Hatching with 2 broodies

[tommysgirl]

Hey Team Broody,
Hope all is well Millie Is doing great with her chickies and is putting on some weight quite fast all though I just had to treat her for red mite and am going to give her a bath today will try and post some more pics of her later here are some old pics of the flock and some random pics Lol :
Broody Muffin










My dogs Millie,Rudy,Cookie,Daisy

Such pretty birds and dogs! I love the chickens on the green grass. I took a bunc of pics too but have to get them on my computer.

So it's OK to treat for mites when they are on eggs/have chicks? What did you use. I treated my big girl coop with Frontline but didn't want to risk the developing embryos so left the flyers coop alone for now. I have DE in the nest boxes and a wire bottom under the roosts covered by a metal poop tray so I know that helps but my big girls had em so I assume my flyers do too.

What beautiful pics teila they are just gorgeous I have a couple of pekin bantams as well here they are :

Alice (Top) and Tilly (Bottom) Tilly has all ready been broody once but had to break her as it was in January when it was just to cold for little peeps to be running around

Pekins in GB and Austrailia = Cochin here in the US. I hope one of my girls will hatch a couple that look like Alice. I have a thing for mottled..and splash. I love your pics!

Welcome back Liz

So glad you had a good time, albeit short.
Reggie looks very happy; that is a beautiful picture of her with Pinecrest Lake in the background. Actually, they are all beautiful pictures!

I subscribe to the same broody-breaking technique as you; it might take a bit longer but it is definitely kinder I think; I couldn't bring myself to use ice baths or wire cages. I just lock Cilla out of the nest box as much as I can and pop her on the roost if she tries to sleep in the nest box .. sigh, won't be long, she will be broody again

Got the lawns done and took heaps of pictures .. here are some of Dusty; she is going to pop these in her port folio for 'Hard Molt Poster Girl':









Tammy and Blondie are 7 and a half weeks old. I am half expecting comments along the lines of Tammy being Tommy but as mentioned on previous posts .. we shall see

I thought this was cute .. still not too big to snuggle under mumma




These bubbies have some serious clown shoes going on!

The clown shoes are beyond words. The back view of both bubs is priceless. Makes me want cochins TODAY!

That Tammy is not Tommy.

Hi Team!
I'm back from a truly wonderful, if too quick, Sierra get-away. I don't think I've seen Reggie that excited since we were last in the mountains together, which was way too long ago. I really need to go more often! I took tons of pictures, of course, but I'll just post a couple (at Teila's request, right?). We hiked on the cross-country ski trails, which had just enough snow for her to roll and play in, and visited the lake, which was lower than I thought possible, due to a combination of the drought and the fact that it is dammed, and they let water flow this time of year. We also visited my old camp, and Reggie was at least as excited when we arrived as I used to be when I was a kid (and still am). We stayed at a lovely place, where we were greeted by a huge Bernese Mtn. dog. I couldn't have felt more at home.

I got back in time today to let the hens out for their afternoon range and was pleased to find Grace broken from her broodiness, but Frida had taken over the nest, setting on 7 eggs. So, now I'm breaking Frida. It's ok; my broody breaking technique isn't too barbaric (just remove them from the coop as much as possible and close off the nest when I leave the house), and I'll let them have a go at it in a few months. I've just been feeling pretty overwhelmed by life on the farm lately, so I can't take on a hatch and chicks at the moment.

Teila, gorgeous parrots! The real proof you're on another continent!
Marie, I think you managed a felfie, with you in the mirror! Leyla doesn't make a mess in the house?
Impressive work, Italychick! I love seeing Italy in your pictures.

Dodge Ridge (closed for the season)



Pinecrest Lake (at about 1/6 capacity?):


Resting by the creek:

Gorgeous! Aren't we lucky to live close to all that beauty! Nothing like a happy dog doing happy dog things! So happy you had the opportunity for relaxation and rejuvenation! Yay for Grace giving up! That's how I got Norma to give up her flower pot. Took her off and blocked it off.

Hello team broody,
Liz, have fun on your trip!
Tommysgirl, so glad you got to rescue that poor hen...I think she is in good hands now.
Teila, good to know that Dusty is just molting and nothing more serious.
ItalyChickie, So it is true, hardly any predators? No wonder I have always wanted to live there! I live in southern Calif. in San Diego County.




Love your pictures.....
I have a blue cochin named Layla. Here are some pictures of her.
She is a real sweetheart

There is a blue cochin where I picked up Gracie Belle but she was not very healthy looking like your girls @16 paws and @ItalyChickie

still!

Not certain if that first day counts or not, but I think I'll try convincing myself that it doesn't and try being patient tomorrow, otherwise I'll drive myself and the girls crazy checking every 10 minutes...

Keep us posted!!! My girls are a week behind yours...how many eggs do you have "cookin" at the moment??



In my news, Gracie Belle gave up on the eggs so I am hoping to go pick up the other silkie that was with her so she will have a friend. Two silkies... and a bunch of silkie crosses due to hatch...I may be in trouble but it's a great kind of trouble to get into.

Enjoy the beautiful spring day!!!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Hi team,

No new arrivals yet, just tucked my broodies in for the night. Did some quick research on the forums, and it appears that my initial estimate of tomorrow as due date was correct (the day I gave them eggs is day 0, not 1) - only one more day to go! I think I'm going to burst from excitement by then.

Blondie and Tammy are gorgeous, Teila! Hope you won't have to change the name! Alice and Tilly are also beautiful! Now I have to have Cochins in every possible color (praying Cenere's eggs all hatch - there are 7 of them in the mix.)

And Milly's chick is adorable!!! Glad she is doing well.

Liz, really happy to hear you and Reggie had a great time, and thanks for sharing the pictures, it looks lovely! Now I miss snow. We didn't have a real winter this year, usually we go to the mountains nearby at least a few times, but this year the snow kept melting and most places stayed closed, or only partially open. (We also snowboard, though I am out of practice.)

Tommysgirl, I have a total of 23 eggs - 7 each for Cenere and Ombretta, and 9 for the broodie twins. If they all hatch, I'll also be in trouble - but I'll enjoy it while it lasts.

It's probably for the best that Gracie Belle gave up for the moment, that way she can get her strength back. And we get to see more Silkies and Silkie crosses, yay! (Mine are also mostly silkie crosses, since the main roo is one.)

I will try to send real time updates tomorrow... Caught them talking to the eggs a few times today, taking that as a good sign! e

Edited to add: I thought I had quoted each of you, but that obviously didn't work - sorry if replies are confusing!

 

[Teila]

Good morning Team Broody

Thank you all for not saying "Rooster" when you saw Tammy pics ... I am happy to keep living in denial for a bit longer yet

I was a little peeved that no-one mentioned how beautiful my little Dusty girl was looking! lolz

Actually it is funny, if it was me looking at the Tammy pictures I would say "Rooster" also but then when I see her and watch her mannerisms, I am undecided. She is no bigger than Blondie but I can't really compare them anyway as the lady I purchased the eggs off has numerous pens of roosters and hens and she just grabs a few eggs from each pen so that you get a mixed batch.

Anyway, no point in stressing about it .. time will tell

CC999, Alice and Tilly are gorgeous. Beautiful pictures of your flock and furry babies

TG, I agree that it probably is best that Gracie Belle gave up on being broody, now she can concentrate on getting some condition back.
Looking forward to the pictures.

IC, isn't it so sweet watching and listening to them talk to the eggs?

Not long now!!

Very exciting! Will keep checking back for any news.

 

[16 paws]

Hi Marie! It is uncanny how much alike Cenere and Layla are, poses and everything! I wish we lived closer so we could introduce them to each other!

Oh, I am not a sexing expert... To be honest, I think my secret is I spend far too much time staring at chickens and especially baby chicks. I can certainly try to make a guess from the pictures, but I think it's more the observation of behavior/interactions that usually gives me good clues. That said, I'll be happy to put my gift to the test with any of the team's chicks!

I have been stalking the broodies... I swear they're looking at me and going "How about you leave us along and we'll tell you when someone hatches?"

The kindergarten setup is truly nothing special, just a fenced area in the backyard, next to the big girls' and boys' sleeping quarters, with a very hastily built "3-bedroom" wooden structure (there used to be one from last year, but obviously that wouldn't have been enough for 4 broodies) - mostly fashioned out of whatever was laying around the place, e.g. the "doors" to two of the bedrooms are old window shutters. We're on standby with extra fence, so if any of the families decide not to get along, they can have separate roaming/scratching areas. I hope it won't be needed though. The actual inside space is nothing special - so far, in my experience, they only spend the first day (while everybody hatches) inside, and then only go there to sleep. There's a bit of an extra roof on the structure, and we'll probably also cover another part of the area for shade or rain - was needed last summer for shade, though it's not quite that hot yet.

The best part is that I can see it from the window and deck (it's a two-story house, downstairs belongs to my brother-in-law, but he doesn't live here). Here's a quickie picture for you, taken from upstairs - ignore the mess, tomorrow is the clean up/finish up/put in chick feeders etc. day. But like I said, very improvised and nothing special...

Thanks for the picture. That is a real nice set-up. Lots of space to change around things if need be. Seems like we are always in need of changing up something right? Also good to see it from your deck. I also have that view of my coop from the 2 story deck. With all the bad guys trying to get my girls it makes me feel a little better to keep an eye on things from the house.

Well, I am waiting on pins and needles to hear about your hatch!

Marie

 

[tommysgirl]

@ItalyChickie I just figured out why you though I had a silkie rooster! lol I posted a pic of my aunt's silkie rooster who is the daddy of the eggs under Petunia. Their lot is right behind ours so we help each other out. I have hatched for her she donated the bantam eggs to me. I plan to borrow that rooster at some point so he can father some silkie babies

Soooo......I brought home the new girl. She is a black sizzle and soooo sweet. She actually put her head against my neck and left it there while I carried her up to my car. Plus she is gorgeous though I have no idea what any of my breeds are supposed to look like. It's like wine...I like what pleases me. I am really happy about this new turn. A year ago I thought of silkies as the toy yorkies of the chicken world and not my cup of tea. Now I have the bug.

Both new girls are in quarantine now. I figure the chance of their exposure to some sort of nastiness is pretty high with them being at a petting farm so I will keep an eye on them for a month before introducing them to the troops.

I love it when they talk to the eggs! I also love it when the eggs answer, So cool. Good luck tomorrow...chicks are wonderful little life affirming fluff balls. Can't wait to get my own!

One of my red stars...Chicka Boom Boom...is having laying issues. She lays GINORMOUS eggs but recently they are sometimes weak shelled and when one of the other girls gets in the nest box they break. Today one broke and I could see part of the shell still sticking out of her vent. I believe I got it all out and she acted normally tonight. She is a good girl I hope she isn't uncomfortable she really didn't seem to be. My red stars laid daily for over a year and have been more sporadic in the last 6 mos. I know now that they often have reprodutive trouble after about 18 mos. I hope the ones I breed myself will be slightly less productive in the first year but lay well into their second and third. I would rather have 4 eggs a week for a longer period then an enormous egg a day for a year and then reproductive troubles...

G'night peeps

 

[ItalyChickie]

We have a firstborn!!!!!

more later, typing from my phone, hope the pic uploads!

 

[tommysgirl]

We have a firstborn!!!!!

more later, typing from my phone, hope the pic uploads!

YAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Way to go Genere!!! Congratulations and all of that

Keep us posted!!!

 

[ItalyChickie]

There is more peeping and pipping, and I have seen a total of 3.

Will do a proper reply once on computer, for now a couple more pics. YAY!!!!

 

[16 paws]

We have a firstborn!!!!!

more later, typing from my phone, hope the pic uploads!

Yea!!!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Good morning Team Broody 

Thank you all for not saying "Rooster" when you saw Tammy pics ... I am happy to keep living in denial for a bit longer yet 

I was a little peeved that no-one mentioned how beautiful my little Dusty girl was looking! lolz 

Actually it is funny, if it was me looking at the Tammy pictures I would say "Rooster" also but then when I see her and watch her mannerisms, I am undecided.  She is no bigger than Blondie but I can't really compare them anyway as the lady I purchased the eggs off has numerous pens of roosters and hens and she just grabs a few eggs from each pen so that you get a mixed batch.

Teila, this is exactly why I don't want to guess based on pictures. The current broody twins had huge combs at 8 weeks, while their sister Pesca didn't. I was still convinced they were hens, but this was based entirely on behavior observation... Turns out I was right, so I definitely say wait and see - especially not knowing the parents.

Oh and sorry for not commenting on Dusty's new look! I am sure it's just a passing trend and she'll grow out of it soon Seriously though, I'm sure it will all be a funny memory soon enough.

@tommysgirl yes, I had figured out that the silkie roo was just the eggs' dad, not one of yours. It's still fun to compare how the babies turn out with similar looking dads.

We have another thing in common, apparently... one of my red stars has been laying an extra long and very thin shelled egg for the past few months. I thought maybe it was due to winter season and some molting (so gradual on them I barely notice), but it's not getting any better now that it's spring and the molt is over. Her eggs break sometimes in the nest box, I always assumed it was others stepping on them, but will try to keep an eye on her... Hope it's nothing too serious, either for my Luna or your Chicka!


I had to tuck in the broodies and new arrivals early today - it has started to rain this afternoon and even the big girls and boys went to sleep much earlier than normal, so when I saw Cenere's head drooping and eyes closing even though she was trying to keep an eye on me watching her, I thought I should let them all rest. (I spent most of today camped out in front of broody quarters, camera at the ready, lol - bet they are tired of me, mostly!)

The three I posted pics of are the only ones I saw, but I did hear other eggs talking, so hoping to find more of them in the morning! Will keep you posted.

Oh, speaking of sexing... I read on the silkie cross thread that supposedly a silkie roo over light skinned hen will produce sexlinks - dark skin females and light skin males. Of course, I have no idea which roo is the dad of which baby, but Clyde is half or possibly 3/4 silkie too, and has darkish skin... No idea if that still would apply to his babies though... Anyway, 2 out of 3 babies so far are yellow legged, one dark, but that one is Cenere's natural baby, and she also has darker skin... My head hurts when I try to figure this out, but thought I would share, maybe one of you knows more on the topic and can explain it without the genetics terminology...

Well, off to bed for me, need to be up bright and early to see my little families.

Here's another pic for you, hope to have more tomorrow!

Edited to add: @Tommysgirl. A black sizzle?? I would love love love to see the new girl! Well, both of them.