Hatching with 2 broodies

[16 paws]

Just stopping by to say a quick hello - we have family visiting this week, so I'll likely be missing in action for the next few days as well, no time at all!

Tommysgirl those silkies crosses and their clown shoes are absolutely gorgeous!!!!!

Marie, sorry to hear about the egg that didn't make it. They probably did discard it, and it traveled a bit... I imagine how upsetting it is to find that though!

Ella, can't wait to see the new arrivals!

I'll catch up with the rest of the posts in a few days, hopefully! And hope everyone else is doing well.

Two, no, three bits of news over here:

1. Cenere laid an egg today! Unfortunately that also means she's done playing mom, and chases away the chicks when they try to jump on her like they used to...

2. The chicks, or rather, the two suspected future roos had a bit of a squabble over something today, and the gray(blue-brown-red - not sure what to call him anymore as he's getting all kinds of colors coming through) ended up with some blood above his eye. I checked, it's nothing major, just a scratch, not sure if I should try disinfecting as it is SO close to the eye... thoughts?

3. I somehow managed the whole candling thing a bit better this time, and it looks like out of 16 eggs in the bator, 13 are developing, 2 are clear, and 1 I just can't seem to see a thing (it's a darker one, there is an air cell, but that's as much as I can tell). I'll try with Bonnie's eggs maybe tomorrow. Keep your fingers crossed that they all keep developing! I have absolutely no idea what I'm doing with the bator, so very afraid to mess it up!!!

Ok, gotta run, I still follow everything, just not much time for writing - but I'll be back with a vengeance soon enough!

Good to hear from you,
Hope you have a nice visit with the group visiting you.
How old are the chicks now?
Sounds like you got the candeling thing down, good for you. I will keep everything crossed that they do great.

 

[ShelbyCoral]

OMGOSH! WHY DO I HAVE SO MANY BROODS!!?? A rooster 3 silkies and NOW A D'UCCLE?!
Whats going on in my coop!

 

[chickencrazy999]

OMGOSH! WHY DO I HAVE SO MANY BROODS!!?? A rooster 3 silkies and NOW A D'UCCLE?!
Whats going on in my coop!

Haha looks like you are going to have your hands full!

 

[halfbakedtulip]

@16 paws Taffy is lovely and I am swooning over Pancake! I have never seen a Black Tailed Buff Japanese before!

@ShelbyCoral I can't tell you the joy in my heart when I read you had a broody rooster. How amazingly different is that?!

@tommysgirl Your little dilkie/d'uccles are adorable

So it has been days since I have posted but I have been reading! Today is day 10 for Banty. I have been having to put her out of the nesting box for the last few days as she isn't going. I candled again today and that 1 question marked egg is still question marked. It has an air cell but it is so hard to see anything as it is darker. So that leaves 3 silkies and 1 d'uccle silkie cross and if the question marked one is good then another silkie as well.

Dot went from pretend broody to molting but is still doing broody poops

Voodoo obviously heard me saying I may rehome them because she laid her very first egg yesterday morning! I didn't get another one today....I got broody poop in her corner

If she thinks she is going to lay one egg and then go broody haha to her lol Actually I am hoping someone feels motherly when it is Bantys time to hatch as I have no idea what kind of mother she will be or if she will stay on them the full 21 days. It would be nice to have some backup!

Other than that I finished painting their coop and am now busy panicking about how the chicks will get out of the coop. It is about 3 feet off the ground and the ramp just seems so steep for a little chick

 

[ShelbyCoral]

My rooster takes this whole broody thing too far! He attacks anything and any HEN that goes near the box. QQ My finger is bleeding now. He isnt like this at all... Im going to kick him off the nest!

 

[ItalyChickie]

Thanks Marie! The visit is nice, if exhausting (it's hard to get people to understand who are not used to it what it means to work from home and that I really do need to sit at the computer for 8+ hours, lol).

The chicks are 5 weeks old, and starting to establish their own group hierarchy - seeing quite a few squabbles, but no more blood drawn, thankfully... here are some updated pics.

The loooove that stair!





Thought this was a girl but beginning to have doubts, getting rather bossy... not that I lack bossy hens... hopefully my initial instinct was correct, as it was last time.



roo suspect number 1 - note the posture and the bright comb... also getting some red feathers on top of blue. No clear pattern... a tie-dye chicken is the best I can describe it.

 

[MistyMountain]

Thanks Marie! The visit is nice, if exhausting (it's hard to get people to understand who are not used to it what it means to work from home and that I really do need to sit at the computer for 8+ hours, lol).

YES. YES IT IS!!! I used to get asked to babysit family a lot when we lived in the city. Now and then is understandable, and I like to help out, but it got into a routine. No one really gets it unless they do it. I have my two boys who have grown up with Mommy working on the computer from day one. They self soothed when they were really young, and are able to play and explore without constant guidance now. It was difficult tossing another child(or children) into the mix who are used to having constant attention. We survived though, which usually meant I was up working until 2-3 am.

I love that ladder!! They are growing up so fast!!

SS Homestead is doing well. The Li'l School House is taking more time than expected, but my husband is a perfectionist. Close, though. Friday should be moving day. The chicks are 4 weeks old now, so I will probably only give them some heat at night for a week or so. They all are feathering in nicely with an exception of Elsa, the splash cochin. Her back is bare with just a hint of a line of feathers down the middle. I hope this turns around quick! I started the fermented feed yesterday for the grown up flock. Two full loaf pans took about 8 minutes to devour. They LOVE it!! I will be giving the chicks their first taste in a little while. The chicks were out back in their little "play pen" yesterday. The pen is right outside my office window so I can listen for any problems. Someone was screaming out there. I look, and Cielo is attacking the leghorn roos! I thought I would have a few more weeks before that madness!! The big flock has come up to the house to check them out a couple times. The hens stare and then run away. Willie Roo, however, pays the most attention to them. He circles the pen and bock bocks at them. Kinda cute. A couple pics to follow. Have a great day all!

 

[ShelbyCoral]

Chick's are hatching under my 2nd broody silkie! 1 more silkie left!

 

[16 paws]

Thanks Marie! The visit is nice, if exhausting (it's hard to get people to understand who are not used to it what it means to work from home and that I really do need to sit at the computer for 8+ hours, lol).

The chicks are 5 weeks old, and starting to establish their own group hierarchy - seeing quite a few squabbles, but no more blood drawn, thankfully... here are some updated pics.

The loooove that stair!





Thought this was a girl but beginning to have doubts, getting rather bossy... not that I lack bossy hens... hopefully my initial instinct was correct, as it was last time.



roo suspect number 1 - note the posture and the bright comb... also getting some red feathers on top of blue. No clear pattern... a tie-dye chicken is the best I can describe it.

What a great shot of them all on the ladder. Now that should be a postcard!
I know what you mean about having company. It is a lot of work but fun also!
Great to hear from you....
Marie

 

[ShelbyCoral]

A little worried about all this muggy air. I checked on the chicken under the broody and the poor thing was shrink wrapped! I thought it was going to die so my mom and I got it out of the egg and it was like "I'M FREE!".