INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[Leahs Mom]

I had one go broody toward the end of November.


It is hormone related. However, many of today's breeds are so far from their natural state that it was likely an "un natural" thing for her to do at this time of year.

 

[Faraday40]

Hens can go broody at any time, but the cold helps break them easily.

 

[hbrown322]

Hens can go broody at any time, but the cold helps break them easily.

I guess that makes sense. Haha and I guess it’s no surprise with this particular hen. I have lost count on how many times she’s gone Broody this year!

 

[Faraday40]

Anyone want to play guess the genders?
They turn 6 weeks old tomorrow. Normally they'd be sexable by now, but this batch has very small combs..... but all have wattles.

2 co-broody hens walking their babies to bed:

Lining up on the roost we have:
Purple, blue, pink, green, teal-blue, white, & black.

None look 100% male yet. I think my best chances for males are: Purple, blue, & teal.
Anyone agree or disagree?
(I sold 8 immediately at hatch. Then I needed a new lav orp roo, so I kept these 7 to grow out the best male. I sure hope at least one is male!)

Here's how my male lavs normally look at 6 weeks:

Here's a 6wk old female lav split:


Could the cold temps be delaying development?

 

[Indyshent]

Anyone want to play guess the genders?
They turn 6 weeks old tomorrow. Normally they'd be sexable by now, but this batch has very small combs..... but all have wattles.

2 co-broody hens walking their babies to bed:

Lining up on the roost we have:
Purple, blue, pink, green, teal-blue, white, & black.

None look 100% male yet. I think my best chances for males are: Purple, blue, & teal.
Anyone agree or disagree?
(I sold 8 immediately at hatch. Then I needed a new lav orp roo, so I kept these 7 to grow out the best male. I sure hope at least one is male!)
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Here's how my male lavs normally look at 6 weeks:

Here's a 6wk old female lav split:

Could the cold temps be delaying development?

You might have all girls or something about the cross might've delayed development. My experience so far us that cold weather can delay things. In otherwise identical conditions this year, the broody raised babies lagged behind the chicks who were not broody raised or which abandoned their moms. The broodies have been outside as much as possible, which means the babies aren't warm enough or eating the chick feed as much more stuff mom finds, but mostly, they're just shivering and trying to get warm. The broody habits are taking longer to properly feather out too and are seriously about half the size as the ones which never bothered following the mom. (Need facepalm emojis but I'll make do)

 

[Leahs Mom]

@Faraday40
What do you use as a color marker?

 

[Faraday40]

@Faraday40
What do you use as a color marker?

Yes, Crayola. (but not the washable kind) Reg. Crayola marker wears off & needs to be reapplied. I sometimes use food coloring but more gets on me than the chicks. LOL Small rubber bands also work, but fall off & can't always be seen from a distance.

 

[Leahs Mom]

I never thought of marking but I guess most my birds ard darker and I don't think I'd see it.

I always wondered if the livestock markers would work but I think they are chalk so not good if so.

 

[Faraday40]

You might have all girls or something about the cross might've delayed development. My experience so far us that cold weather can delay things. In otherwise identical conditions this year, the broody raised babies lagged behind the chicks who were not broody raised or which abandoned their moms. The broodies have been outside as much as possible, which means the babies aren't warm enough or eating the chick feed as much more stuff mom finds, but mostly, they're just shivering and trying to get warm. The broody habits are taking longer to properly feather out too and are seriously about half the size as the ones which never bothered following the mom. (Need facepalm emojis but I'll make do)

Yes. I've also seen that broody-raised chicks grow slower but are more active and alert to dangers. The brooder chicks grow big & fat quickly but are sort of dumb & docile when it comes to their life skills. Other than body weight, I haven't seen a diff in comb/wattle development. The last 3 pics from post #53105 were also broody raised.

Thanks for the insight. I think the combo of broody raised AND the cold weather may be the answer. If the chicks are cold at night & shivering, more calories are being used for warmth instead of growth. I highly doubt that all 7 are pullets.

What makes me nervous is when I look back at my mystery chick from spring:
5.5 weeks (I thought male based on wattles, but female b/c of comb)

7 weeks: still was unsure b/c the wattles would get red. Comb & stance said female.

BTW- The mystery chick is the broody hen, "Jewel" (aka Big Blue)

 

[Indyshent]

The cold also keeps them from being as flushed in the face.

I haven't noticed the broody kids being more alert to dangers as much as terrified of everything (especially being without their mom). I think they're actually less likely to survive. May have to get some pictures of these kids, but they're lagging seriously far behind and--like yours--all appear to be pullets in comb and wattles development. Slow feathering genes made growth even slower, too, so I have a chick that should be fully feathered and four times it's present size... that is just barely getting some stubby feathers on its tail, shoulders and chest now. It's still mostly down everywhere, and it's the dinkiest, most pitiful thing by far in my yard. A hatch mate of this one's was in similar straits but I eventually got it turn to the inside for the warmth and food it needed, so it's starting to catch back up to other birds near its age.