Happy Henrietta attempting to hatch!

[Bephlam]

I know, I know...I've been missing in action for a while. But...I'm back...and, guess what...Henrietta is broody (so unlike a faverolle, but I'm not complaining!). We popped 10 fertile eggs under her last night...so, here's hoping we have some results!

All your chicky posts have been driving me insane with jealousy, so here's hoping I get my very own babies shortly.

I'm super nervous already, and it's only day 1....how will I ever control myself for 3 weeks?

Eeeekk!!

[shirlthegirl43]

What pretty eggs! What types are they? Good luck Henrietta (and you of course - try not to bite your nails off completely)

[Bephlam]

The blue ones are pure bred araucana, the olive ones are maran cross araucana and the choccie ones are from maran mums, but covered by a araucana cockerel so they should produce green or blue egg layers. In fact, the entire clutch should produce blue/green egg laying pullets! Eggciting!

(apologies to those on facebook who have to put up with me rabbling on about these bl00dy eggs twice now!)

[shirlthegirl43]

Oh lovely, we used to have araucana cockerels years ago (very handsome they were too0 and some of the offspring from then laid blue eggs.

[HayleyB]

Not you toooooooo, everyone's gone clucky......

What will you do with the lads???????????

[MaureenHall]

Bephlam WELCOME BACK!!!!!!!!! I missed you. There was you a few months ago moaning about not getting any eggs and now look what you've done Really really good news, I'm thrilled to bits for you. I know you'll keep us updated ............................... please

[Bephlam]

Aww thanks Mo, I missed you too...and the Vine. You don't realise how much you've missed it until you come back!

I know, it feels like only yesterday when I couldn't get an egg to save my life.

She hasn't been out since 1 today - she looks so happy, yet so sad, just sitting in there on her own all day. Makes me feel quite sad, for some odd reason. I'm going to pick her off the nest on a bit to give her some water and corn. It's good for her to stretch her legs!

I'll definitely keep you all posted - here's hoping we get something out of it all.

[frias]

Glad you're back Bephlam. Henrietta looks as if she's covering those eggs perfectly. Good luck.

[Bephlam]

she obviously thinks she can handle some more, as she's STILL stealing the others eggs! lol

[Hilary B]

she obviously thinks she can handle some more, as she's STILL stealing the others eggs! lol

It really is best to keep a broody separate from the ones which are laying. Failure to do so can lead to tragedy, when chicks are ready to hatch over a prolonged period, and even if the ones she steals are not fertile, the presence of extras increases the risk that some of the hatchable ones will end up 'out in the cold'.....

[Bephlam]

Yeah, I know...but apparently favs do best not being removed from the rest. So, I'm giving it a go this way - they are all big placid birds, and I think I've solved the problem by introducing a third nest box, as the others are using that!

[Flummery]

Welcome back chuck! Nice to hear from you again. I hope your hatching goes to plan and you are over-run with chickies! I'll follow this thread with bated breath!

[Bephlam]

Oh this is killing me - the stress! How long can she safely be off her eggs for? She's kind of got in to this habit of coming off the eggs around 2.30ish for an hour (been just slightly over and hour today) and then sitting on them right through until 2.30ish the next day.

Is she spending too much time off her eggs? Should I be worried?

HELP!!!

[Bephlam]

Oh Oh...I'm thinking I've got ANOTHER broody situation. Henrietta has come out of the nezt box to stretch her legs, and Mavis has promptly jumped on her clutch of eggs. She's sitting there with the wings all fanned out, looking quite content. Do you think she's caught the dreaded broodiness?

This is NOT good for me...I'll be forced to get MORE fertile eggs...and that could be super dangerous! Other option is to give Mavis 4 of Henrietta's eggs to sit on, and leave them to it.

Suggestions please!

[RichmondHens]

Take Mavis off Henrietta's eggs and either give her some of her own to brood or put her in the sin bin. As she has just started being broody I would wait a day or two to see if she is serious about brooding. Leave Henrietta on all of her eggs.