MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

What I haven't really understood MJ is why you want chicks and why now.

Because Mary's going on suprelorin soon, which will prevent further ovulation and reproductive behaviours like brooding.

It's her last sit and I'm trying to make it successful for her.

 

[Shadrach]

Because Mary's going on suprelorin soon, which will prevent further ovulation and reproductive behaviours like brooding.

It's her last sit and I'm trying to make it successful for her.

So it's more wanting to have Mary experience raising chicks before the implant than wanting to further her genes.
Does the implant stop the hen going broody?

 

[MaryJanet]

It was successful enough for the company to move away from the incubator and broody cage model. We had more trouble with hens changing their minds about being broody. We needed 20+ broodies hatching 4 chicks each in the first year if my memory serves me. We failed the first year but got it the second.

We did get a few hens refuse chicks and those chicks got human raised in a broody coop and that hen was taken out of the breeding cycle initially but some from what I recal that were prone to broodiness did much better sitting and hatching their own.
This was on one of the early free range eggs and meat enterprises. It was a sideline of a reasonably profitable foreward thinking farm. The chicks hatched and raised by a broody rather than incubator and human raised saved a lot of money once it got rolling. All that heat and light and attention costs.

The company went bust in the end. People just weren't prepared to pay the prices required to make a reasonable profit. It would probably work now because the plight of the chicken and peoples interest in their health and the provenance of their food is more widespread.

What I haven't really understood MJ is why you want chicks and why now.

A shame the farm didn't work out. Seems it was ahead of its time.

 

[MaryJanet]

So it's more wanting to have Mary experience raising chicks before the implant than wanting to further her genes.
Does the implant stop the hen going broody?

Yes, that's right.

So the vet tells me, yes.

It's a now or never situation for Mary.

 

[MaryJanet]

I can't hear any peeping, but my hearing is not perfect. So I've taken a video in case anyone else can hear something.

The chirp chirps in the distance are magpies.

 

[BY Bob]

I've been thinking that through and reading some websites, including articles and posts on byc.

Pm me if you want to discuss. I'm here to help

 

[MaryJanet]

Pm me if you want to discuss. I'm here to help

Hopefully it won't come to that, but I will if needs be.

 

[BY Bob]

I've had the following reply

yes I have these in yesterdays hatch. I will be home from 12.00 noon until 5.00pm tomorrow or all day Sunday. Thanks​

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So we know there are little ones I can fetch tomorrow (Saturday, day 23) or Sunday (day 24).

If the eggs don't hatch today, it seems reasonable to introduce chicks Saturday night, after dark, without removing the eggs. That way the eggs can continue incubating until Mary is satisfied no one is coming out.

Any thoughts?

I would remove the eggs. In my experience she may not accept them if the eggs are still there.

 

[MaryJanet]

I would remove the eggs. In my experience she may not accept them if the eggs are still there.

Thanks Bob.

I think I'm ok with removing eggs at day 23 in order to give chicks on their 3rd day to Mary.

If I wait for day 24, the chicks will be on their 4th day.

The chicks' age seems to be an acceptance factor.

 

[BY Bob]

Thanks Bob.

I think I'm ok with removing eggs at day 23 in order to give chicks on their 3rd day to Mary.

If I wait for day 24, the chicks will be on their 4th day.

The chicks' age seems to be an acceptance factor.

It is. As close to day old as you can get is best.