Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

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Looks like Topsy has left the babies at a few days shy of 6 weeks old. :(

I've noticed her spending more time away from them during the day. Today I saw Vanilla Ice with the chicks in the coop during the day and it seemed like she was trying to teach them to roost, meanwhile Topsy was out in the run getting mated. I figured it was just a timing thing and she would catch up to them after the rooster got off her back. Then tonight at lockup I saw the babies and Vanilla Ice in the usual spot, but didn't see Topsy. I went around to the other entrance to look and saw her sitting at the roosters feet on the edge of the manure box under the roost. She was sitting in what is normally Smokey's spot and Smokey was on the roost at the opposite end from the rooster. That may be why suddenly Smokey is back to beating up on Topsy when they're out freeranging.
 
bobbieschicks said:
Looks like Topsy has left the babies at a few days shy of 6 weeks old.
sad.png

I've noticed her spending more time away from them during the day. Today I saw Vanilla Ice with the chicks in the coop during the day and it seemed like she was trying to teach them to roost, meanwhile Topsy was out in the run getting mated. I figured it was just a timing thing and she would catch up to them after the rooster got off her back. Then tonight at lockup I saw the babies and Vanilla Ice in the usual spot, but didn't see Topsy. I went around to the other entrance to look and saw her sitting at the roosters feet on the edge of the manure box under the roost. She was sitting in what is normally Smokey's spot and Smokey was on the roost at the opposite end from the rooster. That may be why suddenly Smokey is back to beating up on Topsy when they're out freeranging.
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At least the babies have Vanilla Ice to keep them warm tonight. Good thing. It's awfully cold out right now!
 
I saw Topsy get into the nest box this morning when I opened up the coop - she's probably ready to start laying again. The rooster keeps mating her and Smokey is chasing her all over the yard. I just hope once she starts laying she doesn't go broody within a week!

Vanilla Ice is pecking away the babies now - so she's trying to get them to be on their own too. Oh well, such is the chick's life - guess it's time for them to be on their own.
 
Topsy is definitely back to laying - found her little silky size egg in the nestbox where she was hanging out earlier. The good news is that she's letting the babies hang around her during the day - so they still have her to protect them if needed. Oh and they are 7 weeks old on Thursday! They have started to fight amongst themselves to put in the pecking order.
 
My silky cross has gone broody again! I've put a few eggs under her, though I was a little picky this time and tried to get an egg from each of my hens-hopefully they'll all hatch! Her last set of babies aren't even fully grown yet, but I don't think she's likes them much when they're older. She just likes having baby chicks xD
 

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