing feathers that looked to be traumatically removed. Then a few more feathers here and there! At this point I also note the distinct lack of Doves and parrots in the garden!

Something had taken a bird right next to their run ... they weren't sick, they were terrified

I don't think it was a cat because I have seen what a cat can do and there is normally way more evidence. I'm wondering if Mr Crow finally got what he was hanging around for and took a young Dove

My son was home and his bedroom window is pretty close to the run and he didn't hear anything. Again, if it was a cat, I think he may have heard a commotion but a swoop and grab would have been over in seconds!

I did manage to coax them down the run for some dinner and after an hour or so, they seemed a bit more settled .. Cilla, however, was very antsy!

Bed time Cilla has always gathered them all together on the pile of straw at the door end of the 'ranch'; tonight she led them all up to the pile of straw way up the other end, away from the door.

While a little disconcerting, I am happy to know that they are not sick and that their fenced/covered housing has protected them.

My son is home again all day tomorrow so I have asked him to be on alert for anything out of the ordinary.

 

[lizgarf]

Wow, Teila! That is pretty intense! It sounds kind of like the day I came home from that conference, when the egg was crushed and everyone was clearly freaked out. I didn't learn what had happened until weeks later, when my neighbor told me about the loose dog that was harassing them. I imagine that Australia has all kinds of interesting predators. Good for you for having such a secure set-up! I hope you learn what it is soon.

 

[16 paws]

That must of been frightening for your hens and babies. So glad they are all ok!

Marie

 

[Teila]

Good morning Team Broody! Doing a Happy it is Friday Dance! Woo hoo

Thank you for your concern, it sure does give you a jolt. I am hoping whatever it was, it doesn't bother to come back! Having said that, if it was Mr Crown, he was sitting in the tree this morning as per usual!

Everyone is fine this morning and yesterday's trauma appears to have been forgotten; my feathered 'locust-like' family met the food bowl with their usual enthusiasm and Dusty was in the nest box laying an egg; someone has to!

Enjoy the rest of your day team; I better go start mine!