My banty hen, her eggs... Update: CHICKS ARE HATCHING NOW

[CherokeeCowgirl]

I raised this little banty hen from an egg and I recently found her outside in a cozy little nest she made with 9 eggs. We only have large size roosters so I figured her eggs aren't fertile. I went and bought her five little 2 week old chicks and gave them to her tonight. She immediatly tucked them all under her. I am so happy! This is as cool as having real babies

 

[4-H chicken mom]

That is such a cute story. I am so happy she accepted the babies. What a win win situation. Congrats. You might want to candle those eggs she is sitting on. You might be surprised. Where there is a will, there is a way.

 

[CherokeeCowgirl]

Really? I just figured that they couldn't do it because of the size difference. I have seen one rooster try to mount her but it didn't look successful. Hmm....LOL That would be crazy. I get her chicks and her eggs are fertile.

eta: And I am SO happy she accepted them too. I had a brooder set up just in case.

 

[CherokeeCowgirl]

NO WAY!!! I just candled 2 of her eggs and THEY ARE ALIVE!!???? I can't beleive it! I had no idea a big chicken could do a little chicken and get her fertile! WOW!!!!

I should've thought to candle before I run out and get her chicks!

I am in shock!

She is going to be the Octo-hen!! LOL

 

[SilverPhoenix]

Quote:

And this is adorable! I hope she manages to hatch her eggs, too! Good luck!

 

[92caddy]

Size doesnt matter with birds, as stated above, where there is a will, there is a way...........

 

[suburbanminifarm]

Congrats!

But won't she be likely to leave the eggs now that she has chicks? I don't think she'll just stay on the nest with kids to take care of....

 

[CherokeeCowgirl]

I did this all tonight. Her eggs are still under her along with the chicks. I was going to just leave the nest be and let her leave it with her chicks on her own when she got ready. I am thinking I should go out and take the chicks out from under her and stick them in the brooder and let her do the rest herself. From her personality, I think she will stay with her eggs if the chicks aren't there. I have been petting her on her nest and feeding her already and she hasn't left the nest.

I do have an incubator I am setting some Welsummer eggs in tomorrow evening. I could stick them in there and leave the chicks too though.....but I do have another hen I could give them to that would take them.

Dang, I shoud've gotten on here and asked about it first.

 

[thechickenchick]

Yes it works that way and also the other way. I only have banty roosters and all but 2 of the hens are standard. Still my eggs are fertilized. I was told it doesn't work but as previously stated... where there is a will there is a way!

 

[kaya's farm]

You could take the chicks to the brooder and let her hatch the eggs. Depending on the size they can all go under the mother once the eggs hatch. GOOD LUCK!!!