All in a pickle!!!

[di]

Right...up until a few months ago,I've always dreaded one of the girls going broody,but got to admit that recently I've secretly hoped that one would....well!!!
Mariglod was sat on all the eggs this arvo(she'd broken one...but not attempted eating it)I moved her off,thought not much more about it.Andi just got back from popping them to bed & she was back sitting in the nest box!
Of all the girls,she's my fave & I'm pretty sure she'd make a wonderful mummy...but have we got what it takes to let her hatch some babies???(maybe little boy babies!)
We've just had a long chat with the kiddies & they've kind of come round to the fact that it would be OK if we gave the boys to another lottie holder to "sort".
Aaaarrghh!!!What to do???...and why am I asking you lot....from experience I'm not expecting too much discouragement!
We've got a rabbit run up there...would that be ok to keep Marigold in whilst hatching or would we need to make something bigger...is it the right time of year to let her or would we need to be purchasing heating etc for once they hatch?
HELP!!!

[di]

Oh...and how long do eggs take to deliver off of Ebay & how long would she stay broody without eggs?Is there anything we can do to keep her broody whilst we wait?

[davefromthechipie]

It s easter..... what better time for chicks A rabbit run will be fine . The hen will keep the chicks warm ,stop panicking only thing u need to think about is 'what your going todo with the cocks if you cant kill or give away then dont let them hatch .

[di]

That's our huge dilema...but there's a chappie that I'm pretty sure would take them off our hands,just as soon as we know which are which!...need to check with him tomorrow.
Has anyone had the misfortune of ALL hatchlings being boys?I know it's a possibility,but is it very likely?

[Snadger]

Buy eggs on eBay one day.......usually receive them the following day!

And here's me thinking this was yet another thread about pickled eggs!

[frias]

One of my ex-batts has gone broody 3 times. First time she resisted all my efforts to dissuade her and sat for over 3 weeks. Second time round I recognised it quickly so managed to stop it early. Third time round she went off the idea herself quite quickly. I knew I couldn't keep or dispatch the cockerels so hatching eggs wasn't an option. If you really want to hatch eggs hope Marigold doesn't go off the idea before you get them. Good luck!

[Snadger]

.....................................................................
Has anyone had the misfortune of ALL hatchlings being boys?I know it's a possibility,but is it very likely?

Yep........ME!

I bought 6 Salmon Faverolle hatching eggs..........only two hatched.....both are cockerels!

[sheena]

Awww snadge... at least you got 2 sunday roast's!

[di]

Yep........ME!

I bought 6 Salmon Faverolle hatching eggs..........only two hatched.....both are cockerels!

See,that's my biggest concern...think the kiddies could just about handle the disappearance of the boys...so long as there was at least a couple of girlies in there as well!Still totally undecided...think my next(first)stop is to check that the chappie I have in mind would be up for taking on any little boys,then see if anywhere local has the eggs I'd like.How long do you keep them separate from the others?

[lynda66]

if you want her to stay broody while you get eggs, leave some eggs with her then substitute those eggs for fertilized ones .... chances are an average of 1/2 and 1/2 if they all hatch....you wont need any heat mum will do it all, the rabbit run will be fine, all you have to worry about is the boys.

[elizajay]

I have given broody hens eggs to hatch. 1st time 2 hens shared them and brought them up together. 9 out of 9 eggs hatched successfully. This time one hen sat on 9 eggs and she hatched 4. She launched them out on the world to free range at 6 days old and told the local cats to leave them alone. They are 3 weeks old tomorrow and I fear 3 may be cockerels. Last time I had 1 cockerel out of 9. It is such a pleasure watching her teach them how to scratch, the special call when she wants to show them something good to eat and how she watches for danger and shoos them into the shrubs when she is concerned. She's a great Mum.

[MaureenHall]

It is such a pleasure watching her teach them how to scratch, the special call when she wants to show them something good to eat and how she watches for danger and shoos them into the shrubs when she is concerned. She's a great Mum.

I'd love to have a broody to do that ........................ just haven't got a spare brooding place for one just yet. Though I might just be able to plan for one when I get the new run done

[Nicos]

Have a quick look through my thread again!!!!...I hope it doesn't put you off!!!

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...mom_26269.html

I have 3 chicks out of the original 13 fertile eggs...no idea what sex mine are yet!!!

Mine seem to want to sit on wooden eggs- but I've also heard of peeps using those green stone ones from the house.
]
All mine went broody and we ended up with no eggs for about 8 weeks.
It was cold and wintery which will have accounted for a few losses I think.

Mine seemed to go broody for a couple of days the first time- and then loose interest.

Would I do it again??...yes I would...it was great fun!!!

...and next time I'd make sure the moms are separated from all the others

[di]

Thankyou everyone!
The news is....my fingers haven't pressed the "submit"button,but we've found some eggs that we'd like to try...and they're Buy Now,so if we go through with it we could have them in a couple of days!
Will probably go up there later to find her scratching away with her buddies & not a single sign of broodiness!!!!
If she is still broody,should I separate her today?Will she not get lonely or feel like she's being punished?My main worry is that although she's by far the biggest,she's still the slightly bullied girl...I'd hate to make things worse for her....I've noticed even in the last couple of weeks that she's devellopped a bit of backbone when it comes to daring to get food!I wouldn't want to set her back again.
I really am in a total pickle...on one hand really excited,but on the other totally dubious!
The kiddies woke up this morning & the first thing they said was that if we have any boys,we won;t be able to keep them,but that it's OK,so they've pretty much come round to the idea.
Watch this space....if my finger clicks submit,you'll all be the first to know!

[Nicos]

I'd just let her get on with her own thing until the eggs arrive.
I wouldn't worry about her being 'hen pecked' after she's had the chicks..she'll stand up for them against some of the other chooks!...she might actually end up with some street cred!
It is possible she might end up not being broody after all- I'd be tempted to buy an incubator at the same time as the eggs! ( it'd be easy to sell on afterwards...I bet there are a few peeps on the Vine who'd be interested in it if you don't want/need to keep it!)