Broody Ex-Batts Sitting Pretty

[kirsty b]

Title says it all really. They went broody over a week ago, but I had to wait for payday to get them some eggs.
Got 20 eggs from a local farm for a fiver and gently placed 10 each under the girls.
They are in the same nest box, and its really cute cos when one gets up to eat/poop/drink, the other stays on the nest and tries to cover all of the eggs. If I get a hatch, I reckon these two will share motherhood

One egg must have been a dud, cos I caught them eating it yesterday. 19 still in there though.
Thankfully in this heat they are eating and drinking plenty. When I find my USB lead I'll put up some pics that I have taken. After the start in life they had, I am absolutely stoked that they want to do what nature intended.

Day 21 is 16th July, but I will give them a day or two beyond that.

[frias]

That's so sweet that they cover for each other. One of my ex-batts keeps getting broody and turns into a she-devil. So far I haven't let her sit but I am tempted to buy some fertile eggs next time she's broody. It's just the thought that some of the chicks will be boys.
Good luck for a good hatch rate of all girls!

[MaureenHall]

Ooooooooooooooooooooo I'd LOVE it if one of my girls went broody

[kirsty b]

Bumped this one

Its day 14 and the ladies are still sitting tight. They get off eggs at least once a day to eat and drink. Down to 18 eggs now though. One has disappeared, probably eaten. But going well so far

Hoping to have chicks by next weekend if they are successful!

[Nicos]

Oh wow...it's getting exciting isn't it????

Must be fantastic for them to have their own babies at last!!!!...what a wonderful feeling - to be cage-free and a family on the way!!!...lucky gals!!

Keep us informed won't you?????

[sherpa]

Looking forward to seeing how they get on, love that they share! there is always war between my ladies when they are broody.

[vicky]

This is so sweet! I am looking forward to the 16th!

[kirsty b]

They went broody in the shed, so the other hens still come in to lay, but don't bother the sitting gals - they get well and truly told off by them!!

Plans are afoot to give them separate living quarters after hatching away from the bigger gals, I don't want to move them now in case they give up.
I'll give them till the Sunday (19th July), if no hatching after that I'll investigate.

[frias]

These battery girls aren't supposed to go broody but some are just determined I suppose.

[kirsty b]

48 hours to go!

Himself fed the girls this morning as I was up all night with a poorly pickle.

He found a dead chick in the nest box, he thinks that one of them may have trodden on it and broke the egg. At least I know for sure there is fertility there. Just have to cross fingers and hope the rest are ok. Am considering the bowl of warm water method to see if they are ok, but on the other hand, don't want to mess too much in case I jinx them.

Went to see them this evening and found another dead chick. It had what looked like a yolk sac hanging out. Do hens know if an egg is a dud? Both chicks so far had reached a higher state of development than the chicks we tried to hatch 2 yrs ago, they even had tiny little combs. We are hopeful the chicks inside the others are still alive, only a day or two more to find out now.

[kirsty b]

Woo Hoo!!!!

As of this morning, I have had one more baby die (Think one of the mummy hens might have done it accidentally)

2 have hatched and each mummy hen now has a wee chick underneath her keeping warm. Once all the eggs have hatched they'll be moved to the maternity ward, daren't move them before in case they gave up
The remaining eggs are cheeping and pipping. Hopefully tomorrow I'll have some baby pics to show off

[MaureenHall]

Good news about the hatchings Kirsty, but sorry to hear about the 2. Loving all these new chickies arriving

[kirsty b]

Well, so far out of 20 eggs, we lost two (one eaten, one disappeared) and had 3 dead chickies. Their yolk sacs were on the outside so was wondering if they hatched to early, or if clumsy mums stood on them and broke the eggs?

Anyways, popped down for another little looky and I have 3 hatched and fluffy now, but hard to tell cos they are hiding under the mums where they should be!! Managed to snap a couple of pics when they popped their heads out, but can't find me blimmin USB lead to upload them!! Grrrr

One has even had a little peck at chick crumb. They are going to be moved to the greenhouse tomorrow once all the hatching is finished.

[kirsty b]

Pictures!!

here they are, not very good, but I'll get better ones when they are running around a bit more.

[shirlthegirl43]

Aww, you will have to be quick to get piccies even when they are out and about the first days.