Meet Broody Buffy - CHICKS are hatching! Pictures!

[Catstar68]

I love family pictures!
My BO, Fannie hatched out 7 of the flock's eggs 6 weeks ago. I did the natural 'childbirth;' thing and never separated her or the chicks when they hatched and everything went well. Mom protected the babies when necessary and one of my EE hens became a bit of a godmother. She was the only one Fannie would let get right next to them. The rooster was protective of them all and now the chicks are 'weaned'. They got more and more independent and mom got less and less protective and now everyone is just part of the flock. The youngsters seem to hang out together like a bunch of rowdy kids at the mall.

They still sleep in the nest box but every night I move them to the perches. Maybe one day they will outgrow the 'crib'.
Only problem is, I think 5 of the 7 are cockerels. Since 6 are 'pure' EEs and one is a BO/EE cross (Fannie's baby) it's really hard to tell though. I'm glad I just let Fannie do the work. She did a great job all on her own.
Congrats on the new babies!

 

[BLaBauve]

I'm glad to hear a good story about letting Mom do the work. I plan on letting Buffy do most of the work. I am a little worried she may be too nasty to the other pullets in the run. We'll see! The weather was perfect for her hatch. We didn't have rain for 20 days straight, just heat, and now on hatch day it's rainy!

 

[gryeyes]

Ohhhhhh, she's done SUCH a good job! How perfectly adorable! Multiple GrandChicks! A FLOCK of GrandChicks for you! It makes my heart melt to see them tucked in under her. Awwwwwwww!

I know exactly what you mean by "amazing experience." I know I may be nominally sorry for it later, but if my Buffy goes broody again, or any other pullet of mine decides she wants to set a clutch of eggs, I'm going to be as supportive as I can be to her/them.

Gosh your GrandChicks are so CUTE. Look at their little beaky faces!!! And their fluffiness!

Where are the bubble-gum cigars when you need 'em???

 

[BLaBauve]

I know, I need some champagne!

How will I feed the chicks within the flock without the hens eating all their food? The layer feed is raised so I know the chicks can't get that.

I am a little worried once Mom takes the babies out into the run that their will be chaos. She is the bottom of the pecking order, she is only above the young pullets that she bullies. She lets me touch her babies no problem, I hope that doesn't mean she will let the other hens go after them. She has always been our most docile hen towards humans.

 

[kano]

You should separate her and the babies, in a breeding pen, if you don't want bad experiences. Some hens can be very mean whith chicks.

 

[BLaBauve]

I'm trying the wait and see approach. Right now there is a rabbit cage around the nesting box so the other hens can't get to the chicks. In a few days, once Mom is ready I figure I'll let them go into the run with the big girls. If I think anyone is going to a danger to the chicks I will be separating them. I just hate separating hens from my flock, it's so hard to integrate them back in with a lot of fighting. I'm hoping that the other hens will be fine with the babies, they're generally fine when I put new pullets in with them. They only have a problem with large hens coming into their flock. Hoping for the best. . .

 

[Mrs. K]

I have two buff orpingtons sitting on eggs. Day 2.....how am I going to wait????

I keep going down to check on them. please, please may they keep stuck tick to the nest!

mk

 

[BLaBauve]

You think it's bad now?? Wait until day 18!!!

 

[Supermommy486]

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwww LOVE it

 

[Chantay]

CONGRATULATIONS! I am expecting babies this week. It will be my first time with a broody & I am so eggcited!!