Hen sitting on eggs in hayfield! Help!

[stuckinthecity]

I second that, I'd love to see pics of her and her brood. Sounds like a great homestead bird to have. If possible, I would try to keep the babies that are hers (If you can tell by color, etc.). That would be a good broody strain to have on your farm. Hope everything went well!

 

[rebrascora]

I would be extremely surprised if they are not all her own biological chicks. Broodies that sneak off like that make their own secret nest away from the flock do so for that reason. They have an innate natural instinct and I agree that it is worth keeping her offspring for that reason although hay making may be delayed each year as a result!

 

[riverviewfarms]

Here they are! All TWELVE seem happy and healthy. 5 days old now. I have them in a separate area of the coop so our three other hens (who free range and only sleep in the coop) can't bother them and mama. Do you think I should move the bucket into the main coop to get them used to each other at night? Or do I chance mean pecking hens?

 

[riverviewfarms]

thank you for the advice! We got 12 chicks and they all seem happy and healthy posted chick pics in another reply below!

 

[tinakevin]

Soooo cute!!

 

[rebrascora]

Hi again and many congratulations. That is an excellent result and they look great. I wouldn't worry about the other hens. My chicks all get reared in a large mixed flock and the only thing the adult chickens are interested in is their chick crumb. I have a cage that I put over it, chocked up off the ground so that the chicks can duck underneath to get it but the hens can't.....be prepared for antics as they try though! The broody will protect her chicks if any hen does show an interest. Even low pecking order broody hens will step up to the plate to protect their chicks.

Just out of curiosity, what breed and colour was the cockerel...... if he was a solid colour, you will have black sex links with your hen being barred....chicks with a white head spot would be male. If he was also barred (or white) then that wouldn't work though.....just a thought.

Regards

Barbara

 

[riverviewfarms]

The rooster was a buff Orpington. Big and blond. Definitely a solid color. Half of the chicks have a blond face and half have a white face. So the white faces you think will be male?

 

[BaileyMChicks]

The chicks that have a white spot on the top of the heads are male and the ones without a spot on the top of the head are female. You can post pictures of the chicks individually and we can try to tell you which are which.

 

[riverviewfarms]

Let them out in the run today for a few hours. They loved it!!!!