Hatching with 2 broodies

[tommysgirl]

LeChiam! there is life in all 5 eggs!

The little bantam eggs have little veins and movement and the big ol lf eggs do too. hatch date is two weeks and a day away.

Woot!

I just wanted to point out that I think you guys are right and I was wrong about moving mama off the nest if she is wasting away. I didn't know that happened so was making the assumption that it wasn't necessary...sounds like it sometimes is. When Beakface was broody she left a couple of times every day. She would dust bathe and give everyone else the business then return to her nest. On Day 18 she stuck tight though. Anyway good luck @riseupsunshine . I hope it all goes well and that every chick is a pullet!

 

[texgardengal]

Good morning crow!!
*** sound effects added by George***
Riseup.... Hatching is so stress filled. And your just st getting started. Much more stress to come. Lol. But so worth it. Fingers crossed the eggs are OK! I have to add another "I agree" ...they do make mistakes but even with my Molly and her mothering mistakes, I believe allowing your broody to take over at this point it the way to go. You may completely miss it, but their hops off the nest to have a bite, a poop, and a stretch are happening just very quickly and at just the right time for them. I was able to " help" Molly to take a break so I could take a peek at the eggs a couple of times by offering a favorite snack. I also would bring the snack and water to her like Teila mentioned so she didn't have to leave the nest....but that took a few attempts before she trusted me.
I'm leaving Molly on the nest til a few days before hatching time then I will transfer them to my neighbors broody. Hopefully I will still get some chicks!
Strange this time though, Sassy is sitting on the nest too. Molly doesn't leave but Sassy sits almost on top of her and she has stopped laying....Cookie has taken advantage of this and has been spotted with the Roos on the roost!!!! How long Sassy will put up with this I don't know but maybe she is finally getting big enough to be part of the flock.

Yea!!!! TG. All five good to go!!! How exciting. e.

 

[lizgarf]

Ugh, huge strategic error!! I knew I should probably wait overnight to try the new collar, but I was just so excited when it arrived. Anyway, I was asleep and dreaming this morning that I was somewhere else and I heard some distant crowing in my dream and thought to myself, "oh, that's a rooster crowing. I have a rooster at home. Good thing my rooster doesn't crow anymore." And then I jumped out of bed and ran outside and tightened the collar. It was about 6:50 a.m., which isn't too unreasonable of a time on a Tuesday, but if it was loud enough to make it into my dreams about 50 feet away, inside, it was probably loud enough for most of the neighbors to have heard it. The unlucky bit was that the blanket I had put up over part of the coop had slipped, so it wasn't as dark as it had been other mornings, and it was garbage day again, so that might be a trigger for Desi. In any case, I knew better than to try the collar at night, rather than have a full day to make adjustments. I guess I let myself be lured by the tales of success from the rooster collar facebook page when my own experience with my collars, and seeing the new collar, told me that it would take some adjusting to get right, if I can get it right.

Teila, when you mentioned the Aussie group, I totally thought you were gong to say something about my dog! Haha! You're welcome to tell them about my experiences. What have their experiences been with the collar? I'm planning on writing a post about the whole process once I figure everything out - hopefully this week! In any case, I'm learning that these collars are not a fool-proof solution, but if you have a patient neighborhood, they could work out for most roosters, I suspect. The jury is still out as to whether Desi and my neighborhood will pass that test.

TGG, maybe George heard Desi this morning! Nice solidarity shot!

TG, congrats on the veins!

 

[riseupsunshine]

.

This was at noon! Here it comes!!

 

[lizgarf]

.

This was at noon! Here it comes!!

Eggciting! But, now you need to leave those eggs alone! The chick and the broodies have to position the eggs perfectly in order for the chick to be able to safely hatch. Your picking up the egg will undo their hard work and could actually prevent it from being able to hatch.
I know how excited you are, and don't wish to damper that, but it's important to step back now and let the broody do her job or else you might not get any chicks!

 

[riseupsunshine]

Awe dang!! Ok. You know better than me

. No more and I did not think anything about it messing anything up. That would not be cool!

 

[texgardengal]

I have to stop trying to postnon my phone... I cant keep up n lol there are so many of us now!! Congrats on the soon to be chicks!! I remember hearing little chirps a good 2-3 days before I ever saw a chick. So do be patient...but its so hard not to not peek.
Lol!! That's so funny Liz, that Desi made his way into your dream. I think you may be hypersensitive listening for him, even listening in your sleep!! ...rightly though...In your neighborhood. Thats dedication!!! But I'm sure as careful as you are being he is not disturbing anyone.
Yah yah ...Y'all just keep bragging on your broodys. How did I end up with the hen that wins the worst mom of the year. Lol!

 

[MistyMountain]

Liz, I defintely think the garbage truck could be a trigger. Every time my husband fires up the atv to gather wood, willie fires up his vocal cords. I thought maybe my husband used the atv a lot when he was taking care of them for me, but he said he just walked down there. Good luck with the new collar!!!
TGG, I don't even have A broody, and I still lurk here At least you have a chance!
Having said that.... I made my change to silver penciled bantam cochins as my potential broodys. Time will tell if they step up to the role. Liz, I think I remember one of yours with penciling? I was torn between that and blues. The penciled ones are so pretty though, they win!

 

[riseupsunshine]

WE HAVE A BABY CHICK!!! It is secure under mama!! We are so thrilled!

 

[tommysgirl]

WE HAVE A BABY CHICK!!! It is secure under mama!! We are so thrilled!

Congratulations!!!!!!