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Post by ikbokchook on Aug 14, 2010 18:21:36 GMT 8
I have a Speckled sussex that is not one year old yet, and over the last couple of weeks - she's gone missing! I thought (always the pessimist! ) that she was either ... a) taken by a fox (or dog) b) been stolen but... I've seen her - briefly - in the last couple of days - hungry and thirsty and once with a rotten egg stuck to her feathers (which I was able to remove) So - my question is - she clearly has a nest that she is sitting on somewhere close (I've looked - I can't find it!) Willl she come back with the chicks if they hatch? I would really like to have her penned safely, but have NO idea where she is! Will she go back to her hidden nest with the chicks if I try and contain her in the normal pen (which she can get out of but never went far) Please! Any help appreciated! Cheers!
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Post by shea on Aug 14, 2010 21:06:34 GMT 8
Well i've had no experience with anything like this but I sure hope she does come back to you, all proud showing off her babies
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Post by linda29 on Aug 14, 2010 22:10:05 GMT 8
I remember some time ago this happened to my friends chook and she roughly guessed how long she had been missing and coming back from time to time (16days) and after another week my friend started calling her chook and throwing wheat out in the backyard and after a few days the chook came out with some straving little chicks. My friend netted the chicks and her hen followed them into a confined and safe cage. I hope this works for you. You may have to play a game of detective and follow your hen when you see her next and this may give you an idea of her hidey hole. Goodluck and keep us posted. Cheers linda
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Post by ikbokchook on Aug 15, 2010 17:32:40 GMT 8
Thanks! She's been gone roughly 2 ish weeks already so hopefully soon she'll appear with some wee chickies! I've only spotted her twice in that time though, the once with a rotten egg stuck to her - so hopefully some of her stash are fertile and hatch and she keeps them away from cats and crows! Will let you all know if (and when!) she turns up! Cheers
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Post by pianochook on Aug 15, 2010 18:43:28 GMT 8
good luck, ikbokchook, I hope she turns up with her new family in tow!
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Post by jacquie on Aug 15, 2010 21:03:15 GMT 8
usually the broody will return to her normal environment once her eggs have hatched out, she brings her babies back to where her food and water is kept.
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Post by quambie on Aug 16, 2010 12:13:57 GMT 8
Hi ikbokchook Good luck with her I would leave out food and water where she will find it or where you got the rotten egg of her backside, and she should bring them to feed there with luck. Maternal instinct is a strong thing she knows where she is well off at the moment she thinks she is safe where she is all things being equal she will take them home to show them off Trev
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Post by ikbokchook on Aug 16, 2010 12:52:11 GMT 8
Today she turned up - thirsty and hungry again - so I gave her food and water then abandoned my human children to stalk her! ;D Managed to find the nest (in long grass, under a tree in the neighbours paddock ) and they are HEAPS of eggs in there! At a glance there must be at least 2 dozen! Now I'm wondering if I should sneak next door at night time and candle them! It'll be a big job - gawd knows how she manages to sit on them all!
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Post by chickita on Aug 16, 2010 14:22:18 GMT 8
oh wow, cant wait to hear how it all goes!
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Post by annieyokie on Aug 16, 2010 16:46:52 GMT 8
Wow ! I would candle them and take any infertiles away might give you an Idea when they might hatch .Hope she has lots of babies !
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Post by linda29 on Aug 16, 2010 18:56:33 GMT 8
I am glad you found her hidy hole as you can rest your mind and keep an eye out for her. Good luck with her hatch. Wqw 12 eggs she must have been laying for 12 days. I would want to candle the eggs too!! Cheers linda
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Post by jacquie on Aug 16, 2010 19:23:46 GMT 8
wow that is a big nest do you think she is safe from predators there? if not i woudl be looking to move her, even if it meant losing her developing babies.
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Post by fizzle on Aug 16, 2010 19:59:50 GMT 8
Good detective work I've had a hen do this last season. By the time I found her she had days left til hatch time. There were over 20 eggs under her & some were caked in poo. I left her there until they started hatching & when she was halfway through I moved her, took the remaining eggs & popped them in the incubator. These hatched over the next couple of days & this little Arancana hen ended up with 18 chicks. Even a couple of the poo caked eggs hatched. She reared them all. If she were mine I'd move her at night & put her into a box that is enclosed or covered at the front with a sack during the day (obviously the box would go in a pen ) when moving her candle the eggs.
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Post by ikbokchook on Aug 16, 2010 21:06:31 GMT 8
Ok, think I'm going to have a crack at candling them and weeding out any infertiles! Not too keen to move her, think I'll just wait and see what I find tonight. I've got another Speckled sitting at the moment (2 out of 3 pullets have gone broody! ) so have to candle hers tonight too. Apart from that I've just hatched 8 babies in the incubator and have another 3 about 3 months old - Holy moly! What am I going to do with all these chickens! (OH is gonna KILL me! Lol!) Oh - and fizzle - good to see you posting again! ;D
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Post by fizzle on Aug 16, 2010 21:42:51 GMT 8
Just keep reassuring him there's only 10 extras, he must keep seeing the same 10 that's what I tell mine
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