|
Post by shea on Oct 18, 2010 7:42:02 GMT 8
I brought my pekins eggs last year off Wendy so I would have a broody to bring up my babies. My plan has now worked! ;D Rose and Willow have been broody so I set Rose on some eggs as she is the most placid one. I didn't seperate them at first so eggs were laid over a couple of days ( I know I shouldn't have let this happen). Anyway she was sitting on 6 eggs and yesterday 1 hatched but we found it dead. It was all fluffed up so I am presuming that after it had dried out and came out from under her, as it was her first baby it startled her and she pecked it. This morning there is another baby. I'll watch her throughout the day and if I need to I'll start up the brooder. She started to get that look in her eye when I was checking the other eggs. 2 hadn't yet pipped and I left the other 2 so I didn't upset her. If she gets off the other eggs before they are due to hatch, I'll put them under Willow who is hanging in there trying to hatch something that is non existent. Will post some pics when all is going ok. Shea
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 18, 2010 10:44:11 GMT 8
I've just been outside and checked and the little one is sitting beside Mum. Both are looking contented so that is a relief!
|
|
|
Post by jacquie on Oct 18, 2010 11:34:54 GMT 8
oh that is wonderful shea, sorry about the one that you lost.
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 18, 2010 12:15:06 GMT 8
Thanks Jacquie, I guess that happens in nature, doesn't it? It was a beautiful little blue one, just wasn't meant to be. Hopefully the others hatch.
|
|
|
Post by linda29 on Oct 18, 2010 12:57:21 GMT 8
Hi Shea How eggsiting I love watching the mum and how she looks after the littlies. I usually make a large cuppa and sit and watch until my kids find me!! Cheers linda
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 19, 2010 18:33:30 GMT 8
We now have 2 babies and Rose is still sitting strong. I don't think my plan of moving the eggs to the other broody is going to work. We moved the bantam pen to part of the vegie patch for extra fertilser and both are walking around and I don't think they're broody anymore. I've lent my incubator to a friend so that option is out. As I said, Rose is still sitting strong so we will just play it by ear. She hasn't taken the babies out for a drink yet. Shall I put them near the water?. The first one hatched Sunday night/Mon morning.
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 20, 2010 9:04:08 GMT 8
Here's Rose and her 2 babies. Another is pipping. She is getting off to feed the babies and then back onto the eggs. Today we are going to Midland so I am going to block off the entrance of the nest so she stays on the eggs. This is also to protect her from the crows which are hanging around. She's in the orchard under the netting. They are trying to pick holes in it. Yesterday we had the side of it open picking all the broadbeans and this morning they were trying to get into the same spot. Smart so and so's.
|
|
|
Post by quambie on Oct 20, 2010 11:07:26 GMT 8
well done shea they do look good Trev
|
|
|
Post by jacquie on Oct 20, 2010 11:49:15 GMT 8
they are so cute, yes those crows are a real pain!
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 22, 2010 17:30:55 GMT 8
Well we have 3 babies and I think a miracle may happen tonight! ;D I checked her yesterday morning and the 2 remainging eggs were cold. I bought them inside and wrapped up in a rug with a heatpack. I thought I'd candle them that night. I went to candle them last night and heard a cheap so I quickly went outside and put them under Rose. This morning again they were cool so I again bought them inside and wrapped them in the rug. 1 has pipped and is chirping away so I've just gone and put them both under Rose as she's in the nest for the night. Hopefully we will have another baby in the morning. I'm not sure if the one cheaping last night is the same one pipping but I figure if either one of them hatches then it is a miracle! Fingers and toes crossed.
|
|
|
Post by shea on Oct 23, 2010 21:31:56 GMT 8
No miracle last night the one that had pipped was dead in shell. It had absorbed all fluid in the egg so must have just run out of energy. the other still had a bit of fluid in t so it must have died a few days prior. Oh well, still have 3 beautiful babies so gotta be happy with that.
|
|
|
Post by jacquie on Oct 24, 2010 14:38:59 GMT 8
sorry that 2 didn't make it, but its wonderful that you got 3 such gorgeous little chickies!
|
|