Eight little chicks............

[Containergardener]

Awwwwww what a lovely thing to read after my day , well done dad

[muddled]

Top tip time...

Whatever you want them to eat later, introduce now.
Even if only mum can eat it, they'll watch and learn. And mum will be ravenous after all that time sitting. This aspect of broody vs incubator is the best...its time to dig up some of those little white slugs...find some slug eggs...aphids...whatever you would train your chooks to eat, let them start seeing it now!

[Snadger]

I'm a little bit retrospectivly worried. I don't know how long she had been shielding the one chick and how long she had left the others?
They were all alive when I put them in their new strawy nest so hopefully she will have warmed them up and they will be active when I go to the allotment after work. I'll buy some wood shavings on the way and take out the straw I've put in their mini run. I will also grab a handfull of large pebbles to put in their water.

[Scarlet]

Stop worrying Dad

[fishpond]

Just to put a downer on it, think of all the nappies
Brilliant, but still waiting for the pictures of the young family.

[muddled]

You will let us know as soon as you've seen them?
I hope they are all okay!

[Snadger]

She is shy in letting me see her brood.

I went this evening and took the straw out of the mini run she has, and changed it for sawdust. I also added water with pebbles in it and a mixture of chick crumb,mixed corn and layers pellets in a seperate container.
She had been out earlier as the food was gone and the water was full of straw.

She is sitting on her nest purring like a kitten. I can see a broken eggshell so wonder if one of the other two eggs has hatched? I could just see the rear en of one chick sticking out from under her.

Photo's and head count will have to wait until she's ready to let them play!

[Nannysally99]

That's lovely Snadger

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Welldone and many congrats Snage

You must be over the moon!

[muddled]

Bet they're all fine...she seems to know what she's doing!

Try not to get too attached, you don't know how many are boys yet.

[Scarlet]

Still good, they"ll taste lovely with a bit of gravy

[Containergardener]

Scarlet....noooooooooooo

[Snadger]

Still good, they"ll taste lovely with a bit of gravy

Not much meat on them though as they are bantams judging by the size of the eggs she was sitting on!

[Containergardener]

Do they have names yet ?

[Bal]

Oh I'm so glad for you and jealous too I have 4 bantams 3 hens and a cock. One of the hens is constantly broody and one of the others nearly as bad. I would love to have a brood from either of them. But after the trouble Bertie gave us, I'm worried about having more males. I couldn't possibly dispatch a little chick. How soon can you sex them?