Valkyrie Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 (edited) Well Cheyenne decided to go broody and nothing was going to stop her. Here are some pics of her impersonating a turkey: Ah, got there in the end and I'm not budging. We started to worry because she wouldn't come out and she virtually stopped eating. I was giving her corn to keep her going. It also went on for too long so I have a confession to make: Meet Tipsy the cuckoo maran. I think she may be a girl - she is pretty well black, although she looks more grey on here. This is Jou Jou (the best pronunciation is probably to say it as in bijou - blame DD), a buff Sussex - not sure, might be a boy. I call this one Squirt because we haven't named it really and it was the smallest. Also a buff Sussex and possibly a boy. Such a little angel. It's been a week since they hatched and mum is very happy and she is so good. At least she is eating again. The Sussex's have put on a lot of wing growth and have little tails. The maran hardly looks any different - just a bit bigger and not much wing feathers at all. Edited May 9, 2009 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barkisland Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Aren't they gorgeous! Will you be able to keep them if they are boys? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
quickcluck Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Ahhhhhhhhhh they are all lovely.... hope mummy is enjoying looking after her babies... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 8, 2009 Author Share Posted May 8, 2009 I won't be allowed to keep boys here, but I made sure I had a get out of jail card before taking them on - if I didn't have that, I wouldn't have considered it - you should see the list of pro's and cons. So saying that the guy up the road has a rooster, but 2 lads would probably fight anyway. The chicks took longer to hatch - 22/23 (Squirt) days! DD was hoping for an early 20th day which we had read does happen under broody hens (probably on this forum somewhere). We started off with 3 of each, but 2 marans didn't make any sound at all and no chipping/tapping heard in the run up or after. She did stay on them for a couple of extra days, but the little'uns need was greater. Tipsy could be heard loud and clear - deafened OH when he held the egg to his ear! The other Sussex one was lost by a broken shell, so had to be disposed of, sadly an embryo was beginning to form. Jou Jou has rather nicely pointed comby bits - but when I searched for pics of the same breed on the net I found that there were hens with huge combs, some with incredibly big pointy bits - and one even had spurs to match the rooster! So none the wiser but ever hopeful. Mummy is looking after babbies really well - she makes sure each gets a fair share - snatching mealworms away from the piggy ones (mainly Tipsy) to give to Squirt. She hasn't eaten any herself. It's lovely hearing her talk to them. When the blackbirds do their warning call, she clucks and they all run under her. Jou Jou has been scratching away at the grass just like mum. They have a little run which is covered for safety and their house is put in the shed at night, and back in the run in the morning. The other girls were quite nosey at first, but not bothered - except they come running when I renew the chick crumbs rather hopefully (no, not for you two). This evening when I was putting the grown ups to bed I could see Tipsy and Jou Jou at the top of their ramp looking to see what I was doing. Usually mum makes them go to bed early. Oh well, it is the weekend. There is no way I am going to do the same for the other girls - I recognise the early broody signs and nip it in the bud. I am so mean. Maybe next year - then I'll make sure I get a day old crested cream legbar (or another auto sexing breed) and sneak it under instead. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted May 8, 2009 Share Posted May 8, 2009 Aww, they are adorable . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigmommasally Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 Ahhh - They're so cute Clever mummy Cheyenne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted May 9, 2009 Author Share Posted May 9, 2009 She made them eat their greens this morning - chomping the clover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 9, 2009 Share Posted May 9, 2009 How cute! Squirt is the best one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mags Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 awe so cute mags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hangman Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Brilliant photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Awwwww, they're sooooooooo cute . NOT at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickvic Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 How sweet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egg Lou Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Congratulations! They are beautiful! I know you thought long and hard about this after our discussions over my lot last year so well done for doing such a good job! It was about time you increased your flock so hope you get a couple of girls at least Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 10, 2009 Share Posted May 10, 2009 Oh wow, how lovely! What great pictures, thanks for sharing! Well done mummy Cheyenne! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
