My hen hatched a dozen Bourbon Reds! UPDATED PIC #31

[chick4chix]

ahhhhh...that is just the cutest thing ever! congratulations!

 

[phoenixmama]

I am about to burst from the cuteness! I love turkeys!

 

[texaschickmama]

That's cute. My guineas hatched out some like that. Came up out of the woods with 20 keets.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

Awwwwww!!

What a sight! They are adorable!

 

[chickenannie]

I was laughing yesterday because when I went to close up the barn, half the chicks were sitting on her back like a bunch of fat lil' things and she was just tolerating it, but looking goofy as heck.

 

[chickenannie]

Bad news! Last night after work I let the chicks out with their mom for their daily evening romp, and the other turkeys came over and killed a chick by pecking it on the head. I am so angry at them!! Why did they do that?!! So cruel to each other.
Normally when I let her out she just goes with the chicks on her own to the back yard, but this time I think the other turkeys saw her and they ran over and killed her chick.

My only consolation is that I still have 11 healthy strong chicks that seem to be doing great. And I'm pleased that my poults rate of survival is so good -- 100% if the attack hadn't happened.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

yay!

and OH NO!!! sorry about the baby......

harp, steve, and the other have strongly cautioned me to keep the babies separate and that its not unusual for the other hens to kill the babies! can you pen them up separately?? we didnt mix ours until they were totally feathered out and could fight back.

they are all roosting together - except for my two BR hens who are setting nests!! well, Bramble is setting a lovely clutch and we had to find Runner on the neighbor's fox infested property...on a hutch clutch! so we moved her and she hasnt sat back down but she's laying again

but back to you - YAY!!!!!

 

[chickenannie]

Yeah, I do have the hen mom with her 11 poults in a separate pen in a different barn. But they like to get out for a short time daily, so I let them out for an hour or so in the evening. Anyways, I'm realizing I have to keep a very close eye on them if I do that. I think the chicks (and Mom) are healthier if I can let them out to graze and dust bathe once a day.

 

[ScoobyRoo]

chickenannie,
It has been just over a month. Any current pics of the poults? how are they all doin? I bet the have grown a lot!!

 

[stuckinthecity]

I hate that u lost one! I hate how chickens and turkeys will kill the little ones!! But this is a great story of how "dumb" birds can be good moms. I really like the pic btw, shes a pretty hen.