LGBTQ+ Poultry Keepers

[fluffycrow]

Every broody is different! And of course her hormones could fire up at any time and get her setting again. She would definitely boot them all if she goes broody. Definitely protect Lady Gaga, that young boy will soon be as big as he is!

My hope is that if Cruella hoes broody again she'll force one of her female chicks to care for the babies as well. Being LF they'll have a lot more capacity under there

 

[fluffycrow]

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Here's a few more pics. Still six chicks, found an egg under her that had been partially pecked open (membrane intact, big chunks of shell gone), baby was dead. Yolk not absorbed. One egg was pipped and peeping, I'm almost tempted to take it inside to the 'bator to hatch, but if it can't make it out and survive on it's own, then so be it. I'm learning tough love.

I also keep reminding myself that the high mortality is most probably due to falling off the rocky ledge. Honestly, how only one of them cracked is anyone's guess!

So the ones with the spots on the head, is that a Barred thing?

There's one more light blue that is a momma's chick and doesn't like to come out to visit.

Beautiful! Yup, tough love is hard

 

[Canadian Wind]

For @fluffycrow

 

[JacinLarkwell]

My broodies used to raise their chicks for months. Now apart from my cochin and possibly silkies, they usually only care for them for the bare minimum needed for them to survive on their own. I think the raccoons last year changed their brooding style to 'raise as many nests as possible' instead of 'raise as strong as possible'.

 

[fluffycrow]

For @fluffycrow

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Fluffy . She'll go broody soon

 

[Canadian Wind]

Fluffy . She'll go broody soon

I hope not! It's almost September!

But she has been laying regularly. Disappointed in the size of her eggs though, they're practically bantam-sized! Hopefully they get bigger after the winter break.

 

[TwoCrows]

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Here's a few more pics. Still six chicks, found an egg under her that had been partially pecked open (membrane intact, big chunks of shell gone), baby was dead. Yolk not absorbed. One egg was pipped and peeping, I'm almost tempted to take it inside to the 'bator to hatch, but if it can't make it out and survive on it's own, then so be it. I'm learning tough love.

I also keep reminding myself that the high mortality is most probably due to falling off the rocky ledge. Honestly, how only one of them cracked is anyone's guess!

So the ones with the spots on the head, is that a Barred thing?

There's one more light blue that is a momma's chick and doesn't like to come out to visit.

Aww... Super adorable Wind! Mommas know things about their babies, even while in the egg. They also can sense time and if chicks don't hatch in a timely manner, mommas will just end their lives. This is also why staggering hatches is bad with broodies, once hatched babies are a couple days old, mommas start to focus on the live babies, caring for them and will abandon eggs even at the pipping stage. Nature needs to keep those alive that survive the test of hatching.

 

[fluffycrow]

I hope not! It's almost September!

But she has been laying regularly. Disappointed in the size of her eggs though, they're practically bantam-sized! Hopefully they get bigger after the winter break.

I like smaller eggs. They're easier to pass, so more safe for the bird. She'll go broody. I can feel it. I predict 3-6 weeks and you'll have a growling fluffy

 

[fluffycrow]

Aww... Super adorable Wind! Mommas know things about their babies, even while in the egg. They also can sense time and if chicks don't hatch in a timely manner, mommas will just end their lives. This is also why staggering hatches is bad with broodies, once hatched babies are a couple days old, mommas start to focus on the live babies, caring for them and will abandon eggs even at the pipping stage. Nature needs to keep those alive that survive the test of hatching.

Broodies are just so magical

 

[TwoCrows]

Broodies are just so magical

Yeah they are.