Yet MORE chicks!!!

[RichmondHens]

Well folks, I knew I had a bantam sitting away (tucked up against an outside wall of an old pig sty). Wasn't sure how long she had been there but found her location about 10 days or so ago. Today went to see if she was still ok as was suspicious things were happening as she had not been off the nest for a few days. Discovered she had hatched 12, plus another egg hatching. A 14th egg was pushed out and cold, as was one chick but it was still alive so have shoved it back under mum and transferred everyone to the "emergency" cage in a stable.

Two more sussex bantams broody in the hen house but I am whipping the eggs away - never thought I'd say it but I think I've had enough hatching excitement this year. Phew!!!

Will try and get OH to help me with pics soon, promise!

[Nicos]

How wonderful!!!....14 chick???....flipping heck- I was chuffed with 8!!!!!

[kirsty b]

Thats triffic - if mine have a 100% fertility rate, I'll have 19 chicks. Will be well happy with any that make it to be honest though

[di]

Wow!!!and how nice to just discover them like that...none of the anxious Grandma feelings for three weeks!!!
So what does that bring your tally to so far for this year?

[MaureenHall]

That's wonderful What a lovely surprise and a very clever mummy chook

[RichmondHens]

And she was a first time mum too ...........

Tally up to about 60 (!!!!!!!!!!!) so far too many, and yes, I am registered with the Poultry Register. The cocks will be fattened for the pot (unless anyone wants them - unlikely) and I am obviously going to have surplus hens too. Anyone fancy some lovely little (potential) broodies? :-)

have taken some pics this morning so will endeavour to get them on here at some stage over the w/end.

By the way, congrats Maureen on being member of the month.

[RichmondHens]

And she was a first time mum too .......

Tally is now up to about 60 (!!!!!!!!!) so far too many, and yes, I am registered with the Poultry Register. The cocks will get fattened for the pot (unless anyone wants one) and I will have surplus hens too. Anyone fancy a (potential) broody for next year? :-)

Have taken pics this am. Will try and get them on here sometime over w/end.

By the way congrats Maureen on being member of the month. Great!

[RichmondHens]

Sorry this message went on twice as stormy weather cutting our connection off so wasn't sure if first one had got through.

[di]

Crikes!60!!!!That's a lot of babies!!!(have you added them all on the how many chooks thread???

I've got a funny feeling that if one of our Buff Orpingtons is a girlie,together with Dandelion & Marigold...who are already showing minor signs of broodiness again(),the last thing I need is to be accepting potential broodies!!!

ps...we still have a least one little Cream Legbar cock just waiting for a good home!

[kirsty b]

I'd love another couple of bantams, but will wait and see how my girls do first, before I commit myself!

That must have been such a lovely surprise. I'm trying very hard to leave my ladies to get on with it by themselves

[Scottishnewbie]

RH - hopefully my eggs will start to hatch on Sunday so now I am thinking about where I put the babies. I'm interested that you seem to keep yours in a stable - can you share a bit about how that works please? Our stables don't have a top door but i would be able to put a light above the box - i'm just a bit worried that cats could go over the stable door and get to the chicks.........also would it be warm/light enough.....

[HayleyB]

Good Lawd, and I thought I was bad

[RichmondHens]

Hi Scottie - It's the adult bantams that are in a stable actually. The broodies and chicks all have individual broody coops. If I run out of coops when hens go broody I do sit them pretty much in anything on the eggs (eg wooden box, or even leave them in the nest boxes) but they get transferred to a coop once the chicks hatch. The chicks do need to be safe from predators, so need a house/run combo with enough space for them to live in until they can range free (usually from about 5 weeks). The cocks have several weeks of freedom and then get collected up and penned together for fattening, at about 10 - 12 weeks.

Are your eggs under a hen? She will keep them warm enough. If they are incubator raised then they will need to be in a proper brooder area under heat. Either way, they will need to be within a cage, coop or something which will keep them safe from predators.

Good luck with the hatching!