Hatching with 2 broodies

[Pooman]

The little buff one in the last photo sitting down was dust bathing, its amazing they know what to do right away... I'm going to look again and hopefully see 4

 

[Teila]

ADORABLE! CUTE! Aaaaw, they are just gorgeous .. I want more!

 

[Teila]

Oh joy! (overdose of sarcasm!) Cilla has decided to go broody again!!! I have had to boot her out of the nest box and to keep her out, had to take it away altogether. Popped it back for Dusty to use and then took it away again. She is bashing up Dusty and carrying on something chronic! *Sigh* Suzi and Tina are safely tucked away in their half of the run because she decided to take it out on them also! It is too soon to give her more eggs so I am going to have to try and break the broody. Let the games begin!

 

[texgardengal]

Oh Teila! How funny. You're right. I would lose my mind if I had to go through this broody baby thing again so soon... Liz, you also were right....My fears were a little off base. I drove up to check on things in between patients and I had a little white puffball running out in the coop with the roosters. Getting kicked around. Just making friendly with everyone. Miss Molly fretting and fussing. The other eggs I thought I heard another chirp. She had the eggs kind of scattered...both girls laying one a day until I had 7. So when she was off chasing puffball I realized I have to make modifications. I put a partition in the coop so mom can come and go if she wants but bubbie is trapped. So she can continue to sit on the eggs. And watch bubbie without having to go chase her around. Hopefully there will be more but I at least have one chick. I'm happy. She is adorable. Little white puffball with a hint of gray feathering.
Pics tomorrow. I was so shocked the little one out and about so soon. Caught me off guard. Mom soon had her back on the nest pecking that little head back under her wing! Wow. She really is a bossy mom!! Whew! This is exhausting.
Pooman!!!! Adorable babies. Well done!!! Such a cute happy little flock.

 

[lizgarf]

Yay, TGG!! That's so exciting!
Yeah, my bubbies were jumping from crazy heights at a couple days old. They're sturdier than we imagine!
I hope more hatch for you. My broodies didn't do well with an extended hatch, and after a couple days, they forgot they still had eggs to protect and knocked them around, teaching the littles to scratch.

Oh no, Teila! Breaking broodies sucks! I seemed to have to do it every other week last summer. Good luck with that! At least you got a couple eggs from her first.

Still no eggs from my ladies. Grace is squatting so enthusiastically, I feel dirty, and her comb is red as can be, but no eggs will she lay. They're all getting vocal again, which you think would be a good sign. I may have to put one of my last two bought eggs in a nest to remind them what they're for.

 

[Pooman]

Teila, where do you live, I want to give you some eggs lol

 

[Pooman]

So, girls. The other chick came out today, but its a bit wrong, a little googling by the missus while I was away and it seems to be wry neck.. Crooked neck, falling over, otherwise looking healthy. It could be many other things, but going to treat with VitE and Selenium in the morning and see what happens, otherwise it isn't long for this world... Ill update tomorrow.

The 2 nuggets have feathered out well while I have been away

 

[jak2002003]

I had 3 broody hens all brooding a huge pile of eggs. It was funny to see. I was not bothered if any eggs hatched, and they seemed happen enough, so I left them to get on with it.

It was funny to see them swapping the eggs about. Each one thought the others eggs looked nicer than their own, and would shuffle them from nest to nest, and swap places quite a bit. Sometimes one hen ended up with no eggs, but she would steal a few back when one of her fellow broodies left to get a drink or feed.

Yesterday I got a lovely surprise to see 8 little chicks.......all yellow, and one black one, running about with one of the hens. I looked at the other broodies, and it seems that these chicks hatched out from under all 3 .. as there were egg shells under each hen.

They must have decided which one would look after the fist chicks hatched.

There are 12 eggs left now.......I have no idea if they are fertile.........all the eggs were 'born' at different times I think. Have to see what happens next.

 

[lizgarf]

I had 3 broody hens all brooding a huge pile of eggs. It was funny to see. I was not bothered if any eggs hatched, and they seemed happen enough, so I left them to get on with it.

It was funny to see them swapping the eggs about. Each one thought the others eggs looked nicer than their own, and would shuffle them from nest to nest, and swap places quite a bit. Sometimes one hen ended up with no eggs, but she would steal a few back when one of her fellow broodies left to get a drink or feed.

Yesterday I got a lovely surprise to see 8 little chicks.......all yellow, and one black one, running about with one of the hens. I looked at the other broodies, and it seems that these chicks hatched out from under all 3 .. as there were egg shells under each hen.

Congrats, and welcome, Jak! I'm glad to see we have another story to share of letting co-broodies do their thing! The eggs might not all hatch, but they don't all hatch in incubators either, and I think doing it this way is a lot more fun for the hens. My two broodies have been and continue to be great co-moms.

 

[Pooman]

Unbelieveable... Check layers coop this morning, Rocky has a bung leg... Oh give me strength everything had just calmed down, bar a little wry neck....

http://www.bucknrunranch.com/blog/2011/11/02/wry-neck-in-baby-chick-video/

Check the video in there, going to do that once the pharmacy opens and I can get some goodies. The poor little 4th chick, hopefully he comes good in. 2 hours.

Some cuteness last night, was raiding Dotty's nest to put some egg that will hatch under her (decided to halve our chances, 4 eggs to remain in incubator and 4 going back under chook for last. 5 days).... Anyway, we went in there and the 2 nuggets were asleep in a nest box with. Goliath, lol it was so cute, then the big boy woke up and started rolling around, half squashing one if the little guys, so we bunged them in their own area and locked em in. Cute and all, but I'm kinda sick of the emergency department I'm running over here lol

Welcome jak, your chooks are awesome