The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Cute, glad things are going well for you. You have a really nice set there, you are prepared for everything, I like it.

My eggs started hatching yesterday and into today, I have 9 so far, one who looked dead and out from under the broody, but it was still twitching, I warmed it up and now it's looking good. There are 4 more eggs that I don't think will hatch, but we will see tomorrow. I decided after seeing the little cold one that I would pull them all and brood them. Their hatching and peeping were exciting all the other broodies who I need to stay on their eggs. I am choosing integration over broody drama.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Sigh. Wish I broodies!

Won't your girl that just hatched be mourning for her chicks?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

She took over the nest a week and a half ago from another broody, this way she will continue to set the rest of the eggs for another day than she will set on some more. If she hold another three weeks she can raise a single chick then. I was going to have her keep the two bantam chicks but they hatched first and were eager to move off the nest, the hen would have abandoned the rest of the egg.

I do feel slightly bad but I'd rather they all make it. I have them hatch turkey eggs every year that I pull as they hatch so I haven't noticed any lasting sadness from them. They like being broody, the outcome doesn't seem to matter. It does seem like I'm running a broody hen sweat shop though. I'd share a photo but the site won't let for some reason.

 

[bobbi-j]

Their hatching and peeping were exciting all the other broodies

Seriously?? I can't even get ONE broody, let alone enough to refer to "all the other broodies..."

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Seriously?? I can't even get ONE broody, let alone enough to refer to "all the other broodies..."  

Sorry, I have 7 all lined up in my nestboxes. That's why I keep my bantam, besides them being adorable.

 

[slordaz]

I will trade ya problems Leah I don't want that many broodies seriously good with 1 or 2 lol

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: I think I asked you before but - what bantam breed? Or are they just "misc. bantams"?

 

[JanetMarie]

I'm happy to just have one broody this year. Never had this happen before, but one of the chicks looks like it's going to die. It just wants to sleep. I may remove it from the mom and chicks, and see what happens with some separate care.

My two sisters that go broody together didn't go broody this year. They were good moms together, and cooperated in raising the chicks. I'll have to find a pic to post.

 

[JanetMarie]

The moms are rose comb RIRs, Underwood line.

 

[JanetMarie]

This is my first broody hen. She had five chicks.