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Now this could be a long story, so bear with me while I set the scene.
My youngest daughter Becci (and her family) are as hooked on ex-batts as I am. Even more so if that's possible! Their flock had depleted over the year they've been keeping them to 7, so when I told her the other week that I was rescuing some more from Coventry, she copied me and got another 7 (2 are "lodgers" for friends who can't keep them). One of the new girls has been so traumatised by the whole "coming out into the big wide world with all these other lovely hens" that she spent the first week inside the coop, refusing to come out, with her head against the wall (a case of "if I can't see you then you can't see me"). She's called Jellybean. Anyway, Janet, one of the original flock has taken Jellybean under her wing, takes her to the food and water, stays with her, protects her, sleeps next to her and generally mothering her.
Today, when Bec got back with her daughters from shopping, Janet and Jellybean are in the nest box together and Janet is sitting on 6 eggs. She's hissing, spitting, swearing and puffing up at any of the others who come near except Jellybean, she's allowed to stay. Becci's got a broody hen!!!!! And I want one!!! She's not sure about getting her any fertile eggs to hatch because partly it'd be difficult until they've got the new run sorted out to give Janet (and Jellybean) their own space, and partly because she's said she'd never have any other chooks unless they were rescued ones. I think Bec and the other chooks might be in for some temper tantrums!
My youngest daughter Becci (and her family) are as hooked on ex-batts as I am. Even more so if that's possible! Their flock had depleted over the year they've been keeping them to 7, so when I told her the other week that I was rescuing some more from Coventry, she copied me and got another 7 (2 are "lodgers" for friends who can't keep them). One of the new girls has been so traumatised by the whole "coming out into the big wide world with all these other lovely hens" that she spent the first week inside the coop, refusing to come out, with her head against the wall (a case of "if I can't see you then you can't see me"). She's called Jellybean. Anyway, Janet, one of the original flock has taken Jellybean under her wing, takes her to the food and water, stays with her, protects her, sleeps next to her and generally mothering her.
Today, when Bec got back with her daughters from shopping, Janet and Jellybean are in the nest box together and Janet is sitting on 6 eggs. She's hissing, spitting, swearing and puffing up at any of the others who come near except Jellybean, she's allowed to stay. Becci's got a broody hen!!!!! And I want one!!! She's not sure about getting her any fertile eggs to hatch because partly it'd be difficult until they've got the new run sorted out to give Janet (and Jellybean) their own space, and partly because she's said she'd never have any other chooks unless they were rescued ones. I think Bec and the other chooks might be in for some temper tantrums!
! My batties go broody occasionally, but I don't want to go down that route, so I just turf 'em out and collect the eggs, like the mean Mummy I am!
...you know you want to!!!!
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