The 5th Annual BYC Easter Hatch-a-long!

[MontanaDolphin]

Check on where she sleeps at night.

Mine will start off by sitting quite a bit during the day but go to the roost at night. Once they are in "full broody" they will stay on the nest overnight. Some will get off the nest in the morning when I come out to open up the coop. They will be puffed up and make a "leave me be" screech when anything approaches them. After they get a drink or treat, they return to the nest and stay there.
Your flock may vary.....

I love my broodies......have two new ones and three that are raising chicks for the EHAL.

She was on the nest last night when I locked everyone up, and she was still on it this morning when I went out to feed and water.

Do broodies pluck their chest feathers in the beginning, or only later in the "broody" stage? I thought I might check and see if she's missing chest feathers.

Also, if she IS broody, do I have to wait 21 days to stick chicks under her? I just hatched 3 of her babies (I incubated some of her eggs) this week...one was born yesterday. The first born has a mouth on her (or him)...constantly peeping because my mother has spoiled her already, and wants to be held CONSTANTLY. Would be nice to get little miss loudmouth out of the house! (she's not even a week old yet!) She's sleeping in my lap as I type, because her peeping woke up my dad (disabled). So the ONLY way to shut her up is to hold her.

 

[uphilljill]

TODAY is the LAST DAY to enter the CdM Photobomb Contest!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-third-annual-cinco-de-mayo-turkey-hatchathon​

Photobomb Contest
Third Annual Cinco de Mayo Turkey Hatchathon (all poultry welcome)
​

Do you have a camera hog in your flock?
This contest is for photos of domestic poultry who've inserted themselves (uninvited) into your photographs!


​

ANY domestic fowl accepted!
Judges will choose finalists,
and then YOU vote for your favorites!

2 entries per contestant


Winner gets first choice of the prizes below, runners-up (in order of votes)
get choice of remaining prizes:

Prize #1
12+ Hen's Choice Hatching Eggs (donated by uphilljill)
This barnyard mix and may include eggs from Midget White turkey, Pearl Guinea fowl, LF Barred Plymouth Rock, and Barred Rock/BLR Wyandotte crosses (up to the ladies at time of collection)

Prize #2
8+ Olive Egger Hatching Eggs Hatching Eggs (donated by Penny Hen)
Maran/Am cross

Prize #3
Hen Saddle, size L (donated by uphilljill)
​

Contest Rules:
1. Open to all BYC members in the Continental U.S. (due to shipping of eggs.)
2. Contestants may submit no more than 2 photos.
3. Photos of any domestic fowl accepted.
4. Your submission must be your own photo and not used in a previous contest.
5. No photoshop allowed.
6. To submit your entries, simply post your photos in this thread.
7. Judges will choose finalists, and then YOU vote for your favorites.

Deadline for entry is May 1st, 2014 at midnight PST​

 

[AuntWrenny]

She was on the nest last night when I locked everyone up, and she was still on it this morning when I went out to feed and water. 

Do broodies pluck their chest feathers in the beginning, or only later in the "broody" stage? I thought I might check and see if she's missing chest feathers.

Also, if she IS broody, do I have to wait 21 days to stick chicks under her? I just hatched 3 of her babies (I incubated some of her eggs) this week...one was born yesterday. The first born has a mouth on her (or him)...constantly peeping because my  mother has spoiled her already, and wants to be held CONSTANTLY. Would be nice to get little  miss loudmouth out of the house! (she's not even a week old yet!) She's sleeping in my lap as I type, because her peeping woke up my dad (disabled). So the ONLY way to shut her up is to hold her.

We had a broody that ended up with dud eggs. She wasn't happy with chicks around unless we removed eggs. The chicks we put under her were even 1 week old. She fussed a bit then took them in.
I wouldn't disturb her unless there are no other options. Also, you need to find a way to seperate her from the rest of the girls. They'll damage her and the eggs if you don't put her in a private place.

 

[mlm Mike]

Quote: I've never put chicks under a broody before. You don't have to wait the full 21 days, but you have to be certain she is good and broody, you also want to use chicks as young as possible, not still wet but young.

 

[abmaddox1981]

Hey guys! Congrats to everyone on your hatches!!! I've been MIA due to drama with the county and the stupid ordinances they have regarding poultry/fowl. We recently learned that you must have a minimum 3 acres for any fowl but if you have 2 acres you can have unlimited amounts of dogs and cats. What. The. Crap. So thankfully 2 local bycers are allowing me to keep my birds on their property until we find a place. It has been very stressful and to be honest I have been pretty depressed about it. I am finally getting passed the angry/depressed stage and am just thankful to these awesome ladies for allowing me to keep my chickens on their farms. Hopefully it won't take us too long to find something suitable that we can afford.


P.S. The county didn't say I couldn't hatch, I just can't keep them here, so at least I can still maintain my addiction! Hahaha!!

 

[NotAFarm]

If you are going to "graft" chicks to a broody, especially one as young as your pullet, that has never raised chicks before, they need to be in a separate area from the flock. I would move the pullet to the area (should be large enough for the nest, a feeder and waterer) tonight with a couple of eggs or golf balls. If she is settled all day tomorrow. AFTER DARK Friday night, I would take the chicks, using the lowest flashlight possible, and slide the chicks under her and remove the eggs. Don't shine the light on the broody or chicks, keep it shining upwards so that you can see but it is still dark. Chickens do not have very good night vision so the pullet should stick to the nest and the chicks should stay under her as long as it is dark. I would go out early and check and see how the pullet was acting towards the chicks. If the "graft" is going to take, you will know by how she and chicks are acting. After a day or two in their separate area so that a bond can be made, I would allow the pullet to take them out and I would keep an eye on them to see if the momma was protecting them from the rest of the flock.

 

[Book]

My 3 little bantams are still alive and well! Just so tiny! LOL Our ducklings on the other hands you can about see growing right before our eyes! LOL

 

[Gardeningmama]

Hey guys! Congrats to everyone on your hatches!!! I've been MIA due to drama with the county and the stupid ordinances they have regarding poultry/fowl. We recently learned that you must have a minimum 3 acres for any fowl but if you have 2 acres you can have unlimited amounts of dogs and cats. What. The. Crap. So thankfully 2 local bycers are allowing me to keep my birds on their property until we find a place. It has been very stressful and to be honest I have been pretty depressed about it. I am finally getting passed the angry/depressed stage and am just thankful to these awesome ladies for allowing me to keep my chickens on their farms. Hopefully it won't take us too long to find something suitable that we can afford.


P.S. The county didn't say I couldn't hatch, I just can't keep them here, so at least I can still maintain my addiction! Hahaha!!

I am so sorry. When we moved in here and I was brand new to chickens I just found a nice spot in my 5 acre yard and had hubby build me a coop. Then another, and another. The house next door is brand new and unoccupied for 3 years now, pending a divorce of the owners. I now know that my coops are legally too close to their property line (even though a field separates the yards). I have noticed activity over there lately and just pray really friendly folks buy the place that aren't looking to create a huge headache for their friendly neighbors. I pray you get your situation worked out. It's sad when good people can't just be left alone.

 

[jbenson]

Check on where she sleeps at night. You could also check temperament, does she get angry if you try to reach under her.

Also check to see if she's started plucking her breast feathers. When mine go full broody, they get bare bellies and all it takes is one hand underneath and instead of a fluffy breast, I feel a warm moist chicken skin! Not all of mine get angry when they are in full broody, but I do have one that goes all psycho hen like that. The others mostly just grump about it, but it's all talk.

 

[AuntWrenny]

Hey guys! Congrats to everyone on your hatches!!! I've been MIA due to drama with the county and the stupid ordinances they have regarding poultry/fowl. We recently learned that you must have a minimum 3 acres for any fowl but if you have 2 acres you can have unlimited amounts of dogs and cats. What. The. Crap. So thankfully 2 local bycers are allowing me to keep my birds on their property until we find a place. It has been very stressful and to be honest I have been pretty depressed about it. I am finally getting passed the angry/depressed stage and am just thankful to these awesome ladies for allowing me to keep my chickens on their farms. Hopefully it won't take us too long to find something suitable that we can afford.


P.S. The county didn't say I couldn't hatch, I just can't keep them here, so at least I can still maintain my addiction! Hahaha!!