New Brahma Group: Blue Partridge x Partridge, Plus Dark

[speckledhen]

That would be amazing if all ten eggs hatch. You'll have quite a bit to choose from.

Well, I may not keep any of the Brahmas this time. I will have five BRs so maybe Hector can have another hen or two.

 

[speckledhen]

Well, dang it, Brandy is broody again, too! Chicks under Bonnie are beginning to hatch, but she's a viper!

 

[Wyatt0224]

The excitement will never end for you! I'm praying one of mine go broody. On the bright side you'll never have a shortage of chicks again.

 

[speckledhen]

The excitement will never end for you! I'm praying one of mine go broody. On the bright side you'll never have a shortage of chicks again.

Honestly, I don't want more broodies nor chicks at this point. I'm getting tired of the whole thing; never quite felt like this before, sort of burned out. Though I love my birds, I'm ready to have a mixed barnyard flock of hens, led by another little Xander-man, the only separate group being my handicapped ones who would be picked on in a large group.

I don't want to give Brandy chicks. I really adore Bash, though. He's the calmest rooster in the entire barn. I can just walk up to him and run my hand down his back and he'll hold still for it. But, he needs such big girls and they take up a lot of space. The only non-Brahmas who could handle his size are the original Stukels including Dru, plus Lizzie and maybe my 8 yr old Delaware, Georgie, but she's way too old now for that.

ETA: Three are out and I think almost all, if not all, are pipped. At least two of the hatched are Brahmas, can't find the top of the 3rd egg to check yet, probably flattened under Bonnie. And the cold rain keeps pouring. It's so chilly and wet outside, I moved Cora and little Pooh-bear into the dog crate in the barn in prep for making the little 4x8 ready for Bonnie and her crew to move over there. If all ten hatch or even most of them, that hospital cage will be very cramped very quickly.

 

[speckledhen]

Bonnie has 9 chicks hatched, 1 still not pipped, but alive, though it looks a bit weird in the shell, laying on one side.

The hatched include 4 Brahmas and 5 Barred Rocks. Trying to break up Brandy right now. Wish me luck on that one.


First pics, though not all the chicks, obviously.

 

[speckledhen]

ETA: The last chick was a late goner, shrink-wrapped, so she has a total of 9, 4 Brahmas and 5 BRs.

 

[speckledhen]

I caved and gave 8 Brahma eggs to Brandy. She settled on them and closed her eyes like she was saying, "Ahhhhhh". I tried to make her quit and she was completely frantic. I will sell every one that hatches as soon as she's done with them.


Now, Bonnie and brood at one day old:

 

[1muttsfan]

Aaaaand this is why I don't keep broody breeds

 

[speckledhen]

Aaaaand this is why I don't keep broody breeds

I did not think they would be this type of broody! Now, Bailey, Betsy nor B.J. has shown any inclination in that department yet and I hope they don't!

Broodies are great on occasion, though. I don't like brooding chicks and I rarely need the number that would require an incubator, except when I need new blood or want a different breed, of course, like with the Dirty Dozen and the Brahma Brigade. It's just that they don't do it when you need them to!

Brandy and Bonnie may never go broody again. I mean, I've had hens who went broody exactly once in their entire lives, like Panda, Rita and Tiny. Of course, this is two times for each sister before they even turn a year old. Maybe they'll get their fill and never want to do it again!

The Brahma chicks with Bonnie are pretty much already sold, I do believe. When Brandy hatches hers and finally is sick of them, every one will be sold, or that's the current plan. They are all Brahmas.

 

[speckledhen]

Cora is 12 weeks old now. She's skittish like Bonnie was at her age, but she'll settle as soon as I put her in an adult group and I'm her "safe haven". Always happens that way!
Click to enlarge. Interesting the way this new system works. May be better, actually!And photos of Bonnie and her week-old chicks, plus Bash and the other three non-broody gals.



Attempting to re-upload, but it's not taking them all that well. I'll hit submit and we'll see what happens.


VERY odd! It took two pics separately from the others. oh, well, whatever!