YOUR GOING TO LOVE THOSE BRAHMAS, I HOPE ALL 4 SURVIVEWhen I checked up on the hatching peeps this evening, I found to my complete annoyance that the cardboard barrier I had put up to keep chicklets safe was down, probably pulled off by another nosy hen trying to get up into the broody's business. Mrs. Beasley had three peepers under her, all Brahmas and all hiding up in her feathers. I then noticed a fourth little white fuzzball Brahma on the floor. It must have been pushed out of the nest. I picked it up, assuming it was dead, but noted that it was limp, not stiff. Then, it moved a little bit. So, I brought it inside and sat with it on the couch, warming it up in my hands. Much to my delight, it was soon peeping, then alert, then trying to climb up into my hand and making contented sleepy peeps. So, now it's back with Mrs. B and its siblings behind a much better barrier.Given that Mrs. B was a complete dingbat for this hatch, if I end up with only four I'm good with it. She's an experienced broody and is fantastic with her chicks, but a bit thick in the head when sitting. Granted, I would have liked all twelve to hatch, but four works when the poor eggies were occasionally knocked on the floor, left to cool because their stupid mother saw one egg in a nest and figured it was hers, and so on. Meanwhile, my Faverolle continues to sit on her duck eggs and growl at all comers (except me). She has development in all of them, so maybe I'll have a few more ducks. Duckehs are an addiction.
As for the turkeys, they're wild little monsters, especially the Bronzes. Unlike some of my brooder-raised chickens and ducks, they show absolutely no fear of humans - instead, they mob you if you put your hand in their brooder. They're more likely to be in your way than cowering from you. The hobbled baby is improving nicely, and is starting to get the hang of using its leg and walking somewhat upright instead of using its wing as a crutch. I'll reset the rubber-band hobbles tomorrow for it. It's eating and drinking normally, and trying to get into scuffles - it's just hampered by that spraddled leg right now. They'll go into the pen tomorrow so they have room, as they're active as anything. I really like them!
I think you mentioned yesterday that you prob. will not keep all the turkeys, if you deside to part with some of the bronze, i might be interested when and if you deside...BTW if you want more eggs to try to hatch, just PM me.When I checked up on the hatching peeps this evening, I found to my complete annoyance that the cardboard barrier I had put up to keep chicklets safe was down, probably pulled off by another nosy hen trying to get up into the broody's business. Mrs. Beasley had three peepers under her, all Brahmas and all hiding up in her feathers. I then noticed a fourth little white fuzzball Brahma on the floor. It must have been pushed out of the nest. I picked it up, assuming it was dead, but noted that it was limp, not stiff. Then, it moved a little bit. So, I brought it inside and sat with it on the couch, warming it up in my hands. Much to my delight, it was soon peeping, then alert, then trying to climb up into my hand and making contented sleepy peeps. So, now it's back with Mrs. B and its siblings behind a much better barrier.Given that Mrs. B was a complete dingbat for this hatch, if I end up with only four I'm good with it. She's an experienced broody and is fantastic with her chicks, but a bit thick in the head when sitting. Granted, I would have liked all twelve to hatch, but four works when the poor eggies were occasionally knocked on the floor, left to cool because their stupid mother saw one egg in a nest and figured it was hers, and so on. Meanwhile, my Faverolle continues to sit on her duck eggs and growl at all comers (except me). She has development in all of them, so maybe I'll have a few more ducks. Duckehs are an addiction.
As for the turkeys, they're wild little monsters, especially the Bronzes. Unlike some of my brooder-raised chickens and ducks, they show absolutely no fear of humans - instead, they mob you if you put your hand in their brooder. They're more likely to be in your way than cowering from you. The hobbled baby is improving nicely, and is starting to get the hang of using its leg and walking somewhat upright instead of using its wing as a crutch. I'll reset the rubber-band hobbles tomorrow for it. It's eating and drinking normally, and trying to get into scuffles - it's just hampered by that spraddled leg right now. They'll go into the pen tomorrow so they have room, as they're active as anything. I really like them!
