Broody Ex-Batts Sitting Pretty

[Bephlam]

Awww....!!

I think the nicest thing about this whole story is that the Mums are ex batts....bet they are happy as a wee pig in *hite!

Well done those girls...and you!!

[kirsty b]

more pics

so far have 6 hatched, and another 4 pipped. Hard to tell, but I'll know for sure tomorrow, cos the mums might get off the nest to allow me a proper gander!!

EDIT: Loads more pics in album on my profile page.

[kirsty b]

More Pictures!

As of this morning we have 11 chicks.
I started with 20 eggs, lost 2 as duds, had 3 deaths and out of the remaining 15 I have 11 healthy chicks. I'm so chuffed with that. There are still 4 unhatched eggs, but I think they may too be duds, but am giving till tomorrow before removing them.
Mums and chicks have been moved to the greenhouse, I need to rig a bit more shading for them which I will do later. They seem to have settled in to the new box which is twice the size of the crate they sat in. The babies have all had a little peck at the crumb and some have had a go at drinking. Laeving them be for a few hours while they get used to their new quarters.

Hope I'm not boring anyone, but I'm dead excited and as its my first hatch, paranoid about doing things wrong.

[shirlthegirl43]

How wonderful to see your ex-batts doing exactly what chooks should do. I for one could never find that boring. Thank you so much for sharing it all with us.

[frias]

How can baby chicks be boring? I love looking at the photos and reading about the success stories. I'm sure most feel the same. Makes up for some of the sad losses we chook keepers have. Keep posting Kirsty.

[kirsty b]

Ok, the remaining 4 eggs have been kicked about and buried, so I figures they are duds. Had a careful listen, no cheeping or tapping coming from them so have removed them so the girls can concentrate on the babies they do have. 11 out of 20, well pleased with that.

[Birdie Wife]

That's really good for a first time mum! Congratulations

[Nicos]

I'm sat here with a huge smile on my face...I'm really so pleased for the old gals....I bet they'll make wonderful mums....ad how lovely that they've paired up to work as a pair with the babies!!!!!

Well done- you should be chuffed to bits!!!!

[CoraxAurata]

I'm sat here with a huge smile on my face...I'm really so pleased for the old gals....I bet they'll make wonderful mums....ad how lovely that they've paired up to work as a pair with the babies!!!!!

Well done- you should be chuffed to bits!!!!

What nicos said!

Hear hear!

[MaureenHall]

And I second (or third) what Nicos said too It's lovely

[sherpa]

ahh that's brill, well done. I really love the way they work together. fantastic!

[kirsty b]

I must have the best OH

because he has built me a mini-run that goes inside the big run. We put that in place today and moved the mams and the babies down to their proper home today (the greenhouse was only a temporary measure). The babies have more room to run about and the mams can scratch about too.
A couple of squawks while we moved them, but they soon settled down. The mini is in a sheltered part of the run and should be protected from the weather, and there is a covered nest box on one end for them all to sleep.
The babies will be kind of outside, but the mams will keep them warm under their wings and protect them, won't they? (I'm such a worrier when it comes to baby animals) The other hens can see them, but not get at them.

Will take some more pics in a few days. They are already developing little characters

[HayleyB]

What a wonderful story, you should send some info/pics down to BHWT HQ for the newletter.

Sweet little cuties too what breeds are they?

[kirsty b]

They are a mixture of crosses, no pure breeds. I'll be having 11 little surprises when their adult feathers grow. I have 1 pure yellow chick, the others are black with yellow blobs on.

[HayleyB]

Wow, we can have a "guess the chook" competition.......