IT HAPPENED!!!

[junior67]

Well Hummer is still on her little "break" She lays then takes 3 days off before laying again. Guessing she got tired of picking up the slack for the slackers. LOL

Annabelle has been doing 3 in a row with a day off for the past week or just over. So she has shocked me adding in another egg before a day off.

Nugget is just going to town and laid 6 in a row before taking a break! Guess she figures it is her turn to make up for the slackers.

And the rest of them are just a bunch of slackers that at just over 8 mo still don't want to start laying. LOL

 

[MochaLatte]

I've been battling Blackie all day today... she has decided to bless me with another new chicken experience - being broody. She spent 8 straight hours in a nest this morning for no reason. I starting worrying she was sick or having a problem passing an egg. I got her and took her outside to eat and drink... she ate a little, got a sip of water and SPRINTED back into the nestbox. I took her out again and she lasted 7 minutes. The next time she stayed outside 10 minutes. At bedtime she was back in a nestbox again. I took her out and set her up on a roost... walked out/shut the door... heard wing flapping. Open the door and there she is infront of the nest box. I joke you not - she looked RIGHT AT ME... and then fast-jumped into the nest box. I tried to remove the fake egg and she stole it back out of my hand and tucked it under herself. I had to wait until it was dark and remove her again to the roost... by then it was too dark for her to find her way back down to the nestbox. I win for tonight... but tomorrow is a new day.... . . .

 

[MochaLatte]

Nugget is just going to town and laid 6 in a row before taking a break!

Wooooo Nugget! Way to lay those eggs, girl!!!!!

Annabelle is doing so awesome, too! As for Hummer... she for sure deserves a little break after all that crazy laying she did for so long, hehe.

 

[junior67]

I've been battling Blackie all day today... she has decided to bless me with another new chicken experience - being broody. She spent 8 straight hours in a nest this morning for no reason. I starting worrying she was sick or having a problem passing an egg. I got her and took her outside to eat and drink... she ate a little, got a sip of water and SPRINTED back into the nestbox. I took her out again and she lasted 7 minutes. The next time she stayed outside 10 minutes. At bedtime she was back in a nestbox again. I took her out and set her up on a roost... walked out/shut the door... heard wing flapping. Open the door and there she is infront of the nest box. I joke you not - she looked RIGHT AT ME... and then fast-jumped into the nest box. I tried to remove the fake egg and she stole it back out of my hand and tucked it under herself. I had to wait until it was dark and remove her again to the roost... by then it was too dark for her to find her way back down to the nestbox. I win for tonight... but tomorrow is a new day.... . . .
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Oh no!!! I hope you are able to break her easy!!!!

 

[MochaLatte]

Oh no!!! I hope you are able to break her easy!!!!

This morning when everyone woke up, she went outside like normal...

. . . ...and then 15 minutes later ran back into a nest. She has been in there ever since.

I'm considering getting some day old ducklings for her to raise (my uncle wants to add to his flock). So maybe she will feel fulfilled lol.

I'm just really worried about her not taking care of herself and I'm not sure that I'm knowledgeable enough yet to ensure her success/health. Plus it seems like a bad time of year to try to raise babies outside, but I guess they do this stuff naturally all the time...

 

[junior67]

This morning when everyone woke up, she went outside like normal...

. . . ...and then 15 minutes later ran back into a nest. She has been in there ever since.

I'm considering getting some day old ducklings for her to raise (my uncle wants to add to his flock). So maybe she will feel fulfilled lol.

I'm just really worried about her not taking care of herself and I'm not sure that I'm knowledgeable enough yet to ensure her success/health. Plus it seems like a bad time of year to try to raise babies outside, but I guess they do this stuff naturally all the time...

I know they say for the best way to ensure they take care of the babies they should be broody for 3 weeks before you give them babies. I have heard of ducklings being used but you will need a "pool" for the baby ducks too.

Definitely seems like the wrong time of year for babies but guess she doesn't care. Lol. What about doing the crate method to break her?

 

[MochaLatte]

I know they say for the best way to ensure they take care of the babies they should be broody for 3 weeks before you give them babies. I have heard of ducklings being used but you will need a "pool" for the baby ducks too.

Definitely seems like the wrong time of year for babies but guess she doesn't care. Lol. What about doing the crate method to break her?

So... Im going to let her try to hatch babies. I've set up a broody box for her in my mudroom where she can stay warmer with the eggs.

I should have 14 welsh harlequin duck eggs from a fellow BYC'er next week to provide to Broody Blackie! There are risks with shipping normally... but also, the temperature while the eggs are en route is not ideal... so there's some pretty big doubts in my mind about how the hatchability of these eggs will be upon arrival. We will see though!

If we get babies at the end of the 28 days, I have a good area I can set up outside once they are ready with a water source for their ducky tendencies. Fingers crossed!

 

[junior67]

So... Im going to let her try to hatch babies. I've set up a broody box for her in my mudroom where she can stay warmer with the eggs.

I should have 14 welsh harlequin duck eggs from a fellow BYC'er next week to provide to Broody Blackie! There are risks with shipping normally... but also, the temperature while the eggs are en route is not ideal... so there's some pretty big doubts in my mind about how the hatchability of these eggs will be upon arrival. We will see though!

If we get babies at the end of the 28 days, I have a good area I can set up outside once they are ready with a water source for their ducky tendencies. Fingers crossed!

OMG! How exciting!!!!!!! I think her hatching them is a great idea! and wow that is a LOT of eggs! hopefully you will have a great hatch rate and she will do amazing! I can't wait to hear all about her journey. Will you post here or did you start a new thread about it so I can follow along? It will be nice to hear all about how it goes with you before I try to hatch some out in the spring. Once you get them in you have to let them sit and such for a bit before you put them under her right?

Well Hummer laid again today so only 1 day between eggs... wonder if she will go back to that or if this was a fluke. LOL

 

[MochaLatte]

Will you post here or did you start a new thread about it so I can follow along?

I will just put updates in here I'm excited to share the adventure!! I'm really hoping some of the eggs are viable after shipping. I'll make candling updates every few days as we go along.

Once you get them in you have to let them sit and such for a bit before you put them under her right?

I was reading info on hatching eggs that were shipped, and it looks like that's the best advice across the board. Once they arrive I will set them up on the counter for 24 hours before I swap out her fake eggs with the real guys!

Funny note... I discovered yesterday that the other 2 fake eggs from my bottom nest boxes were missing... one was missing the evening before, and then this morning the 2nd one was missing. I looked under Blackie... and sure as sh!t... she stole them. I have no idea how she carried them to her box, but she was laying on 3 fake eggs this morning. LOL.

Well Hummer laid again today so only 1 day between eggs...

Woooooo Hummer! That is awesome. Sounds like she was just doing her own thing for a minute... or was giving her egg factory a little slow-down break to work itself out better!

 

[junior67]

I will just put updates in here I'm excited to share the adventure!! I'm really hoping some of the eggs are viable after shipping. I'll make candling updates every few days as we go along.

I was reading info on hatching eggs that were shipped, and it looks like that's the best advice across the board. Once they arrive I will set them up on the counter for 24 hours before I swap out her fake eggs with the real guys!

Funny note... I discovered yesterday that the other 2 fake eggs from my bottom nest boxes were missing... one was missing the evening before, and then this morning the 2nd one was missing. I looked under Blackie... and sure as sh!t... she stole them. I have no idea how she carried them to her box, but she was laying on 3 fake eggs this morning. LOL.

Woooooo Hummer! That is awesome. Sounds like she was just doing her own thing for a minute... or was giving her egg factory a little slow-down break to work itself out better!

Oh I am so excited!!!!!!!!!

I have NOT clue how they carry the eggs but I have heard it before, even with stealing real ones! That is just too funny!!!

Not sure what is going on with Hummer but if she needed a break I am all for it. At least I don't have to worry now if she takes 3 days off since that seemed to be her thing. Hated the feeling of wondering if something was wrong or not. the first time she did it.