Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Johnn]

Well i seen mr buzzard on my walk today!

yous probablies can not see this but from were i was standing my hens were were the tincy and i mean it is tincy on the photo a little white shed! even i can't see it so yous wont be able to, as yous can see if it went up there i would have stood no chance going to rescue them!, i could see the white shed on my phone but not on here!

 

[Johnn]

also after i took the pics, crows started chasing it, is that normal??

 

[bobbieschicks]

Topsy has her babies on the coop floor eating and drinking. I think she was happy to be down - she left an enormous present on the floor for me. Gasp!

Then when everyone else came in to check out the chicks - Topsy sat on top of the food bowl so the babies could keep eating. haha!

 

[bobbieschicks]

also after i took the pics, crows started chasing it, is that normal??

Yes - you want the crows to chase it away. The crows are your friend.

 

[Johnn]

Topsy has her babies on the coop floor eating and drinking. I think she was happy to be down - she left an enormous present on the floor for me. Gasp!

Then when everyone else came in to check out the chicks - Topsy sat on top of the food bowl so the babies could keep eating. haha!

I just notices, the little white hen is with Topsy on it! and not in the nest box anymore now shes out.

 

[Johnn]

Yes - you want the crows to chase it away. The crows are your friend.

i wonder why they are scared of crows if there is just one, and why are don't they get along??

 

[bobbieschicks]

I just notices, the little white hen is with Topsy on it! and not in the nest box anymore now shes out.

Yes I think that Vanilla Ice is just lonely - she has suddenly started hanging out with Topsy now that her best friend was killed. Before she was hanging with the black silkie all the time and they were inseparable.

 

[aoxa]

also after i took the pics, crows started chasing it, is that normal??

Good sign! I encourage crows. They will gang up against hawks/eagles/buzzards

Topsy has her babies on the coop floor eating and drinking.  I think she was happy to be down - she left an enormous present on the floor for me.  Gasp!




Then when everyone else came in to check out the chicks - Topsy sat on top of the food bowl so the babies could keep eating.  haha!

My moms do this too! I always wondered why they were trying to incubate their food dishes

 

[Johnn]

Yes I think that Vanilla Ice is just lonely - she has suddenly started hanging out with Topsy now that her best friend was killed. Before she was hanging with the black silkie all the time and they were inseparable.

wasn't the chick that got killed Topsy's?? and meby the two look a like so she wasnts a new friend that will look like her old one

 

[bobbieschicks]

wasn't the chick that got killed Topsy's?? and meby the two look a like so she wasnts a new friend that will look like her old one

Yes it was Topsy's adopted chick (Lavender Orpington/Partridge Silkie mix) that she just hatched recently. Maybe she's confused. LOL!

But I do know one thing - that little black chick's death wasn't in vain - the hawk got his meal, but more importantly the white Silkie has a new friend and new purpose as she's helping Topsy keep the baby chicks warm - I noticed one of the babies scurried out from under Vanilla Ice. And she's also helping to feed them! I just witnessed her pick up a piece of cracked corn and chomp it smaller and feed it to one of the little chicks while she made the cluck of a broody - so adorable.

Topsy is happily sharing the momma duties and now with winter here I can feel a little more at ease knowing that Topsy & Vanilla Ice will be sharing the broody duties and keeping these 4 chicks warm and each other warm.