Love that broody mama!

[instar8]

This is my not-even-a-year old Barnevelder hen who went crazy broody...i finally let her have some eggs, thinking I'd toss them when I got the Araucana eggs I ordered. But then i checked them, and saw one almost ready to go, i hadn't really paid much attention to the age of the eggs and how long she'd had them...so i let her hatch it...here's "her" baby...i wish i'd let all my broodies raise chicks, this chick seems so happy, using mom as a playground, hiding under her skirts when i come in.

The chick's real mom is a white Ameraucana, dad is either an ameraucana-Black copper marans mix, or a splash blue-laced red wyandotte...i was NOT planning on actively breeding any of those birds, but this should be interesting!

This morning my Araucanas are hatching, when they're all dry and rested up, I'll slip them under Velda...;~)

Sure beats keeping them in my spare bathroom for 6weeks!!

 

[EyeHeartBantams]

Ain't broody hens great?

My no-more-than 7 month old hens are sitting on a clutch each, and the one clutch is hatching this weekend; two chicks out already. Can't beat that. But I may not let my mamas keep their only because I can't separate them from the rooster and I'm scared he might kill them. But yay for broody mamas! Better than an incubator I betchya.

 

[instar8]

Oh definitely! I guess i didn't mention that i ended up putting the Araucana eggs in my incubator cause i was afraid she couldn't cover them all. Out of 16 eggs, 5 never did anything, 6 stopped growing by 15 days. I've got two that hatched pip-and-zip in less than an hour...and one that pipped yesterday, and is still working it...i HATE that! I fiddled a little just now, darned membrane is really dry, but still getting some drops of blood. It's a huge chick, but he's peepin and nibbling, grrr...HANDS OFF!

This doesn't happen with a broody!!

I have Velda in with roosters, but she's in a giant wire dog crate. I think i'd be just as afraid of some of my hens! When the chicks get a little bigger, I have a portable coop to grow them out in. Wish i'd have thought of this years ago.

Lynn

 

[instar8]

Lookit the size of that foot...no wonder he's having a hard time!

 

[gabrielle1976]

dang he must be packed in so tight he cant move to zipp well poor thing

 

[instar8]

I fidgeted around til i saw a wing out flapping and struggling before i finally extricated the poor thing...he IS huge! Doin fine ;~)

I've had it go soooo wrong too many times....