surprise babies

[bandbaustin]

Well my male bronze blackshoulder dropped his train around the fourth of July. The ladies quit laying for a while. Then mid august the blackshoiulder hen in with him layed three eggs and went broody. I figured I would let her set as I knew they would be no good. yesterday i saw she was off the nest and the eggs were broke so I figured she gave up and the others broke the eggs or a rat (which i have a problem with lately) Well today I was feeding the birds, look in and there are 3 blackshoulder babies walking around. Now I dont know if I should let her keep them or take them, It has been getting in 50-60 degree at night. I figure she will keep them warm though.

 

[zazouse]

Well my male bronze blackshoulder dropped his train around the fourth of July. The ladies quit laying for a while. Then mid august the blackshoiulder hen in with him layed three eggs and went broody. I figured I would let her set as I knew they would be no good. yesterday i saw she was off the nest and the eggs were broke so I figured she gave up and the others broke the eggs or a rat (which i have a problem with lately) Well today I was feeding the birds, look in and there are 3 blackshoulder babies walking around. Now I dont know if I should let her keep them or take them, It has been getting in 50-60 degree at night. I figure she will keep them warm though.

Snakes are the only thing i have problems with when i let my guineas and chickens raise their babies, my muscovey ducks and geese can raise a batch and not loose a one so i guess it depends on the bird, i have never had baby peas hatch out here and stay with their momma so i do not know how good they are at keeping stuff from eating their young, i would pen her and the babies if it were my first time watching the hen raise them and then turn them loose when they get to big for a snake to eat.

Can't wait to see the the photos you are going to take..Congradulations

 

[Yoda]

If the pen is safe enough for her to raise them then I would let her try like ZAZOUSE says. BUT you stated you have a rat problem so I would pull the chicks and bring them in where it is safe for them. If you had no rat problem and the chicks could not get through or under the fencing then I would watch her raise the little ones.