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Post by neddyneeds on Nov 30, 2010 7:03:35 GMT 8
My Australorp hens went clucky about 1 week apart from each other. My broody pens were full so I put eggs under them in their big pen. Between them they would only sit on 2 clutches of eggs. The first 2 to go clucky had their own clutches and the 3rd one sat in with either of them and she took eggs from under the hen for herself.
Anyway, they have hatched 3 chicks and all 3 share the care of them. They did leave eggs in the nest unhatched and did not show signs of returning.
The 3 hens are also sisters ...
I have had 2 sister RIR do this before where one hen went clucky and hatched eggs then her sister helped look after them without actually going clucky herself.
It is always interesting in the chook pen.
Chris
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Post by quambie on Nov 30, 2010 9:45:03 GMT 8
that's what makes it interesting did you incubate the other eggs to see if they would hatch Trev
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Post by neddyneeds on Nov 30, 2010 20:28:57 GMT 8
No Trev, I didn't put them in the incubator, I didn't even think of it. We went away for the weekend and they hatched when I wasn't there. I probably should have candled them at the very least.
I'll think of doing that next time.
Chris
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Post by shea on Nov 30, 2010 21:54:14 GMT 8
shame about the other eggs but at least you got 3 babies and 2 happy mums
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Post by jacquie on Nov 30, 2010 23:04:35 GMT 8
hehe i have been in hospital so have not spent as much attention to my chooks as i should have, and i have a pile of five broody pekins and they have hatched out 2 chicks. the whole pile is going book book book over these chicks, but they all want to sit out on their eggs. will be interesting to see what happens tomorrow morning when they are likely to hop up and move around. i dont' usually let more than one hen sit together becuase of the potential for harm, but this group is all getting along in beautiful harmony, one to the times that works, as it sounds like for you neddyneeds.
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Post by neddyneeds on Dec 1, 2010 6:19:15 GMT 8
OMG ... 5 mothers! That sounds like a record!!
I have 1 last hen I have been watching expecting her to go clucky any day now. She bok bok bok's around all my little guys but none of them want to be adopted by her. She also disappears so I suspect she is laying eggs somewhere where she is not suposed to.
Hope your hospital stay ended in a good result Jacquie.
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Post by mikemurphy on Dec 1, 2010 11:23:27 GMT 8
By mistake two hens with chicks got together and to my surprise they didn't fight and each seems to totally accept the other and its chicks. They are also sisters, but there is a third sister without chicks and they chase her away. As you say Neddyneeds, always interesting.
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Post by jacquie on Dec 3, 2010 11:44:40 GMT 8
om my goodness i was met by a funny sight this morning, the five mother hens have ALL left the nest and are happily mohtering the two chicks............i have never seen such a thing before.
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Post by quambie on Dec 3, 2010 12:27:34 GMT 8
HI Jacquie I once had two silky do that. Could not believe it,not fighting over the chicks both mothering the two of them. The other one left all her eggs that were going to hatch out the next day or so, the bator came in handy it is the strangest thing though. Trev
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Post by neddyneeds on Dec 9, 2010 8:35:57 GMT 8
I am down to 2 chicks but still the 3 mothers. However, only one mother now sits on them at night and the other 2 are back on the roost!!
Chris
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Post by lakelands on Dec 9, 2010 12:18:41 GMT 8
I have 3 SLW currently looking after 2 chicks they all huddle together at night so I am not sure which one is actually keeping them warm at night....even the rooster is on on it
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Post by quambie on Dec 9, 2010 12:24:18 GMT 8
Hi jacquie Nothing to serious I hope Trev
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Post by jacquie on Dec 9, 2010 17:05:11 GMT 8
thankyou trev, it was just a minor procedure which held me up slightly in the chook yard. thanks for your concern, i am well on the mend now and have just found another two chickens under a hen!! she went it alone, she didn't fancy the group mothering situation. the red is still sitting strong, will be very interesting to see what happens there.
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Post by quambie on Dec 9, 2010 19:26:12 GMT 8
Hi Jacquie did you give the young ones Mothering lessons before they began to sit. I am told that this is a verry important beginning for them in the art of motherhood ;D ;D ;D Trev
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Post by jacquie on Dec 9, 2010 21:43:12 GMT 8
oh no trev, i didn't give them mothering lessons, perhaps you should inform as to exactly what that entails hehe.
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