Thanks! Right now one is in a nestbox on the floor (with fertile eggs, no other hens have ever used that box so she is left alone) and the younger broody is in an elevated nest box (with infertile eggs). Guess I will move the second broody into her own box on the floor and section off the area as the time approaches. I am also incubating some of the eggs so they will hopefully both get "surprise" babies that magically appear under them early one morning.
TeeHee...someone should come lecture my Delaware girls...Dottie and HArriet are always both feet in the FF trying to scratch it out...bad birds!I think shes lecturing them on sitting in their food!!!
Yay!!!! Congrats and all of that. Cilla is a wonder bird she picks up the slack for all concerned and raises babies to boot. Extra treats for her tonight!!!!
I found this in one of the nest boxes! What is it?!!
An egg you say! Really? Wow, an egg .. forgot what one of those looked like, thought they were up there with the tooth fairy and the Unicorn!
Howdy Sonya9 sorry that I could not answer your question from experience as I am actually an honorary member of ‘Hatching with 2 broodies’ as one of my co-broodies gave up not long after I joined the thread and left all the work to the more determined Cilla. FV has given you some great advice though
LM lols, I am under no illusions of having any control at Bambrook Bantams! I have, however, started an egg-chart, not to keep track of how many eggs I get a day because I don’t even need five fingers for that one, but more so that I can keep a track of how many eggs someone lays before they go broody again
Agree with the advice you already received - keeping them separate until after the babies hatch is the safest option. I tried it both ways - two broodies shared a nest, the result was a disaster. Two others had separate apartments next to each other, chicks started mingling when they started bringing them out (day 1 basically) and at day 2, they decided to move in together, without any intervention from me at all. Best of luck and let us know how it goes!
I had loved watching my two together as well, yours look just as heart-meltingly sweet. Would love to see the night time pics!
No big news over here, all is well, all six babies venturing out to stand in the food dish every now and then, though a couple that hatched last are still quite sleepy and only show themselves a few minutes at a time... I'm guessing Rosita has no intention of getting up today, but we'll see... once she does, hopefully I can get a group shot.
Sounds like a plan Sonya. When you give her the surprise babies keep an eye out for signs she is rejecting them. Also if you can have them all together in a dog crate or something where they are isolated for a day or two the new babies will learn her voice and it will go more smoothly. The last few days of a hatch are full of mama babbling away at those eggs and I think grafted babies need a day or two without leaving the nest to catch up in learning the language.
I figure I can move them all into the broody pen after Godiva has had it for a few days with her golf ball hatchilings. I can put Theresa's and Beakface's in there when they is done with them too and use it as a grow out pen.yay Rosita! I just love seeing them out and about. they are just precious, thanks for posting and looking for more photos soon!I obviously underestimated Rosita... They are outside! I promise I'll stop stalking the thread after this one (need to get back to work anyway!) but had to post a group shot:
Aw, that is so cute! But look at poor little Tina just wishing for a minute that she could be up there with them. Great picture and more importantly.....HUGE CONGRATULATIONS for the beautiful egg Cilla gifted to you! I just knew it was coming soon although I was one that bet on Dusty I believe. Oh well, as long as someone is making eggs for you I am tickled.....Hey there Team Broody!
Okey doke .. catch up time
FV good luck with the 4 x Day 14 eggs under Wendy .. I am definitely interested to see how the 9 day hatch works out for her.
Absolutely love the pictures of your co-parenting broodies and their beautiful bubbies. Not just your heart that it warms, mine too
MN01 lolz at “She was too mad about seeing me with chicks in my hands because we all know all chicks are her chicks”.
Sorry to hear that you lost one of your little ones; he really did not sound ‘right’; that pecking in front of him and constantly looking up; any chance he was blind like one of TG’s little ones?
Lols IC as much as Tina would like to wish Cilla bon voyage, not a chance she is going anywhere, after breaking the over 4 month egg drought she has miraculously jumped up to #1 in my pecking order. Well, actually, no favourites, but an extra big snuggle for her this afternoon
OK, we believe you now, bubbies!! and you still have all your fingers right?
The ‘edited’ second picture is so so adorable; the way they are looking at mum and the loving look on her face is priceless!
Beautiful pictures also MM!! Wow, what an amazing story about your Welsummer; I wonder how long the poor thing was like that but was really glad to read that she is OK now; lucky little girl
Howdy Sonya9 sorry that I could not answer your question from experience as I am actually an honorary member of ‘Hatching with 2 broodies’ as one of my co-broodies gave up not long after I joined the thread and left all the work to the more determined Cilla. FV has given you some great advice though
LM lols, I am under no illusions of having any control at Bambrook Bantams! I have, however, started an egg-chart, not to keep track of how many eggs I get a day because I don’t even need five fingers for that one, but more so that I can keep a track of how many eggs someone lays before they go broody again
I think I am all caught up and sorry if I missed someone.
A little footnote: when Cilla was in the nest box today, laying that long awaited egg, Blondie was right next to her the whole time “That’s my mum”!
And to finish, for the Blondie fans, Mother and daughter chatting on the gate
