Hi all! I'm looking for advice about some new additions to my flock. One of my Rhode Island Reds went broody at the beginning of March and, since I don't have any roosters, I got a few "probably" fertilized eggs from a friend. My Scarlett was a trooper, but only one egg hatched. She's been the perfect mom to her teeny little Barred Rock baby, though! He's about a week old now and the most active chick I've ever seen.
My question is this: my mom is a teacher and her class is hatching a batch of Buff Orpington eggs that I had ordered. I'm intending to add a few of the BO chicks to my flock, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to persuade Scarlett to foster these along with her older chick. I've read a lot about introducing chicks to a broody hen, but will that be possible when there's almost a month age gap between the chick she has now and the new ones? They're also different colors, but I'm not sure if that matters because Scarlett is, well, scarlet, and her chick is black and white. I've included a photo...because they're just so darn cute.
Coincidentally, do any of you have a guess as to the sex of the chick in the photo? I don't know that it's full barred rock, but the patterning makes me think a girl, if the genetics for BRs hold true. If I do have to brood them separately, do you have any recommendations about introducing them to the flock when the time comes? Thanks so much for your help!
My question is this: my mom is a teacher and her class is hatching a batch of Buff Orpington eggs that I had ordered. I'm intending to add a few of the BO chicks to my flock, but I'm wondering if I'll be able to persuade Scarlett to foster these along with her older chick. I've read a lot about introducing chicks to a broody hen, but will that be possible when there's almost a month age gap between the chick she has now and the new ones? They're also different colors, but I'm not sure if that matters because Scarlett is, well, scarlet, and her chick is black and white. I've included a photo...because they're just so darn cute.
Coincidentally, do any of you have a guess as to the sex of the chick in the photo? I don't know that it's full barred rock, but the patterning makes me think a girl, if the genetics for BRs hold true. If I do have to brood them separately, do you have any recommendations about introducing them to the flock when the time comes? Thanks so much for your help!
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