We noticed that 2 of our less friendly hens have been absent the past few weeks - this isn't that unusual because as I said, they are our loners. Last week we found were they were hiding and that they each had a clutch of eggs - one in the hayloft of our goat barn, one in the rafters of the chicken coop in our larger barn. Well yesterday we were greeted by little peeps when we went into both barns!!!
Our Silver Phoenix has 3 hatched babies and is still sitting on 3 other eggs. She was in the hayloft of the goat barn in a bushel basket.
Our Egyptian Fayoumi made her nest on top of our chicken coop under the loft floorboards, nestled in the insulation. It was hard to tell how many eggs she was laying on and how many chicks hatched - we saw 4 last night so we figured that was about it. Since her nest was in a pretty strange location, and we didn't know if the insulation was a good environment for the babies we decided to move them down to a box.... well my husband started grabbing them chicks out from under her... 1...2...3....4...5...6...7...8..9...10...11....12...13....14....15.....16.....17....18!!!!!! All of her eggs hatched and she had 18 baby chicks!!
So now we have 21 more chickens! Is it odd that 2 hens of different breeds made their nests in 2 different buildings and they hatched on the same day??
We moved both mama's and their babies to boxes with some food and water and secured them in a fenced area (together) - was that the best thing to do? Should we leave the chicks with the hens or separate them out and put them in a brooder box?
Will the mama hens try to feed the chicks? I notice the babies pecking at her beak - and I know that wild birds feed their young.
I would greatly appreciate any input on this.... we really weren't prepared for 21 new babies! Hopefully I can get some pictures later today.
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UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are now up to 21 chicks from the Egyptian Fayoumi - I counted again yesterday and there were 20. Then this morning my daughter was in the barn where we found them and she heard a peep, peep... she climbed up into the loft and found one lone chick that we must have missed yesterday. She's in perfect condition... just a little lonley! I'm just amazed at how many chicks were in that nest!!!
Our Silver Phoenix has 3 hatched babies and is still sitting on 3 other eggs. She was in the hayloft of the goat barn in a bushel basket.
Our Egyptian Fayoumi made her nest on top of our chicken coop under the loft floorboards, nestled in the insulation. It was hard to tell how many eggs she was laying on and how many chicks hatched - we saw 4 last night so we figured that was about it. Since her nest was in a pretty strange location, and we didn't know if the insulation was a good environment for the babies we decided to move them down to a box.... well my husband started grabbing them chicks out from under her... 1...2...3....4...5...6...7...8..9...10...11....12...13....14....15.....16.....17....18!!!!!! All of her eggs hatched and she had 18 baby chicks!!
So now we have 21 more chickens! Is it odd that 2 hens of different breeds made their nests in 2 different buildings and they hatched on the same day??
We moved both mama's and their babies to boxes with some food and water and secured them in a fenced area (together) - was that the best thing to do? Should we leave the chicks with the hens or separate them out and put them in a brooder box?
Will the mama hens try to feed the chicks? I notice the babies pecking at her beak - and I know that wild birds feed their young.
I would greatly appreciate any input on this.... we really weren't prepared for 21 new babies! Hopefully I can get some pictures later today.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We are now up to 21 chicks from the Egyptian Fayoumi - I counted again yesterday and there were 20. Then this morning my daughter was in the barn where we found them and she heard a peep, peep... she climbed up into the loft and found one lone chick that we must have missed yesterday. She's in perfect condition... just a little lonley! I'm just amazed at how many chicks were in that nest!!!
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