The 4th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long

[chiques chicks]

 Too funny!


I'm amazed at how many folks wear white to my farm and want to go tramping around to look at the animals. And mothers who expect their children to stay CLEAN??! Not a chance!

Actually wearing all white to do dirty things that wash out isn't a bad idea. Bleach works wonders. Learned this from my dirt racing days, Clay dust bleached right out.

 

[JoyfulPromise]

Disappointing about the agressiveness. As for the one or two hens with bare backs, these maybe hens that assume the position more often , or are favorites of the rooster. I have a few bare backs too.

Well, this was more than just a FEW barebacked hens! Let's see, there was Topsy, Betty, Sissy (all BO's), Partree(BSL), Ruby(RSL), Robin(BSL), at least 2 unnamed BR's and at least one of the Delaware Hens! And yes, several of these hens WERE the "squat when you look at them" type, with one particular foolish hen who would squat ACROSS THE YARD (at least 5 yards) from the rooster and then WAIT while he ran over to her!!!

But it still seemed to us that Dandy was more aggressive than our last RIR rooster, and these were not partial barebacks, they were in almost ALL of the cases COMPLETELY bare of feathers from the base of their neck to just before their tail and in several cases the shoulders of their wings got rubbed off too!

We did put protective saddles on quite a few of the hens, but it was too late by then, and the saddles seemed to aggravate the bare wing/shoulder issue. I hated to see the hens running around looking so beat up!

Now, as to the agressiveness, I know there have been others who really liked the Delawares, and, I will admit, there was ONE of our four hens who was much more friendly towards me than the others, though she doesn't seem to remember it now that she is older... Perhaps we got a bad batch? The other hens are not aggressive to people, just very dominant and assertive, and sometimes pushy toward the other hens. They are good layers, I can say that for them!

 

[gryeyes]

Well, my little new silkie Miss Sparkle IS definitely broody! Her own eggs are not fertile, so I will remove her three eggs later today. About an hour ago, I set two eggs from my flock (a green one and a medium brown one) in the broody bin right in front of her. She tucked them beneath her body and rearranged everything, clucking happily.

I'll pick a couple more flock eggs later today to add to her clutch.

Now my worry is if she'll want to raise chicks she may hatch.... Because I'd like to use her to hatch some of the Easter Day eggs I've arranged to get. I don't mind brooding chicks at all.

What do y'all think I should do about this situation? Can silkies be happy just setting? She's inside the house and is eating very well, won't be bothered by anybody (but me). I will be using an incubator regardless of Sparkle's involvement - because I didn't know she WAS a broody type silkie (guess she just needed to feel comfortable living here; she will have been here two weeks tomorrow). I have about 18 eggs coming.... I don't think she could cover more than 8 eggs.

 

[CayuseRanch]

Well, my little new silkie Miss Sparkle IS definitely broody! Her own eggs are not fertile, so I will remove her three eggs later today. About an hour ago, I set two eggs from my flock (a green one and a medium brown one) in the broody bin right in front of her. She tucked them beneath her body and rearranged everything, clucking happily.

I'll pick a couple more flock eggs later today to add to her clutch.

Now my worry is if she'll want to raise chicks she may hatch.... Because I'd like to use her to hatch some of the Easter Day eggs I've arranged to get. I don't mind brooding chicks at all.

What do y'all think I should do about this situation? Can silkies be happy just setting? She's inside the house and is eating very well, won't be bothered by anybody (but me). I will be using an incubator regardless of Sparkle's involvement - because I didn't know she WAS a broody type silkie (guess she just needed to feel comfortable living here; she will have been here two weeks tomorrow). I have about 18 eggs coming.... I don't think she could cover more than 8 eggs.

I hope someone with more broody experience than I will chime in but I think my concern would be whether or not she will be broody after this round of chicks hatch. In my limited experience with broodies after the eggs hatch they won't be broody for awhile. Sometimes a few weeks, sometimes months. But I have only hatched under a broody 3 times.

 

[ChooksChick]

Quote: She won't be broody until the chicks are at least 6 weeks old and she's begun to lay again...usually they go 4 or 5 months between.

I'm starting to collect to sell for you hatchaholics! It's the season!!

 

[CherokeeFlats]

She won't be broody until the chicks are at least 6 weeks old and she's begun to lay again...usually they go 4 or 5 months between.

I'm starting to collect to sell for you hatchaholics! It's the season!!

My broody has been sitting since Dec 2012. Thankfully she's still broody and is sitting on more eggs as we speak including 2 EE eggs

 

[tazcat70]

More people joining!  Yay!


Remember, don't spill the beans on how many eggs you are setting.     It's for people to guess on the "Guess How Many Eggs will be Set" contest.  Enter your guess here:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-guess-how-many-eggs-are-going-to-be-set/0_50

I, don't even know how many I am setting!

 

[Gardeningmama]

I, don't even know how many I am setting!

x2. I do know I'm getting Barnies, but I keep finding myself scouring the classifieds. I seriously need help!

Who knows what I'll end up with.

 

[katsdar]

My guess is 6890

 

[CayuseRanch]

Happy Friday everyone! We are T-22 days till hatch day...If you were thinking of doing a hatch between, time is pretty much run out!



Here is your Crazy Chicken Fact of the Day:

The waste produced by one chicken in its lifetime can supply enough electricity to run a 100 watt bulb for 5 hours.

Now if only we can figure out how to turn chicken poo into gasoline we will all be rich.