MJ's little flock

[Shadrach]

I had a quiet moment so I pulled the straw out of the roosting part of the little coop while keeping it bulked up in the nest part, and put clean grit in there. Peggy sat through the whole operation.

I put water in there so it's convenient for chicks if they hatch. I'll put food nearby once they're hatched. The terracotta dishes didn't work out Shad, but I can go buy some especially if the plastic water container isn't ok.

Guess who went in to inspect?

View attachment 2959016

Spoiler: Guess who...

View attachment 2959017

The plastic waterer should be fine.

 

[MaryJanet]

Janet is probably just rolling her eyes at all the hormonal goings on!

Janet has always been preoccupied with her diet. It's a seafood diet: see food and eat it. And these days she loves frequent naps

 

[MaryJanet]

The plastic waterer should be fine.

Ok great!

What about the broody tag team?

 

[Shadrach]

They're co-habiting with remarkable peacefulness. Do I leave them be?

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I've had a few co sits. If they aren't pulling the eggs back and forth or fighting over who sits where I would leave them. That doesn't mean it won't go horribly wrong.
But, it looks like you've got two hens that will go broody so even if it goes wrong this time you'll get another chance.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just regular rocks is fine - it doesn't have to be marbles! Some say marbles are less good than rocks becuase they have such slippy smooth surfaces.
I researched this endlessly before getting the baby Roadrunners - of course then they never once actually jumped in their water dish so it didn't matter!

I've got a lot of blue metal gravel lying around. I could boil a few handfuls to sterilise then keep them in a sandwich bag.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've had a few co sits. If they aren't pulling the eggs back and forth or fighting over who sits where I would leave them. That doesn't mean it won't go horribly wrong.
But, it looks like you've got two hens that will go broody so even if it goes wrong this time you'll get another chance.

This morning they're more side by side than when I last checked and I haven't heard any bickering.

 

[Shadrach]

Ok great!

What about the broody tag team?

Fine but has a risk element.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've had a few co sits. If they aren't pulling the eggs back and forth or fighting over who sits where I would leave them. That doesn't mean it won't go horribly wrong.
But, it looks like you've got two hens that will go broody so even if it goes wrong this time you'll get another chance.

I'm expecting something to go wrong anyway.

Eggs might not be fertile (I may candle them to check)

Hatch might go badly

With Ivy sitting I don't have to worry about Peggy deserting the nest.

Chicks might be malformed.

Chicks might meet with a gruesome end

... I'm sure I can think of more if I really try

On the other hand, it does feel more ethical than shopping for pullets. And it's exciting.

I'm already counting my chickens before they hatch and thinking up names

 

[Shadrach]

I'm expecting something to go wrong anyway.

Eggs might not be fertile (I may candle them to check)

Hatch might go badly

With Ivy sitting I don't have to worry about Peggy deserting the nest.

Chicks might be malformed.

Chicks might meet with a gruesome end

... I'm sure I can think of more if I really try

On the other hand, it does feel more ethical than shopping for pullets. And it's exciting.

I'm already counting my chickens before they hatch and thinking up names

My view is whatever happens you've tried to give your hens the chance to sit and hatch and you've found them eggs. I think you've done really well and I'm hoping that you will look back and realise what a wonderful thing you've enabled.
Hens are pretty good at this baby business. Out of the many I had sit and hatch there were comparatively few problems. The first few times I was a bundle of nerves. The next few times I was interested and observant. Eventually I got to the point of wishing hens had a broody off switch.
If you can find the time to sit and listen to the chicks hatching and watch the mum I just know you'll be enchanted.

 

[MaryJanet]

Melissa after my friend who recently died

Krystal after a baby cousin who was never healthy and who died at 3 days.