My broody hen makes a lot of different sounds. There is the "warning, I'm protecting my eggs", "leave me alone roosters, I'm not laying" and "its time to hatch babies, keep it up". She doesn't make the last one until when they start hatching. You can tell when they are going to hatch because if you cheep to her she will respond gently and softly as if to her own chicks, something she generally doesn't do before they start pipping.
And just because chickens can't understand people doesn't stop us from talking to them either.
Or "mother's nature"
Its so hard to be patient with momma hens! She sounds like she is doing a great job, but one of mine is messing up a bit. She keeps letting her eggs go cold and she lost one somehow or the other. I know she is a good mother, just not the best broody. However, she does try, so I have to give her credit for that.
Welcome! Orpingtons are awesome, great layers and really friendly. What color?
I know, like a million things to try to sort out while reading!
Both would be great. I can't wait until I can get a Legbar or two.
My broody hen is missing feathers on her back because she was being over-bred before she laid. My broodies often loose their tail feathers some too because of rubbing against the nest box. However, even though they may look a little raggedy, they are still such awesome mothers!
I'm sorry to hear that.
I'm sorry to hear that. I'm glad you got some chicks out of it though, its always better then none.
All of these were hilarious! They made me laugh, especially the Batman one!
Welcome, so glad you could join!
How many are you planning on setting?
Howdy! Welcome to the Hatch-a-long!
Awesome!
Do you know what breed you are working with? I still haven't decided, but I think I'm going with mostly my own farm mixes.
Sounds cool! Did you buy the eggs or are they from your own hens?
Welcome!
So cool! This is my second real incubator hatch too! And my first time in the Easter hatch-a-long. I have both bantam and standard eggs in the incubator right now. If they are raised together, the chicks get along quite well, though they tend to separate into groups as they mature.
It will be like a preview for all the hatching to come.
Welcome! So awesome that you can join us! What breeds do you want to set?
Iowa Blues are so cool! I can't wait to see yours hatch! I wish I tripped more often... maybe I'd get some seramas too.
Hello! Welcome to the Hatch-a-long!
Seramas are awesome! And so very tiny! How many do you want to hatch?
I love to get surprise chicks from my own barn yard mixes. I have like 30 different breeds and mixes living in my barn so I could have so many cool colors.
D'uccles are one of my favorites! And Ayam Cemanis! And Marans! And Barnevelders! Oh, yeah, I forgot, I can't choose favorites.
Best of luck!
Cool! Is he an Ameraucana or Easter Egger? I love both, but actually, I think I like the look of Easter Eggers better (though I haven't had any pure Ameraucanas yet so maybe I would change my mind if I did). I love their muffs and/or beards.
Peachicks! Yay! Are you going with beautiful natural or beautiful morphs?
Welcome!
So adorable! I love all the pictures! ( just had to save some room here). Silkie chicks are so precious.
We would love to know the breed! Mine are mostly mixes, so I guess we'll see what comes out of it. I am planning on getting rid of some of my roosters, but right now I have ten of them in the flock! A lot of different fathers that could be passing on their awesome color genetics. They are a Barred Rock, a Buff Brahma (standard), Silver Sebright, two "Twilights" (Sebright x OEGB), two Easter Egger x Barred Rocks (they are still young but already crowing and trying to breed with the hens), a Hampshire mix, a Silver Duckwing OEGB, and one of my "Dalmatian" bantam roosters, Dastan. I hope to keep only four or five though, two standards and two or three bantams (one for every 8-10 hens).
Most people use some sort of bleach mix I think, but since bleach and my lungs don't mix well I just wash with hot water and let it sun dry. I know that might not be the best method, but otherwise I'm afraid the chemical smell will stay in the incubator.
Welcome! So glad you could join! I'm new to incubating also, though I've had a lot of hens brood chicks (and sometimes helped their eggs by placing them in the incubator) so this helps me have a bit of an idea. Maybe. Hopefully.
