Lost my own Brabanter hen over night. I only had one. The dog somehow pushed into the pen the other day and I don't know how long he was running around in there; although she looked uninjured she wouldn't stop trembling- I did all I could I guess it was just shock.
Finally the lure of oats got him to come down. But Diana was nowhere to be seen. I opened the gate and was getting ready to hoof it across the pasture and I saw her. I called to her and I learned one thing.............you don't want to get between Diana and food! I didn't think that little donkey could run that fast!
On the check to the chickens, I saw that Lukka had been ousted from her nest and another Icelandic had taken her place. I knew Mary wanted the Brabanter eggs under Lukka, since she is a seasoned broody. (the other one is not) So I did an egg swap and switched them around. I reached underneath and I felt a chick! One Brabanter has hatched and 3 others are pipped.
I resisted the temptation to stick the chick in my pocket and bring it home.
I know Mary is dying to see these chicks, so............here is Lukka (wonder mom) and her baby.
And the broody thief, trying to steal Lukka's babies.
So sorry Rinda. I lost a hen overnight too. Kelly called today to say that one of my olive eggers, the one that got stomped by the emus, had died since her visit yesterday. I was surprised she made it at all and it looked like she was ok but I guess she really wasn't.
Love the brabanter chick! Thanks for switching them back Kelly.
Oh, I didn't switch the hens. I relocated the eggs. Much easier than dealing with mad broodies!
Sorry I had to interrupt your vacation with sad news.
My Icelandic hen, Briet, is happily sitting on 4 eggs. (2 Icelandic from Mary and 2 of my Barnevelders) If I get another Icelandic egg while at your house tomorrow, that will go under her too.
I really, really, really, realllllly, really, really, really, reallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyreallyREALLY do NOT want anymore broodies this year! Enough already! Among the D'Anvers, Aimee was clucking the other day but so far, hasn't decided she wants to do a repeat performance like Penny, Carly, Maura and Sissy. Sissy ended up with no chicks the second time because one was smothered/crushed and one that did hatch, she left it to go to a different nest and I guess it got chilled and died. Penny and Carly have four and Maura has three all to herself and Dottie, my big BR hen, has her five who are approaching 9 weeks old now which she is still mothering. No more replacement chickens needed here, nope, no way. The bantams will ALL be rehomed/sold. I'll be keeping Dottie's five, which consist of one very nice cockerel and four pullets.
Oh, I didn't switch the hens. I relocated the eggs. Much easier than dealing with mad broodies!
oh I knew that, just worded it wrong!
Sorry I had to interrupt your vacation with sad news.
it is what it is and I am sorry you had to deal with it.
My Icelandic hen, Briet, is happily sitting on 4 eggs. (2 Icelandic from Mary and 2 of my Barnevelders) If I get another Icelandic egg while at your house tomorrow, that will go under her too.
I hate typing on this ipad with a lousy internet connection! But it has been pretty good today. I have almost gotten a video uploaded to Vimeo to share.
Correction: Briet now has 6 eggs under her. I added the 2 Barnevelder eggs laid today. This is why I don't want any more broodies, I just can't resist putting eggs under them!
I only had one. The dog somehow pushed into the pen the other day and I don't know how long he was running around in there; although she looked uninjured she wouldn't stop trembling- I did all I could I guess it was just shock.
