JUNE - JULY HATCH-ALONG!!!!!!!

[Camellia]

After losing 8 chicks to a fox/ weasel i thought i’d NEVER get a broody hen again, well my white bantam (the original mother) went broody again. I set some eggs under her but im unsure if theyre fertile because we lost our bantam rooster about two months ago, but after we lost him she went broody so many there’s a tiny chance the eggs will be fertile. If not ill just replace them, it’s worth a shot anyways

 

[CluckNDoodle]

Yeah he’s really quite impressive! It would be no big deal for a rooster to take care of his 7 ladies, but guineas naturally pair bond, so forming a larger harem like this for non-confined birds is a little unusual, I think!

It’s really funny to watch their breeding behavior, which is pretty different from roosters. When Ghost is “in the mood”, he lets the ladies know by sitting on the ground in what looks to me like a sleepy, droopy headed posture. The guineas are normally so energetic and active, so this is an unusual position for them. The first time he did this, I thought he was sick, and I was quite concerned about my only male! If there are no takers, he gets up and follows the hens to their next foraging location and tries again. He sits like this until a hen suddenly runs full speed at him, veering away from him at the last instant. If he’s interested, he will immediately spring up and chase her for 6-12 feet, then breed, very quickly. Sometimes he gives chase but stops short, for no reason that I can see. It’s really very funny, and I like that there are no aggressive rooster antics since it seems that both need to be in agreement. I haven’t seen missing feathers either, overall much more pleasant! Many people report that they’ve never seen their guineas breed, so I count myself fortunate that they trust me enough not to alter their behavior so much when I’m around.

Lol! That sounds like a hilarious mating ritual. "Catch me if you can!"
I have a young rooster that just started crowing. I haven't seen him trying to mate with any of the hens but I loved him so much that I kind of wsnt to see if any of the eggs might be fertilized before rehoming him. He's a hilarious looking frizzle buff Orpington. Soooo sweet though.

 

[CluckNDoodle]

After losing 8 chicks to a fox/ weasel i thought i’d NEVER get a broody hen again, well my white bantam (the original mother) went broody again. I set some eggs under her but im unsure if theyre fertile because we lost our bantam rooster about two months ago, but after we lost him she went broody so many there’s a tiny chance the eggs will be fertile. If not ill just replace them, it’s worth a shot anyways

It's very unlikely that the eggs will be fertilized after 3 weeks and pretty much zero chance after 2 months unfortunately. I don't usually keep a rooster on my property and my hens all still go broody and will happily sit on fake eggs so it's a hormonal thing and not so much that their eggs are fertile. If you want chicks you should definitely get some fertilized eggs and join us in the August hatch-a-long! Most of us have started to move over there as July finishes out.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Lol! That sounds like a hilarious mating ritual. "Catch me if you can!"
I have a young rooster that just started crowing. I haven't seen him trying to mate with any of the hens but I loved him so much that I kind of wsnt to see if any of the eggs might be fertilized before rehoming him. He's a hilarious looking frizzle buff Orpington. Soooo sweet though.

I love frizzles! He sounds adorable!!

 

[Enigmius]

Awwww, I love the way your little runners stand up so straight at attention!!! Is your littlest one out there too or still in the house?

Yeah. I just love runners, even though they are such scardy-cats. The baby is still indoors in a baby pool with one other duckling for company.

 

[Peachychicken1]

Such cute little babies!!! Are they rumpless auracanas?

Yes they are rumpless..new pics

Such cute little babies!!! Are they rumpless auracanas?

 

[Peachychicken1]

Bigger chicks now..I think going to be black.

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

Bigger chicks now..I think going to be black.

They look like they are doing so well! And so cute too!!

 

[Mixed flock enthusiast]

And here’s a pic of the little one that hatched at 1 AM last night!!! May I present to you.... drumroll, please... Chardonnay! After hatching all of these eggs, we’ve finally gotten ONE that we are certain is a coral blue keet!!!

 

[jolenesdad]

And here’s a pic of the little one that hatched at 1 AM last night!!! May I present to you.... drumroll, please... Chardonnay! After hatching all of these eggs, we’ve finally gotten ONE that we are certain is a coral blue keet!!!

YAYYYYY!!!!!!


Just did a full candle and removed two eggs. 25 total left and they all look really good, including my singular Wheaten pullet.