I Have a Broody!! WOOT!!

[Kittymomma]

Well, Ella ate an egg yesterday after her quick trip off the nest. It wasn't there when I checked on her after I got home, but she had it pretty much consumed and pushed out in front of the nest when I checked on her before bed. I'm hoping that she just broke it when she was getting back on the nest and that this isn't a sign of things to come.

The BR Betty that has been thinking about going broody for the last several days has decided to sit full time. She wouldn't get off the nest tonight and has 13 eggs under her, all her own and since the RIR roo is dominant I'm hoping for some black sex links. I'm not positive about the genetics so I'll have to double check, but I think RIR roo over BR hen gives black sex links.

The BA Smudge made another deposit in her trashcan nest, but didn't stay long so who knows what she's going to do....

In the meantime I've been keeping busy--and staying up too late--with the 2-dozen eggs I stuck in a LG still air a few weeks ago. They were supposed to hatch out SAT-SUN, but started yesterday and so far 20 are out, 1 more is trying to zip, and three are quiet.

My DH thinks I'm over the edge and keeps making noises about selling the chicks on CL (I will some, but he's off the edge if he thinks they're all going!) but the kids and I are having a blast. I think I'll try my Ruen ducks eggs when this hatch finishes up.

 

[ladytoysdream]

Sounds quite a bit like the current learning experience here

We got our first meat chickens a year ago, the middle of this month.
Then we had 5 regular chicks, given to us. Then 1 more. Then I was able to get some started buff orpingtons because the lady could not keep them because of her dog.
One of the orpingtons just did a hatch monday, and we now have 5 chicks. I am surprised she did as well as she did because the first week was sure rough. I have a orp/banty cross who wanted the egg sitting job real bad.
I finally was able to get the broody, into a BIG plastic dog crate (free).
My son has 33 eggs that are in a incubator that started hatching yesterday, due today. Last I knew yesterday at least 6 had started the process. The eggs were hand turned.
My incubator has 41 eggs and only 1 week along so far. Things look good. I have a automatic turner.
This is our first time, so definitely interesting.

I would like to put an ad on craigslist, but don't dare yet. I already have 4 requests for chicks to fill first. Plan is to keep the 5 chicks that hatched natural for us. I hope to start another broody soon. I just haven't picked the volunteer yet. I was able to get a few more of the used dog crates for free, so do have safe nest boxes for them now. Setting eggs aside from the last few days, to start the first incubator back up again in a few days. Hoping to get a second coop up at some point in time, to use as a maternity area. Plan is to grow some of the new roosters for the freezer. And a few more hens to bring the flock number up to 24, to winter over.
And this all started with no plan at all....walked into a TSC farm store, and were buying ducks for the grandson. Not sure how a few chicks sneaked into the shopping cart..............

 

[goldnchocolate]

Kittymomma and ladytoysdream....both of you ladies sound sick

, sick

, sick

with the "Hatchaholic Virus"

. It sounds as if you are having a blast with your chickens.

 

[ladytoysdream]

Quote:
Must be real bad here then...
I just took a picture of the babies with mom with my cell phone and using it for the wallpaper now

ps....we have another website in common we both post on

 

[Kittymomma]

Bettygot off the nest this morning and didn't come back, I think she's just toying with me. I'm leaving her eggs for now and if she get's serious I'll candle after four days and then decide if I need to put fresh ones under her. I'm bummed though because I wanted some sex links and if she's messed hers up by sitting overnight It's a crapshoot since I only have one other BR that I can identify her eggs from the RR's everytime.

 

[mstricer]

When I but my Jersey in a big dog crate after she hatched 2 eggs waiting on the 3rd to hatch, I was looking in on her and trying to see if I could get her to eat or drink something, she stood up and let out a huge, I mean huge poop and boy did it stink. She was in our attached garage it was so gross. The next day I got out the duck house (have no ducks YET) and got the hoop house around it and out they went, It was nasty never smelled anything like it, accept an outhouse.

 

[Kittymomma]

Yes, broody poo is legendary--and not in a good way! I make sure mine have enough space to get well off the nest to do their thing. I don't want to have to clean that stuff up with anything other then a shovel and hose! My girls are outside in a dog house and a rabbit hutch that are inside a covered 7x13 dog run so it's not too bad.