INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[chickiebaby1]

Wanted to share some pics I took this afternoon. Was having some fun indoors for the Easter hatch a long contest.

 

[Mishlerfarm24]

All my girls enjoying their new perch!!! Slowly but surely the remodeling is coming together!!

 

[ellymayRans]

I have always read cochins are a strong broody as are silkies. Ive had cochins (bantam) and silkies for ummm..4 years and ive had Zero cochins go broody and 1 silkie go broody, and she is very predictable.

Marans, all of mine have gone broody! Once the Marans kicked it in gear my Black Australorp of 3 years decided to join in!

I believe they are all capable. Sometimes it's just group decision that creates opportunities for the others, by chance or truly good broody mommas that will do the deed when they are given the chance.

I have had my fair share of broody hens, no eggs, take them away, move them to an outside raised cage with no solid floor and they are just determined.

As with any animal, their uniqueness, i believe any hen has the ability to be a success story for brooding babes. I obtained silkie crosses in the beginning thinking i would get broodies. They were both roos so that didn't hold true. I got several over the years, from IN, CO, etc! I finally got my broody silkie but over the years I've found almost every hen i have will hatch chic k s, its just all situational..

Hahaha, none of them surprise me anymore!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

So excited!!!

Just got 3 batches of eggs that I bought in the mail today. LF polish, golden neck d'uccles, and golden spitzhubens. Some came from NY and the others all the way from California. All arrived unbroken and looking great. I know I need to let them sit for 24 hrs before putting them in the bator, but when should I candle them to see how the air cells are? I am so excited about these guys, I hope a bunch hatch.

Definitely let them rest overnight. I candle the air cells as I put them on the rack. Even if all appear attached and in good shape, I do not turn the turner on for at least 3 days.

Quote:
Oh I know.. Thats a real pain. Hoping Huey sits soon, she is getting quite a stash built up already. I may give her goose eggs to encourage her lol.

Needless to say with all of the handholding required for the ducklings hatch i haven't made it back to RK!

Now both of the human boys are asleep, they stayed home sick today. They got to give lots of lovin' to the fluffed up duckling. So maybe after dad gets home i can go.

Aww, hope they feel better soon.

Ok, last duckling out and in the hatcher. Ding dong me dropped the lid to my brinsea, now explain to me why don't they make the with handles!! Broke 2 duck eggs and 1 silkie egg... i opened the duck eggs and 1 fully developed but just dead, the other not as developed, silkie egg only about 1 wk along and i let it be, not seeping but sure it wont make it now. Geez!

1 duck egg left i think it isn't alive but not certain.

The last duckling to hatch is not all yellow but i am not sure what it is. So count is:
2 yellow
1 wild type
2 ?? They aren't wild type as i think or have seen.

Obviously i will have to post better pics once they are all dry.
1 of the yellow was so gooped up its not fluffing I'm sure its because its all crusty. SMH

I hate trying to get that stuff off. I usually wait a couple of days and then it just flakes away with my fingernails.

If I get a "goopy" chick, I carefully rinse under warm water. Pat dry, blow dry on low heat and put back in bator.

I am i love!

the first hatched is so personable already!

Shining a light on them i would swear all of the non yellow are chocolates!

The one that appears wild type isn't black it looks dark chocolate. The other one still wet does too..
Then the other yellow has a darker tipped tail then the first yellow.
The odd ball out looks chocolate too but not as wild type patterned as the other 2.

Make sense! Haha. Pics coming!

I think thats called Atipico. They will look black but you see they are truly a very dark chocolate in full sunlight. Usually I see those from a black or brown ripple hen.

The baby to the right of the first duckling.. what color is the tailfeathers?

Black or choc barred left, black or choc pied right

dry duckling looks chocolate

Experts??

Answered in red..can give you definite answers once dry!

1. Does anyone keep just ONE silkie in their flock to be a boodie? If so, how do the others treat her...does she get along okay?

2. Is there any other "more hardy" breed that is very broody that might be a better choice in a mixed flock? (@jchny2000 and @SallyinIndiana what about the Sumatras?)

I had a white silkie hen a long time, and she HATED chicks. She did go broody twice, and proceeded to kill the hatched chicks both times. Needless to say, I no longer have her. Most silkies are NOT like that, but it was pretty upsetting. Australorp, EE, RIR, mutt mixes have been broody here.

I want something that isn't feather footed.

Agreed, I don't keep any feather footed breeds anymore.

It's an individual thing, though some breeds are more prone to it than others. So far, broodies here have been: Black Swedish duck, Muscovy duck, Welsummer, Australorp. Threatened broodies that never went full-on broody but may later: RIR, Cochin, Brahma, EE, BB white turkey. I've heard Cochins and Brahmas make really good moms (really often). Wellies and Orps (both Aussie and English) and pretty reputable broodies. Wellies were voted #1 breed to have in case of a zombie apocalypse because they're well camouflaged, they're good broodies, their eggs are camouflaged, and they're great free-rangers. Mine definitely live to that hype--and they're hatchery. Very quick minded, kind of like Leghorns. Orps, Brahmas, Cochins and Silkies all have a reputation as doormats in mixed flocks (once in awhile mean ones get in--usually from hatcheries), but in my experience, they've all been sweet-natured and trustworthy, and they haven't been such doormats that they've ever been hurt.

EDIT: Welsummers, ducks, turkeys, Orpingtons and Australorps are all clean-shanked. And, of course, there's always the recourse of incubators.

Good points. I have found EE, turkey, goose and Scovys to be my best broodys.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Wanted to share some pics I took this afternoon. Was having some fun indoors for the Easter hatch a long contest.

Oh, thats so cute!!!!

All my girls enjoying their new perch!!! Slowly but surely the remodeling is coming together!!

Lovely flock, thats awesome news!

 

[SallyinIndiana]

1. Does anyone keep just ONE silkie in their flock to be a boodie? If so, how do the others treat her...does she get along okay?

2. Is there any other "more hardy" breed that is very broody that might be a better choice in a mixed flock? (@jchny2000 and @SallyinIndiana what about the Sumatras?)

My sumatras did fine in the cold, but I remember reading somewhere that they are not considered a cold hardy breed. Mine were friendly. They were the top of the ranks for the roosters and yet the roosters were more like gentlemen and even led the hens to food. They were not a great about of meat though. But if I had to pick only 1 breed it would be the sumatras or the True RIR.

 

[iamfivewire]

we had our delaware go broodie once - she hasnt since (2 years ago).
one of our "smokey" iowas has gone broodie a few times past couple years
then we have our "serial broodie" - chantecler/ameracauna mix. she tries to hatch about 3~4 times a year. after about 5 weeks of raising her babies, she starts thinkin' about setting on another batch of eggs. she actually went broodie her first time before she was even p.o.l.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Quote: So far I haven't had a Sumatra go broody. But since its nearly spring, I bet can can report back on that in a month or so.

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

Chick radar report.. DH said Rural King in Muncie had literally thousands.. Most common breeds and meat birds also. BB turkeys. He also said there was 3 employees attending the tubs nonstop and a lot of folks buying.

 

[ellymayRans]

Definitely let them rest overnight. I candle the air cells as I put them on the rack. Even if all appear attached and in good shape, I do not turn the turner on for at least 3 days.


Oh I know.. Thats a real pain. Hoping Huey sits soon, she is getting quite a stash built up already. I may give her goose eggs to encourage her lol.
Aww, hope they feel better soon.


If I get a "goopy" chick, I carefully rinse under warm water. Pat dry, blow dry on low heat and put back in bator.

I think thats called Atipico. They will look black but you see they are truly a very dark chocolate in full sunlight. Usually I see those from a black or brown ripple hen.
[COLOR=FF0000]Answered in red..can give you definite answers once dry![/COLOR]


I had a white silkie hen a long time, and she HATED chicks. She did go broody twice, and proceeded to kill the hatched chicks both times. Needless to say, I no longer have her. Most silkies are NOT like that, but it was pretty upsetting. Australorp, EE, RIR, mutt mixes have been broody here.
Agreed, I don't keep any feather footed breeds anymore.

Good points. I have found EE, turkey, goose and Scovys to be my best broodys.

Ive never had any of my EE's in the 5 years Ive had them go broody.