Letting Nature take it's course

[aquabum]

Well, I told myself that if one of my hens went broody, I'd let her sit on some eggs! My chickens are mutts and it's going to be interesting to see what nature gives me!

She's sitting on 8 eggs now. Was 9 eggs. But I candled them when she got off the other day and saw that 8 out of the 9 had growth. One was not fertilized and discarded it! Marked the original 9 and have been pulling one or two a day out that are laid under her from the others.

She's been on the eggs for 10 days and have 11-12 more to go!

She's been sitting on them like a champ. She's not separated from my others and I'm going to let her raise and integrate them and not get in momma's way!

She's a cross from an EE and a Rhode Island red rooster. She gives me a pastel green egg! Shes sitting on an egg from just about all of my hens! A polish, austrolorp, Rhode island red, buff orpington, another polish mix, fluffy foot partridge cochin and some EE mixes as well.

Rooster is a red sex link that was supposed to be a hen when we got him. Didn't want a rooster, but the kiddos liked him and well, he's been around 1.5 years now!

 

[microchick]

Congratulations! I just had a broody hatch two little chicks this morning and a second hen is on 4 eggs that should be hatching before tomorrow. I have one pip so now the waiting game begins.

You can really cut down on your aggravation by putting the hen and her eggs in an area all to herself so other hens can't lay eggs in her nest giving you a staggered hatch or damaging the eggs. Once the little ones hatch you can let mom and the babies out if you want to but personally, I'd be very careful doing that until the chicks are older. I tried that once and had another hen kill the babies.

Now I generally keep mamma and babies in a pen to themselves where the rest of the flock can see them. Babies go free when mom gets tired of them and they are of a size big enough that they can get away from the bigger birds if they have to.

Make sure you post pictures of your chicks when they hatch! We all love baby pictures.

 

[chrissynemetz]

You have such a lovely flock! And that's one gorgeous rooster

 

[Camellia]

wow that rooster.. so pretty..

 

[50-45-1]

Image 8431 looks pretty enough to be framed or candidate for a puzzle photo.
Wow, you have a beautiful bunch of chickens.
I think your hen will be fine where she is. Just watch closely for the first couple days to see how the rest of the flock behave around her chicks.
I too separate my broodies to rabbit style hutches , and return hen and chicks to the coop when chicks are 2 weeks old.
Deffinately add a photo or two of your chicks when they arrive.

 

[chickens really]

Hello...The one concern you should have is once the eggs begin to hatch the others might kill them. I'd separate her till her Chicks are about 5 days and then let with the flock.

 

[aquabum]

Thanks everyone! Our rooster was a surprise that was supposed to be a hen! He was a late bloomer at that and by then my kiddos wanted to keep him! So we did and he allows us to pick him up and carry him around etc... And he protects his girls too! Couldn't ask for a better Roo! His name is Rocket for his red flame plumage.

Momma is doing good and I thought about moving her once I found out she was broody. But I did hear about them possibly not taking to the new spot. So I watched her and the others and she's been great at sitting on them! This Saturday marks 21 Days. We'll see how many hatch.

I have a separate area and brooder box I could put her once they hatch. I marked the original eggs I let her sit on and have removed the others each day as I find them. I let one get by me the last 2-3 days apparently and I unfortunately candled it to see growth! But I don't want her trying to sit on that one egg at the expense of the others that should hatch about the same time! I could leave it and once I see them hatching, I could move her and she might be able to hatch that last one.

I'm all about letting nature take it's course and see what happens. Part of life lessons I teach my kiddos!

More pics of Rocket!

 

[aquabum]

What I'm really interested in is if this egg/chick combo hatches. I have a golden laced Polish that she's laying on! So my rooster and this Polish should be interesting

.

 

[Anime2lover]

Thanks everyone! Our rooster was a surprise that was supposed to be a hen! He was a late bloomer at that and by then my kiddos wanted to keep him! So we did and he allows us to pick him up and carry him around etc... And he protects his girls too! Couldn't ask for a better Roo! His name is Rocket for his red flame plumage.

Momma is doing good and I thought about moving her once I found out she was broody. But I did hear about them possibly not taking to the new spot. So I watched her and the others and she's been great at sitting on them! This Saturday marks 21 Days. We'll see how many hatch.

I have a separate area and brooder box I could put her once they hatch. I marked the original eggs I let her sit on and have removed the others each day as I find them. I let one get by me the last 2-3 days apparently and I unfortunately candled it to see growth! But I don't want her trying to sit on that one egg at the expense of the others that should hatch about the same time! I could leave it and once I see them hatching, I could move her and she might be able to hatch that last one.

I'm all about letting nature take it's course and see what happens. Part of life lessons I teach my kiddos!

More pics of Rocket!View attachment 1808525 View attachment 1808526

If it was layed much at this point, then she may most likely abandon it in favor of caring for her hatched chicks.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Ditto re Photo 8431!