I’m not Mother Nature, but..... My journey hatching broody and bator chicks

[Mimi13]

sorry to hear about your dog. as you said, he is now pain free, but you are not. my first dog ever died in 2009 and I still feel bad.

I am glad your broody is doing well. check her to make sure she does return to her nest box. I have heard of cases that broodies went to sit on the first eggs they saw.

Thank you. Drake was a good boy.

I was afraid of her trying to abandon the new nest so she is caged up with it just in case.

 

[ShannonR]

I'm not sure if this is helpful information but I have observed that several of my past broodies have preferred to sneak off the nest and eat/drink right at dawn. If you are up VERY early in the morning, try checking then.

 

[aart]

OhBoy...life and death day for you.

This morning, yes Christmas Eve, was not a happy one.

Condolences....
We know from the minute we let them into our hearts, that one day they will break them.
The joy we gain by loving them will, in time, once again outweigh the sadness they can bring to our lives.
(((hugs))) hands over a tissue.

I sat there a bit to make sure she was comfortable and happy. She was...comfortable and I was...happy!

Good Job....and another great story telling!

 

[Mimi13]

I'm not sure if this is helpful information but I have observed that several of my past broodies have preferred to sneak off the nest and eat/drink right at dawn. If you are up VERY early in the morning, try checking then.

Good idea. Before yesterday she wouldn’t have been able to eat or drink before dawn because I don’t keep anything in the coop. However, now that she’s in her own space, under the poop board, she has feed and water right beside her nest.

 

[Mimi13]

OhBoy...life and death day for you.

Condolences....
We know from the minute we let them into our hearts, that one day they will break them.
The joy we gain by loving them will, in time, once again outweigh the sadness they can bring to our lives.
(((hugs))) hands over a tissue.

Good Job....and another great story telling!

Thank you, @aart. Animals have always been my weakness. They can grab my heart much quicker than any human and I’ve always been that way. Me thinks it may be the stupidity factor some humans possess, or maybe just display!

I will have to say I am much less stressed now because I am no longer constantly worrying about Drake. However, my other dogs are at a loss. They are looking for him all over the house.

 

[aart]

I will have to say I am much less stressed now because I am no longer constantly worrying about Drake.

It's bittersweet....swirls of grief/relief/guilt...hang in there.

 

[Mimi13]

Day 5...I think. Merry Christmas to all BYCers!

I noticed this morning that my broody appeared to be in the same position as she was last night at lock up, tail feathers sticking out of the curtains. I slowly pulled her out and she wasn’t as reluctant; almost relieved that someone said it was okay to leave the nest.

The three times I have let her out I have done so when no other chickens were around. That way she is able to go about her business uninterrupted.

“Chick Uninterrupted”

She seems to be in fast forward when she’s out taking care of business. Even her dust baths are not spa days. She basically hits the ‘pits and privates’ and shakes. Done! Wow! I’m amazed and sold on her intellect, or in her case, instinct. I really enjoy just watching her do what Mother Nature has instructed. But still, just because I am who I am and just in case her little chickie instinct wires get crossed, I met her back in the coop to make sure she headed back to the right nest. Yeah, you guessed it...she didn't. Back to the old nest.

No.No.No! Same song, different verse. I put her back in the right spot and she nestled down again...for Day 5...I think!

 

[Mimi13]

BTW, I know the eggs are under a broody, but would it be okay if I candle them? If so, which days, 7, 10, and 17?

 

[aart]

BTW, I know the eggs are under a broody, but would it be okay if I candle them? If so, which days, 7, 10, and 17?

Sure. Those are the days I candle when using incubator.
Do you have experience candling?

 

[Mimi13]

Sure. Those are the days I candle when using incubator.
Do you have experience candling?

Well, no. Nothing other than reading, reading, reading and candling my eggs looking at the double yolks. I know, that won’t quite get me there. I figured it would be another learning experience.