New Addition...where did he come from? And then there's the broody hen...

[Krichie82]

My fiancee and I have been enjoying the hens that came along with our new rental for about a month now. Two days ago we arrived home from work to find a rooster among them. We don't know where he came from but he seems to like it here. Here's a photo of him.. I'm guessing he's another wild game bird. What do you think?

Also, one of the hens has been laying on her nest for weeks and I'm getting worried about her because she never seems to leave the nest. We thought surely she was getting food and water for herself when we were at work but as we had a day off yesterday we now know that she doesn't get up at all. I put some berries and a bowl of water in the nesting box for her; the berries are gone but I'm not sure if she ate them or if one of the other hens came on the porch and got them. Should I be concerned? If the eggs weren't fertilized, will she sit on them forever?

 

[iwiw60]

My fiancee and I have been enjoying the hens that came along with our new rental for about a month now. Two days ago we arrived home from work to find a rooster among them. We don't know where he came from but he seems to like it here. Here's a photo of him.. I'm guessing he's another wild game bird. What do you think?

Also, one of the hens has been laying on her nest for weeks and I'm getting worried about her because she never seems to leave the nest. We thought surely she was getting food and water for herself when we were at work but as we had a day off yesterday we now know that she doesn't get up at all. I put some berries and a bowl of water in the nesting box for her; the berries are gone but I'm not sure if she ate them or if one of the other hens came on the porch and got them. Should I be concerned? If the eggs weren't fertilized, will she sit on them forever?

He's grand looking! As for your broody hen, here's some great info for you:

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/search?q=broody

Hope this helps some...good luck to you!

 

[Krichie82]

Thank you.

 

[newmarch2014]

OMG he is gorgeous! How lucky for you to have him just wander along.

 

[Percheron chick]

He is.

Slip 3 chicks under your hen and take the eggs. They will be nasty if she breaks one.

 

[Krichie82]

OMG he is gorgeous! How lucky for you to have him just wander along.

Thank you. I thought he was a handsome fellow as well and he's doing a fine job of keeping the flock under control. We had a hen who was beating up on the others but he seems to have put a stop to it.. now all she does is follow him around

 

[Krichie82]

He is.

Slip 3 chicks under your hen and take the eggs. They will be nasty if she breaks one.

I believe Mother's Day is day 21 (by my best guess- the first week she wasn't sitting all the time and she was still laying so once we noticed she wasn't moving I started counting)... I'm not sure if they were fertilized or not... I'm brand new to this. I would love to have some little ones around so I'm going to let her continue to sit and give her food and water in her box (she seems to be eating). If they aren't hatching by next week I think I'll have to TRY to remove them- she's very protective.

 

[BlessedCountry6]

Wow! I would love a handsome rooster like that to just show up. lol! Thank your lucky chickens!!

 

[Percheron chick]

I believe Mother's Day is day 21 (by my best guess- the first week she wasn't sitting all the time and she was still laying so once we noticed she wasn't moving I started counting)... I'm not sure if they were fertilized or not... I'm brand new to this. I would love to have some little ones around so I'm going to let her continue to sit and give her food and water in her box (she seems to be eating). If they aren't hatching by next week I think I'll have to TRY to remove them- she's very protective.

They would only be potentially viable if you had a rooster around the middle of April. Once it gets dark, you can remove the eggs and introduce chicks.

 

[Krichie82]

Wow! I would love a handsome rooster like that to just show up. lol! Thank your lucky chickens!!

Lol