Hatching with 2 broodies

[16 paws]

Aaaaw IC, adorable!

Tee hee, how did that little penguin get in there! Sooo cute! Really pleased to read that the saved bubby seems to be doing well

Good luck with the rest of the broodies, you are surrounded by them!

How long have you got to go TG?

Well, I spent quite a while watching Tommy/Tammy yesterday afternoon ... you know, maybe I am living in denial still, but I am not totally convinced and to add to my undecidedness, no crow attempts at breakfast this morning. He/she just jumped out of bed with Cilla and Blondie and proceeded to shovel down some breakfast and scratch around the run. I have had 114 hits on the advert but no replies as yet. Not too concerned at the moment, the longer it takes for someone to get back to me the more time Tommy/Tammy has to reveal his/her true gender.

On that note, I am throwing it out there to you gals .. give me your best guesstimate from the stance and comb/wattles in the last batch of pictures I posted

What do you think on pictures alone?

Teila,
My best guess is roo,

 

[Teila]

Thank You 16paws, I appreciate your thoughts.
I threw it out there to the Aussie Thread I lurk in and so far, pullet=0, rooster=3. One of the gals is going to post some comparison pics for me as well.

It is pretty much just confirming my suspicions and that I am making the right decision.

Thanks again hon

 

[MistyMountain]

Teila,
Only because you asked… Roo. That said, I was calling pullet for Taommy until the last few posts and the red comb and waddles… Holding out hope for you though!

Everyone else! Love the baby pics! Keep 'em coming, we are under a freeze advisory here

I need something to keep me warm!!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Well, I spoke too soon. The rescued baby didn't make it through the night. The penguin is gone, too - seemed weak yesterday, but I thought it was only because it was just hatched. He was still alive this morning, gone 1 hour later... I'm devastated and feeling like a terrible chicken mom...

Also, there doesn't seem to be any life in the remaining eggs. Which means only 9 out of 23 hatched, and only 6 made it, which is very very low. (I had 7 out of 8 hatches last year.) I think I need to learn how to candle, for my eventual next attempt, if anyone can teach me..?

tommysgirl, I hope my experience helps you have a better one, though of course it's very likely separating wouldn't have been a problem for you, it all depends on the chickens... but yes better safe than sorry.

Teila, based on pictures only, my vote would also have been roo. But I think that's a given, anyone looking at the comb and comparing to Blondie would say that... behavior gives more clues, but if there is crowing attempts, I'd say no doubts... so sorry!

 

[Teila]

Ouch MM! Freeze Advisory! Brrrrrrrr
I hope everyone gets through it OK .. I am sitting here with all the windows open and in shorts and T-shirt; sorry!

Seriously, I have no experience with extreme cold and probably can not even imagine what it must be like.

IC, granted I have only just met you but I am positive that I can truthfully say you are not a "terrible chicken mum"!
I am sorry to read about your losses and understand how you must be feeling but I really do not think you are at fault. As you said, you had 7 out of 8 hatches last year; that is pretty darn good!

I have zip experience with candling, having read the thread you will know that I lean more towards giving the broody the eggs and then stepping away. That is not a push for that method but more of a statement that I have been lucky. A few of the Broody Team have candling experience and I am sure they will be able to help.

What day are the remaining eggs at? There may still be some hope for them?
Hang in there hon, you have some bubbies to look after and hopefully they will all be keepers

Thank you all once again for confirming my suspicions that Tammy is in fact Tommy. I sent some pictures off to the breeder also and she replied "You have a bouncing baby boy". Score card is now Rooster = 7, Pullet = 0.

Hey Liz, how are you doing? I was just thinking about you

Sharing some pictures of Dusty; she is trying out for the part of Hard-Molt-Poster-Girl

When she has a wing stretch there are 'bald' patches everywhere; I am thinking of getting out the knitting needles and making her a sweater! I shouldn't laugh, lucky she does not have a mirror, poor Dusty!
I have visions of Animal Protection turning up on my doorstep any minute now!

'Who's a pretty chicken?!"

 

[ItalyChickie]

Thanks Teila! I guess I know, rationally, that I am not a terrible chicken mom, but I am still heartbroken and there are those "could have, should have, would have" thoughts that keep nagging at me, so feeling guilty.. And even last year, with 7 of 8 hatches, not all survived - frankly, I think I felt worse then, because most of the tragedies happened after a few days, so I was more attached.

This time though, the additional factor of so few hatching to begin with makes me wonder about egg viability. (And no, I can't find a way to blame myself for that one! Except for the not candling part.)

I have also never candled before. Kinda tried it my first hatch out of curiosity, couldn't really see a thing, and hurried to put the egg back before mom noticed.

There isn't much hope for the remaining eggs. Or rather, there is zero hope for Cenere and Ombretta's eggs, which I have already removed. Today was day 24 for those, but more importantly, I'd expect to hear something if they were close to hatch.. and there was nothing. Cenere promptly took the kiddos outside and started the first lessons. Ombretta is staying in but moving around, more cautiously. I think both are relieved to be able to get off the nest.

I'm giving the broody twins one more day, as they were a day behind, then removing them and the eggs... sigh.


Dusty totally gets my vote as the poster girl for hard molt! Poor baby! Hope it isn't too cold over there right now.

Yikes MM, freezing temperatures in April! I'm grumbling because it looks like it will rain today, but it's warm (20+ Celsius - close to 70 Fahrenheit), so I'm going to stop complaining about the weather now.

 

[Lesa Mae]

Hello ladies, I have to confess I found this little group yesterday while doing some research on my situation with the girls as I have 3 Brodie's sharing a nest ! It's been like reading a novel I've laughed at you, cried with you and even held my breath waiting for good news !! I think I'm addicted lol. So here's my dilemma , I have 3 girls and 1 roo and go figure all 3 went broody together ( I guess they are all in sync ). So now the 3 of them have been taking care of 7 eggs I want to say tomorrow the 16th is day "21" as of today Veronica is sitting on 6 of the 7 eggs and Phit & Freta are now sharing the last egg and have separated themselves by about 3 ft from Veronica (we lost Betty this winter ) would it be a good idea to partition :/ the coop now and put the 7th egg under Veronica as they whole clan live one large coop together to protect mommy and the chicks???

 

[tommysgirl]

On that note, I am throwing it out there to you gals .. give me your best guesstimate from the stance and comb/wattles in the last batch of pictures I posted

What do you think on pictures alone?

Teila,
Only because you asked… Roo. That said, I was calling pullet for Taommy until the last few posts and the red comb and waddles… Holding out hope for you though!

Everyone else! Love the baby pics! Keep 'em coming, we are under a freeze advisory here

I need something to keep me warm!!

X2 what MM said @Teila

@Misty Mountain uhhh yuck! sorry you are experiencing yet MORE winter temps...I saw that on the weather report this morning

Well, I spoke too soon. The rescued baby didn't make it through the night. The penguin is gone, too - seemed weak yesterday, but I thought it was only because it was just hatched. He was still alive this morning, gone 1 hour later... I'm devastated and feeling like a terrible chicken mom...

Also, there doesn't seem to be any life in the remaining eggs. Which means only 9 out of 23 hatched, and only 6 made it, which is very very low. (I had 7 out of 8 hatches last year.) I think I need to learn how to candle, for my eventual next attempt, if anyone can teach me..?

tommysgirl, I hope my experience helps you have a better one, though of course it's very likely separating wouldn't have been a problem for you, it all depends on the chickens... but yes better safe than sorry.

Teila, based on pictures only, my vote would also have been roo. But I think that's a given, anyone looking at the comb and comparing to Blondie would say that... behavior gives more clues, but if there is crowing attempts, I'd say no doubts... so sorry!

Ohhhhh that is so sad. I agree with Teila you are most definitely not a terrible chicken mom. Things happen...eggs that are not fertile you can do nothing about. There is a product called Nutridrench that delivers vitamins and minerals through the skin in the bird's mouth. A lot of people swear by it as an excellent pick me up for new babies and any older bird that might have deficiencies. But is hard with a broody. We are told to leave her alone and let her keep the humidity and temp right for the babies that are still in the shell but sometimes that means we can't get to and save a chick. Don't blame yourself. Thinks happen. chicks are fragile and we are only human

Hello ladies, I have to confess I found this little group yesterday while doing some research on my situation with the girls as I have 3 Brodie's sharing a nest ! It's been like reading a novel I've laughed at you, cried with you and even held my breath waiting for good news !! I think I'm addicted lol. So here's my dilemma , I have 3 girls and 1 roo and go figure all 3 went broody together ( I guess they are all in sync ). So now the 3 of them have been taking care of 7 eggs I want to say tomorrow the 16th is day "21" as of today Veronica is sitting on 6 of the 7 eggs and Phit & Freta are now sharing the last egg and have separated themselves by about 3 ft from Veronica (we lost Betty this winter ) would it be a good idea to partition

the coop now and put the 7th egg under Veronica as they whole clan live one large coop together to protect mommy and the chicks???

Well Hey!!

and more importantly welcome to this thread. Here is what I know about your situation specifically...Nothing...zippo...nada. But my first thought is yes, that would be a good idea. The other girls can have golf balls or fake eggs or something that might make them happy.

I love that people have stalked us and then eventually join us. Pull up a chair and visit. Pop in whenever you feel like you want or need to

So remember how I was going to candle the eggs and move Petunia and all would be fine and rosey in the maternity ward in my back yard? Not so much.

After what happened with IC's broodies I thought separating mine would be best but here is what actually happened:

First the good news...on Day 16 my bantam embryos look to be doing great.

The bad news is that after dark I put the eggs in a lovely private broody box and put Petunia in with them. She FLIPPED OUT.

grabbed to the hardware cloth of the box with her toes and stiffened her legs as I tried to put her in and once I got her in there she just stood by the eggs and did not cover them again. I gave her about 20 min and no change. It was cool last night so I got worried and decided to put everyone back in her original nest...more on that later... When I opened up the broody box to get her and the eggs...she could see b/c I had a flashlight...she bolted and made like a crazed thing for the pen exit. I got her and calmed her and popped her back on her original nest and slid her eggs back under her and she settled down nice as you please.

This morning she was there and looked at me like "What in the world were you thinking last night??"


And...as if that isn't enough broody drama..Jamie Lee Curtis has decided it would be a swell time to become a mama!! So...she is now co-brooding Petunia's eggs. Sharing her nest and at one point moving P all the way off and into Norma's nest. I moved her off and she went back twice. At bed time last night I put her into the temporary nest box but this morning she was back in with P. I actually hope she is serious. I have been saving Del eggs in case someone else decides to brood so if she doesn't break when Petunia is ultimately moved into the the broody box with her chicks she will get those. They are big beautiful eggs and have either pure Del babies or Red sex links in them.

My two silkie girls are doing fine in quarantine. No signs of illness. both are eating drinking and pooing. Hope that holds I look forward to the day when I can integrate them safely.

Remember how I fixed up my one coop to encourage broodies? None of my broodies live in that coop.

 

[MistyMountain]

Oh IC, I am so sorry!!

Hang in there!!

TG and Teila, don't feel bad about wearing shorts and having the windows open, we had 75 and 80 degree weather this past weekend-- windows open, fans on, and we spent the entire time outside! Boys stacked wood and rode their little 4 wheelers. I cleaned up a bit and played with the chickens. It will be back!!!! I am nervous for the peach and apple tree blooms, though. Even the little mountain berries (like small raspberries) are starting to show signs of life!

Baby chickies come next week. I will have to brood them in the house as the "school house" still needs to be built. Good news is the hubby showed some interest in it last night and started crunching numbers. That guy can build anything.

Maybe I'll have some pics to share next week.. and if you are lucky I might be able to get one of the broody (me

)!!

Welcome Lesa Mae!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Ohhhhh that is so sad. I agree with Teila you are most definitely not a terrible chicken mom. Things happen...eggs that are not fertile you can do nothing about. There is a product called Nutridrench that delivers vitamins and minerals through the skin in the bird's mouth. A lot of people swear by it as an excellent pick me up for new babies and any older bird that might have deficiencies. But is hard with a broody. We are told to leave her alone and let her keep the humidity and temp right for the babies that are still in the shell but sometimes that means we can't get to and save a chick. Don't blame yourself. Thinks happen. chicks are fragile and we are only human

Thanks!!! I do realize that things can go wrong, it's the me being only human part that I seem to have trouble grasping, apparently... I just really wish I could have ONE drama-free hatch! Never going to happen, is it?

Unfortunately, most of the products carried in the US are not available here, I think I had already come across the name Nutridrench and looked for it here, to no avail. And it's hard to find someone who can recommend an alternative, but will try.

Really appreciate your support!

Well Hey!!

and more importantly welcome to this thread. Here is what I know about your situation specifically...Nothing...zippo...nada. But my first thought is yes, that would be a good idea. The other girls can have golf balls or fake eggs or something that might make them happy.

Welcome Lesa Mae! I'm a newbie here myself - joined after reading through and getting hooked, just like you! Not sure I'm qualified to give advice after my disastrous two-broody experiment, but for what it's worth, I plan to separate all broodies from now on, so that no egg stealing and fighting over chicks can occur. I'm sure it depends on the chickens, and would work out for some... I thought it would for me, but it didn't, and I wish I hadn't tried the experiment.

So remember how I was going to candle the eggs and move Petunia and all would be fine and rosey in the maternity ward in my back yard? Not so much.

After what happened with IC's broodies I thought separating mine would be best but here is what actually happened:

First the good news...on Day 16 my bantam embryos look to be doing great.

The bad news is that after dark I put the eggs in a lovely private broody box and put Petunia in with them. She FLIPPED OUT.

grabbed to the hardware cloth of the box with her toes and stiffened her legs as I tried to put her in and once I got her in there she just stood by the eggs and did not cover them again. I gave her about 20 min and no change. It was cool last night so I got worried and decided to put everyone back in her original nest...more on that later... When I opened up the broody box to get her and the eggs...she could see b/c I had a flashlight...she bolted and made like a crazed thing for the pen exit. I got her and calmed her and popped her back on her original nest and slid her eggs back under her and she settled down nice as you please.

This morning she was there and looked at me like "What in the world were you thinking last night??"


And...as if that isn't enough broody drama..Jamie Lee Curtis has decided it would be a swell time to become a mama!! So...she is now co-brooding Petunia's eggs. Sharing her nest and at one point moving P all the way off and into Norma's nest. I moved her off and she went back twice. At bed time last night I put her into the temporary nest box but this morning she was back in with P. I actually hope she is serious. I have been saving Del eggs in case someone else decides to brood so if she doesn't break when Petunia is ultimately moved into the the broody box with her chicks she will get those. They are big beautiful eggs and have either pure Del babies or Red sex links in them.

My two silkie girls are doing fine in quarantine. No signs of illness. both are eating drinking and pooing. Hope that holds I look forward to the day when I can integrate them safely.

Remember how I fixed up my one coop to encourage broodies? None of my broodies live in that coop.


Yay on the eggs developing well, and double yay on the silkie girls not showing any signs of illness! Can't wait to "meet them"! As far as moving broodies, maybe I can be useful for once...

I had the same flipping out experience last year, with Cenere. This was after a major incident with the over-eager roo previously mentioned (she was one of the only two who submitted to him) pulling her out of the nest by the crest, drawing blood, and breaking several eggs in the process. You would think she'd be only too happy to move out (it was at night), but noooo, she pulled a true primadonna scene, waking up everyone! So I started searching for ideas, and here's what worked for me the following day:

1. Moving her with the entire nest box - this involved some dismantling, as she was in one too big to just stick in the broody coop, but this was done during the day and she didn't budge.

2. Then, that night, covering the top of the box with a big towel and moving her, nest box, and eggs inside the broody box. She looked a bit confused on her break the next day, but went back to the eggs.

From then on, all my nest boxes are easily movable, no permanent fixtures. I don't know what your setup is, or if it would even work... I guess if I couldn't move until hatch, I would just separate somehow, so no egg stealing/sharing would occur.

Again, this was my situation, and no two chickens are alike, as I am so often reminded... so not saying it's the best or the only way, just what works for me.

In other news, Cenere and Ombretta seem to have worked out a co-parenting arrangement - I'd like to think it's to please me, but I know better. Anyway, Cenere roams around most of the time, teaching scratching, hiding and dust bathing, and whichever chick wants to follow, follows. When one gets tired or cold, they go and snuggle under Ombretta who stays put most of the time. When I first noticed the mixing up, I freaked out... but they both seem to be completely okay with it. The broody twins aren't budging and nothing is hatching... don't know what I will do about them.

Quote:
Originally Posted by MistyMountain

Oh IC, I am so sorry!!

Hang in there!!

TG and Teila, don't feel bad about wearing shorts and having the windows open, we had 75 and 80 degree weather this past weekend-- windows open, fans on, and we spent the entire time outside! Boys stacked wood and rode their little 4 wheelers. I cleaned up a bit and played with the chickens. It will be back!!!! I am nervous for the peach and apple tree blooms, though. Even the little mountain berries (like small raspberries) are starting to show signs of life!

Baby chickies come next week. I will have to brood them in the house as the "school house" still needs to be built. Good news is the hubby showed some interest in it last night and started crunching numbers. That guy can build anything.

Maybe I'll have some pics to share next week.. and if you are lucky I might be able to get one of the broody (me

)!!

Welcome Lesa Mae!

Thanks MM! I will be okay... eventually.

Can't wait to see your baby chickies - hope it warms up by then!