***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Poco Pollo]

The rest of my broodies surprised me today with their new babies. My blue hen hatched four. She's had them outside most of the day, but I wasn't able to get any pictures. Every time I got close she squatted and the little ones ran under her. I snapped this when she came out for lunch. Her babies stayed inside the coop.


My two boodie Chanteclers hatched ten between them, but one hen got into a snit today when she was with her babies in the yard. She stepped on four of her little ones and left them. They were cold and barely moving when I found them. They're in a warm brooder in the shop, and after about an hour, three of the babies were standing on their own. The fourth is coming around slowly. I'm stressed about leaving the rest of the babies with their momma. I have a picture taken two days ago, before any of the eggs hatched. Maybe my bad momma hen has PHD (post hatching depression). I'm going to watch her closely for the next few days.





My broodie Marans hatched three of seven between them. They had two nests and moved back and forth between them, so I think the eggs didn't have equal incubation time. I'll carry my camera after work. Maybe I can get some pictures of moms teaching babies how to scratch.

 

[Poco Pollo]

I've got an update on the four chicks that were nearly lost today. They are all able to stand, but none are interested in food or water yet. I've dipped beaks to remind them what the water is for, and they have each had a couple of swallows. The babies are from eggs collected from a mixed pen, so parentage is uncertain. One is black with white wing tips, two are light with three dark back stripes, and the last is a chipmunk colored naked neck with green legs. I hope the NN turns out to be a girl.

 

[lonnyandrinda]

Oh, Coral they are so precious! Glad you found them in time, the poor dears!

 

[okracefan]

I have a hen that is eating chicks. I am not sure if she is cracking eggs open and eating them or if she is killing them then eating them. I have seen her the last 2 days with a chick in her mouth However I have not heard any peeping or signs of a chick getting ready to hatch.

Also thought that I had lost a GL pullet yesterday. Today she showed up outside the pen looking for a way to get back in. When I started walking towards the pen she met me halfway then she let me pick her up and carry her back to the pen. I wonder if a hawk might have picked it up then dropped it.

 

[NanaKat]

Okracefan, I've had an inexperienced hen clean her nest each time a chick hatched. I took her eggs, gave her golf balls and then replaced the golf balls with dry hatched babies a few days later. She did great then.

 

[mjgigax]

I've got an update on the four chicks that were nearly lost today. They are all able to stand, but none are interested in food or water yet. I've dipped beaks to remind them what the water is for, and they have each had a couple of swallows. The babies are from eggs collected from a mixed pen, so parentage is uncertain. One is black with white wing tips, two are light with three dark back stripes, and the last is a chipmunk colored naked neck with green legs. I hope the NN turns out to be a girl.

Yes, keep us up dated on what they turn out to be like. I am especially interested in chipmunk colored chicks. Many Mille Fleur Cochins hatch out chipmunk colored. So do Welsummers and Gold Salmon Marans and Partridge Cochins. Chipmunk chicks sure do change a lot.

 

[BetsyOK]

I'd be happy to share the apple cake recipe if you'd like.

 

[Kassaundra]

I've got an update on the four chicks that were nearly lost today. They are all able to stand, but none are interested in food or water yet. I've dipped beaks to remind them what the water is for, and they have each had a couple of swallows. The babies are from eggs collected from a mixed pen, so parentage is uncertain. One is black with white wing tips, two are light with three dark back stripes, and the last is a chipmunk colored naked neck with green legs. I hope the NN turns out to be a girl.

If not I bet we could sneek you a girl NN home on the big "C" day.

 

[NanaKat]

Had a couple of people ask for the recipe

Old-Fashioned Cabbage Salad
serves 4 - 6 people

Prep the dressing:
1 tsp instant minced onion
1/2 tsp celery seed
1/2 tsp dry mustard or a squirt of mustard spread
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 TBS sugar
3 TBS salad oil
1/3 c white vinegar

Drizzle it over and toss:
4 cups chopped cabbage (about 1/2 a head)
1 TBS chopped pimento ( pickled in a jar)
1/4 c green bell pepper chopped
1/4 c yellow bell pepper chopped
1/2 cup fine chopped carrot

Refrigerate overnight, toss salad and then garnish with sliced green olives with pimento.

I used two heads of cabbage so multiplied everything by 4

 

[Poco Pollo]

If not I bet we could sneek you a girl NN home on the big "C" day.

That would be awesome! Two more weeks and I can start making chicken plans.

The four babies were up and talking this morning. They were standing in their food dish, so I suspect they sampled a few pieces. To anyone who discovers chicks they think are gonners... try a heat lamp for a few hours. Don't give up before you try to warm them.