Hatching with 2 broodies

[MistyMountain]

Hey All!   Been a while for me, not sure I can keep up! I read often, but finding the time chasing two little boys and 34 chickens doesn't leave me too much time to respond much. Work has stayed steady as well. We've made it through the storms, and actually didn't get too much. I was really in them mood for some thunder but then realized how bad it would be if the power went out. I would have 18 angry chickies in the basement! I filled a jug of water just in case I needed to warm water and put it in jars to keep them warm if needed. Little wings are working well, it is about time to put a cover on this thing! Hopeful to get a start on the school house this weekend so that they are definitely ready to head out on their own at 4 weeks---ish.

Hey Liz!! I need to find some customers like you have over there!! Here free range eggs online go for 2-3 dollars a dozen. I hope to finish my business cards soon and set up a little stand at the end of the driveway with an honor box. I am getting 12-14 eggs a day right now. Hope all is well out west!

Here is a quick pic of my pile-o-chicks!! So far we have Elsa and Anna, the blue and splash cochins, Maude and Mable the buff orphs, and cielo my little EE roo. Two cuckoo marans and two welsummers to name still!!

 

[tommysgirl]

I responded to an email from someone looking for fertile eggs for her kids' preschool, just to answer questions, and then we realized we worked together at camp 20 years ago! Long story short, she came by today to buy a dozen eggs to hatch at the preschool! I have many mixed feelings about this! I feel very guilty sending my girls' eggs off to someone's incubator while breaking my broodies (Grace is broody again. but looks almost broken), and I know I'm going to wind up helping them look for rooster homes, and I don't want to hear about the ones who don't make it, and I'll be jealous about not keeping the ones who do . . . BUT, I'm also kind of excited. The preschool is right down the street from me, so I'll be able to see any grandchicks that make it!

Good to hear from you

I have been collecting eggs for a week and a half...pulling the older ones for us to eat as I fill the carton..for a teacher who lives at the other end of the lake...about 40 min away. She has flaked big time in the communication dpt...why do people leave me hanging lately?? Anyway I haven't heard from her in a week in spite of several attempts so it looks like a no-go

I am envious that you got someone to hatch your grand chickies and that you get to see the babies that hatch!. I was going to take back any of these that hatched because they would be close enough to Jamie Lee's hatch but now it would be too late any way!

TG, congrats on the egg development so far, sounds very promising and worth the peck from mum
Additional congratulations on your first Gracie Belle egg; she probably has no idea how exciting it is for you, she had been there before

To sum up, while not as successful as I hoped, I am definitely optimistic that tomorrow will be different now they have tasted it and associate the look and smell.

I remember when I first tried Cilla and Dusty on watermelon; wouldn't touch it, they were scared of it! When the Silkie chicks were a bit older, I thought I would try them on watermelon, they tried it straight away and as they seemed to be enjoying themselves Cilla and Dusty came over and gave it a try also, they love it now!

My girls definitely need some encouragement when it comes to change

Continued luck with the FF. It has been great for the babies but they are little messes. They get in it and make an utter mess. The big birds are all quite fond of it as well

Sounds like a good day, way to go Gracie Belle! So exciting to have littles on the way again!
Marie

It is! Little are great. Gracie Belle's egg was pretty good sized and pointed. It is small but almost as big as my enormous chocolate rock's egg

I have all silkies the hens consist of a pure white, columbian, and a buff and my roo is a buff as well and none of them roost they sleep together on the floor I guess mine are just too lazy to get up onto the roost I have never seen anyone up on it and it's only about a foot off the ground

You are the expert then. Good to know we have one here I sort of fell into the silkie scene so will need guidance!

Woohoo, first Gracie Belle egg!!!

I always get super excited about the new ones too.

Counting down with you, while waiting to start my second hatch of the year (arranged to get me those Cochin eggs early next week).




I really hope the egg is okay!! Other than waiting and praying, I don't think there's much else you can do... will keep my fingers crossed for you!

A picture that was too cute not to share:


This one is for Cenere fans.

Well, back to work - hopefully more pics tomorrow, has been raining too much lately to stalk the chickens.

I love peeking baby pics!

Good Luck with your cochin eggs. I keep waffling between a Brinsea Advance and a Genesis and nothing. Right now nothing is winning

Hey All!

Been a while for me, not sure I can keep up! I read often, but finding the time chasing two little boys and 34 chickens doesn't leave me too much time to respond much. Work has stayed steady as well. We've made it through the storms, and actually didn't get too much. I was really in them mood for some thunder but then realized how bad it would be if the power went out. I would have 18 angry chickies in the basement! I filled a jug of water just in case I needed to warm water and put it in jars to keep them warm if needed. Little wings are working well, it is about time to put a cover on this thing! Hopeful to get a start on the school house this weekend so that they are definitely ready to head out on their own at 4 weeks---ish.

Hey Liz!! I need to find some customers like you have over there!! Here free range eggs online go for 2-3 dollars a dozen. I hope to finish my business cards soon and set up a little stand at the end of the driveway with an honor box. I am getting 12-14 eggs a day right now. Hope all is well out west!

Here is a quick pic of my pile-o-chicks!! So far we have Elsa and Anna, the blue and splash cochins, Maude and Mable the buff orphs, and cielo my little EE roo. Two cuckoo marans and two welsummers to name still!!

Glad they are all doing well. I heart your cochin and I heart blue!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Ok i have a question, so today i put my 45 hen eggs in with my 3 duck eggs (as u know) which have been developing nicely i want them to hatch on the same day so i decided to put the duck eggs in a week earlier, so the humidity has been around 50- 60 which i read is ok for duck eggs, but when i put my hen eggs in, i couldn't really get it down, i tried putting in less water, but that didn't work, so i thought it may be to high for them, so i was wondering is it to late to do a dry hatch, I've never done this before so if u have any ideas or tips please help thanks

I am sorry, but I have no idea! My experience is limited to broodies, this upcoming hatch will be the first one I do with an incubator... hope someone else can help you!

So here's my 2 cents being I'm such apro at this NOT!!! I was lucky when I came to. My mommy excepting the last 2 babies that hatched and there was 8 days between the first and last hatch so maybe it's the horse shoe that was up my butt!!

Lol! It could also be your girl's chickenality - silkies generally need very little encouragement to take on (more) babies. Then again, I'd count between the last one hatched under her, when she was still in the stay-on-nest mode, and the ones that you added - so basically within 4-5 days after she got up, I don't think it was quite that long.

Hey All!

Been a while for me, not sure I can keep up! I read often, but finding the time chasing two little boys and 34 chickens doesn't leave me too much time to respond much. Work has stayed steady as well. We've made it through the storms, and actually didn't get too much. I was really in them mood for some thunder but then realized how bad it would be if the power went out. I would have 18 angry chickies in the basement! I filled a jug of water just in case I needed to warm water and put it in jars to keep them warm if needed. Little wings are working well, it is about time to put a cover on this thing! Hopeful to get a start on the school house this weekend so that they are definitely ready to head out on their own at 4 weeks---ish.

Hey Liz!! I need to find some customers like you have over there!! Here free range eggs online go for 2-3 dollars a dozen. I hope to finish my business cards soon and set up a little stand at the end of the driveway with an honor box. I am getting 12-14 eggs a day right now. Hope all is well out west!

Here is a quick pic of my pile-o-chicks!! So far we have Elsa and Anna, the blue and splash cochins, Maude and Mable the buff orphs, and cielo my little EE roo. Two cuckoo marans and two welsummers to name still!!

So much cuteness!!!!

Glad to hear the storms didn't cause any trouble. 18 angry chickies = scary!

I love peeking baby pics!

Good Luck with your cochin eggs. I keep waffling between a Brinsea Advance and a Genesis and nothing. Right now nothing is winning

Lol! I can certainly understand how nothing is winning, though I must have more Cochins. And possibly some Orps, which is another breed the person I'll be getting eggs from has. Hopefully I'm not making my broodies wait too long... they will have been sitting for about 10 days by the time I get eggs... what do you guys think, too long? didn't want to start breaking them to end up without a broody when I do have the babies...

 

[elsfieldchickens]

My two broodys hatched 5 chicks 2 weeks ago

 

[Teila]

Aaaargh! Overworked and Underpaid!

Where there are usually two of us on shift in the morning, my off-sider has been sick and I have been on my own for the first 5 hours of the shift .. I'm tired

I so hope he is back tomorrow because I have him lined up to do all the work while I play catch-up. If he is not back, I am going to play give-up lol.

Not stopping long, my recliner beckons

Beautiful pictures everyone! Thank you IC for the Cenere hit; I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms!

All on track at Casa Del Chookie; no dramas and Cilla seems to be backing off on protection detail; she is not giving everyone else such a hard time for being in Blondie's immediate vacinity.

The FF experiment continues; granted they are not shoveling it in by the cup full but they never do with any of their food; something tells me they may be a tad spoilt

&*FHVNFFNDFHGGFDTE*FHNVNBO Ooops, that was my tired, weary head hitting the keyboard! lol

Happy chickens everyone

 

[tommysgirl]

Lol! I can certainly understand how nothing is winning, though I must have more Cochins. And possibly some Orps, which is another breed the person I'll be getting eggs from has. Hopefully I'm not making my broodies wait too long... they will have been sitting for about 10 days by the time I get eggs... what do you guys think, too long? didn't want to start breaking them to end up without a broody when I do have the babies...

heeheehee if you get more cochins and more orps you will have no need for that incubator this time next year

My two broodys hatched 5 chicks 2 weeks ago

Nice! and WELCOME Easter Egger and Australorp? My Australorp girl is a fantastic mama. She keeps hinting that she will brood again soon and I can't wait. I am getting her special eggs...Not sure what but I am going to put it to a vote here. HOpe you come back and share your progress and experience with us!

@Teila I enjoy your upbeat sunny posts so much. Even when you are beat you have the best attitude! Thanks for sharing with us and making us smile!

 

[elsfieldchickens]

They are both mixed bantams

 

[tommysgirl]

In an exciting update from the broody pen

When Norma finished hatching her little clutch there were:

Two red chipmunks and
One yellow chipmunk all with 5 toes... = two girls and a boy...all Dorking crosses
Two blue/black babies with red mottling...NH over CA Grey both girls
Two black chicks one with a head spot and one with a head spot and creamy face. I assumed both were boys and the creamy faced one was from the NH over CA Grey and the other was from the Del over CA Grey pairing. I had a broody hatch a cockerel from this pairing before and that is what that chick looked like



B to F Dorking Cross Pullet...
Questionable chick now a (mostly) confirmed pullet Delaware over CA Grey
NH over CA Grey Pullet




That's a little Dorking Mix boy peeking out in front...His yellow is becoming Grey and he and the Barred baby are sporting those little epaulet feathers that boys get first.



So according to their fluff at hatch I had 4 pullets and 3 cockerels. Now at 12 days old the Del/ CA Grey little one has barring developing but the creamy faced baby is still black all over. No barring anywhere so it looks like this is a pullet chick from the Del pairing.

5 girls and 2 boys

Now my problem is I don't know which pullets to keep but what a nice problem to have

In other news I have secured homes for the 2 Bantam girls I needed to find home for.

 

[tommysgirl]

They are both mixed bantams

So far in my limited experience, mixes make amazing mamas!

Petunia is a regular terror in the coop. I only have 4 other birds plus my on the nest broody in there but she takes up the space of about 5 additional chickens. No one dares get close or she flies at them in a rage of claws and wings and attitude. She has always been a cranky girl and motherhood has not improved her disposition. She makes me laugh.

 

[ItalyChickie]

My two broodys hatched 5 chicks 2 weeks ago

Awww both moms and all babies are adorable!

Oh, and welcome to the thread!

Aaaargh! Overworked and Underpaid!

Where there are usually two of us on shift in the morning, my off-sider has been sick and I have been on my own for the first 5 hours of the shift .. I'm tired

I so hope he is back tomorrow because I have him lined up to do all the work while I play catch-up. If he is not back, I am going to play give-up lol.

Not stopping long, my recliner beckons

Beautiful pictures everyone! Thank you IC for the Cenere hit; I was starting to get withdrawal symptoms!

All on track at Casa Del Chookie; no dramas and Cilla seems to be backing off on protection detail; she is not giving everyone else such a hard time for being in Blondie's immediate vacinity.

The FF experiment continues; granted they are not shoveling it in by the cup full but they never do with any of their food; something tells me they may be a tad spoilt

&*FHVNFFNDFHGGFDTE*FHNVNBO Ooops, that was my tired, weary head hitting the keyboard! lol

Happy chickens everyone

Poor Teila!

I hope you get some rest this weekend at least - I believe it already started for you by now.

My FF experiment is pretty much identical to yours - they are eating it (especially after I removed the regular feed), but not overly enthusiastic. Then again, I think the only things that do entice the jumping on the food sort of enthusiasm are eggs and sunflower seeds... Though what caused the spoiling I have no idea...

Okay, yeah I do.

So according to their fluff at hatch I had 4 pullets and 3 cockerels. Now at 12 days old the Del/ CA Grey little one has barring developing but the creamy faced baby is still black all over. No barring anywhere so it looks like this is a pullet chick from the Del pairing.

5 girls and 2 boys

Now my problem is I don't know which pullets to keep but what a nice problem to have

In other news I have secured homes for the 2 Bantam girls I needed to find home for.

That IS a nice problem to have, congratulations!!!!

Can you tell by other signs by now other than sex linked traits? Asking because I've been wondering whether to put up single photos of mine for guesses... might be too early.
I have my guesses, obviously - well, I have those since day 1 - but would love to hear others' opinions too. (If my guesses are right, mine is also a good girl to boy ratio.)

heeheehee if you get more cochins and more orps you will have no need for that incubator this time next year

LOL!

I currently have just the one cochin, and zero orps, and no lack of broodies as it is... I actually saw the incubator as something to use with the broodies, not instead of.

(Because of low hatch rate this time... was thinking more eggs in the incubator = more chickies to give to broodies... yeah, I admit it, I just want to see LOTS of fuzzy butts all at the same time.)


It's raining over here, again, and everyone is huddled together in a dark-ish corner, so no new photos for now... I'll have a Cenere fix for the addicts in a day or two though.