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Post by ncgarden on May 8, 2015 8:22:34 GMT -5
Sure, I could have added this to Chicken Chat, but babies deserve their own thread! My favorite hen, Ethel, is a buff orpington and they are notoriously broody. So when she went broody this year, I got her some fertile eggs. Chicks hatched yesterday, and yes, I am endlessly fascinated by them. Three of the four have hatched, not sure if the fourth is a dud, or just late, so I will wait another day or so and see. The chicks are black copper marans.
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Post by brownrexx on May 8, 2015 9:20:02 GMT -5
Ethel must be so happy. I just love watching a hen with her chicks. I don't think that I will ever use an incubator again.
Hubby just informed me yesterday that I should save a few eggs and encourage "Spot" to become broody. She usually does this on her own but this year she hasn't so far. Our rooster is a Black Copper Maran and last year Spot raised 5 chicks with him. They were ALL hens. What is the chance of that happening?
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Post by OregonRed on May 8, 2015 10:43:12 GMT -5
babies of anything are so cute!
I was at the POB the other day after working in the garden (so I was dirty), and someone was waiting for hubby to get off work with their chiwawa puppy! omg, I couldn't help myself, I was on the floor and everything - the store was slow, so we all enjoyed the playtime.
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Post by lisaann on May 9, 2015 6:46:44 GMT -5
NCgarden,
Have you petted the fur off those babies yet? Are they riding in your shirt pocket?
Sounds like Rexx is going to be a grandmother again.
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Post by mrsk on May 9, 2015 10:57:48 GMT -5
oh Rex, probably get all roosters next time, and I know you can't process them. Although, Ken once had a favorite cow, and he always kept her heifer calf, and she gave him 9! Unheard of!
I do love a mother and chicks, and I too will never go back to the brooder. I am leaving a pile of golf balls in the nest, hoping Butter, (my BO) gets the notion. She generally does in late May or early June, I thought maybe so, a week ago, but nothing. Bet she does when this storm is past.
Mrs k
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Post by ncgarden on May 9, 2015 14:19:23 GMT -5
Mrs k - will you get her fertile eggs when she goes broody?
Ethel brought the babies out for the other hens to see, and although she is concerned, is good with me picking them all up and cuddling. Egg #4 was definitely a dud and Ethel has let it get cold. I'll have to throw it out tomorrow.
Having a good time bringing them tasty bits, a bit of shredded beef, a chopped apple, a bag of live crickets <g>.
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Post by oliverman on May 9, 2015 19:52:11 GMT -5
Probability of 5 pullets from 5 chicks is 1/32. 9 heifer calves in a row is a bit more rare at 1/512.
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Post by brownrexx on May 11, 2015 7:55:05 GMT -5
Wow.
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Post by ncgarden on May 11, 2015 17:29:32 GMT -5
Chick update: one of the four eggs was a dud. Last night, I had three chicks. This morning, I only have two - I have searched the coop and run looking for a body, but nothing. I have to think the chick got somewhere Ethel could not get her out of. She and the remaining two chicks are doing great - they spent the day in the run, scratching and dust bathing. Ethel is so fierce - she is normally the sweetest and most mild mannered of hens, and comes to be picked up. But when she is on mom-duty, look out. She does not actually peck at me when I pick up the chicks, but she fluffs up and threatens me. I have to be in the uptown office all day tomorrow and will be suffering chick separation anxiety!!
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Post by ecsoehng on May 13, 2015 17:34:59 GMT -5
I have two chicks inside in the brooder right now (they can stay inside till they get annoying, maybe another week.) One is a barnyard mix from my egg and the other is a White Faced Black Spanish chick which is a rare breed. I am hoping for a rooster for it because they have the pretty all over white clown face when they get older.
I think the sex of the chicks can be influenced by the temperature of incubation so it is not all random.
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