The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Mumsy]

Broody question.....I've gone back and read about placing a different chicks eggs under a broody and sometimes they will accept it. ???? If you put day old baby chicks under her would she accept them or just eggs??

I've done both successfully. Putting day old chicks under the hen while she is in her nest at night works the best for me. Day old chicks out of the incubator will be young enough for her to bond to their chirping if her own chicks are the same age or it's close to 21 days and it is apparent all her eggs have hatched. Everybody wakes up in the morning as one big happy family. It's a problem if your trying to crowd too many chicks under a hen with a full nest of eggs. And with older chicks and this doesn't work so well. She won't recognize their voices and will usually fail to accept them. Timing is every thing. Night time is the best time to try.

 

[stonykill]

Broody question.....I've gone back and read about placing a different chicks eggs under a broody and sometimes they will accept it. ???? If you put day old baby chicks under her would she accept them or just eggs??

a chicken will take any and all eggs you offer them and they will steal other hens eggs if given the chance. More often than not a broody with day old chicks will accept other day old chicks. Some broody's accept chicks swapped for eggs, some kill the chicks.

 

[delisha]

My second set of eggs are setting. They sure were cold. I have broken eggs and I hope it is not from freezing. Normally the PO calls me and I go pick the eggs up, this time they sent them on the truck.

 

[Eggcessive]

Leahs Mom, love the pictures of your broody and chick! So sweet.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Broody question.....I've gone back and read about placing a different chicks eggs under a broody and sometimes they will accept it. ???? If you put day old baby chicks under her would she accept them or just eggs??

The broody and chicks I just posted are a blended family

Out of 7 eggs she was setting only 1 hatched. I got the other 3 chicks that hatched either the same day or day after from a gal that had eggs in her incubator from the same source as mine which was an incredible find within driving distance since they were mailed eggs from another state!

I picked up 3 babies and added them under her at night. Then I got up early in the morning to watch and see if she'd take them. If there was any indication of rejection, I was going to nab them before they got killed and brood them under a light so I had a plan B in place.

She accepted them and all has been well.

 

[Melabella]

Sneak preview! There is a new thing in that place.

another great picture manipulation from BDM! heading over to see!

 

[Melabella]

Question for aoxa.....and BDM

Did you enter a picture for the BYC calendar? If you did,, I can't imagine why there isn't one of yours in it!

mb

 

[doug57]

everyboby given there chickens something called ff what is it

 

[stonykill]

everyboby given there chickens something called ff what is it

I don't feed FF, but it is Fermented Feed

 

[Pullet Surprise]

Getting the incubator set up and ready to go in a couple days. Phoebe and Edith are laying every day and the eggs are perfect every time. Amazing to me since they are Orp crosses with I have no idea what.
I'm learning a few new tricks on BYC that I'm keen to try this time around in preparation for the expensive shipped eggs due in March.
Have read about using toy water weasels for use with a probe thermometer. I made my own since why spend more $ if you don't have to.


Took a vacumm seal bag filled with water and doubled it up then sealed it again with hot glue. It doesn't leak and the probe slips right into it.


I will be practice progeny testing Phoebe and Edith's eggs. Still saving $ so used a bit of hardware cloth and zip ties. Used electrical tape on the top edge sharp places. Shelve liner in place. Distilled water bought. Sponge in the ready for lock down. Need to collect six more eggs by Sunday.



Phoebe's first egg is quite a bit smaller than her seventh. That store bought white one is a Large.



And now the drum roll please!!! Johnny is two years old. He had never been with a hen until two months ago. PHOEBE'S EGG IS FERTILE!

Ok...I'll stop shouting now. HAH!
This is going to be a fun hatch. No stress. No worries. All the females will be given to my two daughters and the males go to freezer camp eventually.

Go Johnny & Phoebe! Isn't it amazing how much more orange your yolks are than the store bought one??? It never ceases to amaze me! Congratulations to the happy couple and as great a roo as Johnny is, I hope you get some of his wonderful qualities passed on down to another generation. This will be a really fun hatch to watch when the time comes.