Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 (edited) Hecky thump...........I now have a broody Orpie to add to my collection of feathery mothers-to-be Although I've stated many times that I will not have another broody Orpie after Buffie last year, one of her "sisters" has spent all day today in the nestbox and shot back on there after a brief jolly around the garden & a snack....classic symptoms when combined with the growling pancake impression !!! I have a plan though which would give 'Silla her wish to be a mummy and me a "get out of chicks in the house" card....that was never going to be particularly easy with the dogs If I move the Pancake into my little wooden house (it's bigger than the eglu ) with the Marans eggs which are currently in the inccy later this week, then she will only have a very short, less than a week in theory, period of confinement so won't hopefully lose too much condition & will stay much healthier . Sha x Edited June 9, 2010 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Sounds like a plan Just so long as she's eating her soggy corn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted May 30, 2010 Share Posted May 30, 2010 Very sensible, just make sure she is 'proper' broody and dont jump the gun Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 I'm not risking those eggs until she's sat for a couple of days in the wooden house with the fake eggs for company Even if they go in on Saturday, or even only one of two go in & the others go in as fluff balls & she only has a couple of days of being a "real" mum I've been planning alterations to the house overnight........sleep? over-rated .....as I've realised it's got no proper ventilation in the roof ..I'll block off the nest box & arrange some ventilation through that as it'll be well above her head given that she & the babies will be nesting on the floor.............oh me oh my I am getting overexcited again Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted May 31, 2010 Author Share Posted May 31, 2010 Well the house is ready, I cleaned it out & sprayed poultry shield everywhere so it dried during the day & DH made the necessary alterations while I was at work & we put her in there at dusk...........she does not want to sleep in the cat litter/dustbath tray which is filled with aubiose & red mite powder & the two eggs, she is at present tucked up on the floor on the other side of the house there is a thin layer of aubiose all over the floor. I've put the eggs in front of her to see if she accepts them again & will see what her reactions are in the morning. Perhaps the CLT is too small for her voluptuous figure, so I'll try the cat loo base which Buffie used last year for part of her brooding. Oh the joys Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 The minx is pacing.....so I've put the catloo in without its lid & put a couple of sacificial eggs in there with her fake ones too........we await her ladyship's decision Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 Did you leave the door shut on the coop? If not I would shut her in now to snap her back in to it. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 No but it's raining & she's not impressed with that ...........I'm not counting my chickies yet...but she's indoors now Hi Tom, how are you ? Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom123 Posted June 1, 2010 Share Posted June 1, 2010 I'm good, you? Very busy here recently what with Exams, lots of new chicks, breaks ins, foals, shows, auctions, more chickens, new horse Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 1, 2010 Author Share Posted June 1, 2010 Good thanks, I now have 14 growed up chooks as I've lost 3 big girls in the past few months and 5 itsy bitsy balls of Pekin trouble in with Blossom, Holly has 6 Pekin eggs under her stroppy little bottom & the 6 Marans in the inccy might find their way under Drusilla's fluffy skirts Everything else is the same with dogs, hubs & kiddlings...though DS is becoming hormonal & has decided that revision is not necessary for his internal exams next week ......I've just looked through his suggested subject timetable & noticed no maths...........errrr no maths my boy.....do I have to do maths then mum Good luck with all your exams & creature attentions.....did anything come of your breakin? I hope the rotters didn't come back Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share Posted June 3, 2010 Drusilla is now sitting on the 6 Marans eggs......we planted them after dark last night then went to bed ourselves.........and about 3/4 hour later got up to check she was still sitting on them .............she was and still is ........fingers crossed they hatch now somewhere around Monday (hatch) Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 7, 2010 Author Share Posted June 7, 2010 At last "h" day is here , I have at least one baby Maran.............it must have hatched in the night and got cold for whatever reason, it was in the corner where Drusilla's bowl of corn is in the pic......I wasn't sure if it was dead or alive so I hooked it out & it's now tucked in my tshirt warming in my hand, fidgeting then resting.............once it's up & standing I'll tuck it back under mummy Would I be better popping it back in the inccy........... Eeeekkkk, it cheeped Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 7, 2010 Share Posted June 7, 2010 Drusilla is another beauty isn't she I'd keep chicky warm till it looks a bit stronger, then I'd try tucking it under - but only if you're going to be about because I'd want to keep an eye on her to make sure she is taking to it, particularly as in her little chicken head she may be thinking I haven't been sitting here long enough - that can't be mine! (although I realise we may be stretching incredulity to think a chicken can count!) If she's a first timer then thats another reason to be doubly sure she's OK with it. If you're in any doubt/not going to be about then perhaps go to the incy - maybe switch it on in anticipation? Good luck for the rest of the day Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 8, 2010 Author Share Posted June 8, 2010 Here we are, a piccie or three................... This is the little one I though wouldn't make it, I put it back under Drusilla a while before I went to work & she seemed happy enough to accept it........ And audible proof of it's lung capacity.......(sorry the lighting is pretty awful ) Here's one of them this morning........ There are now 4 little matching bundles of fluff so either I have 4 boys or four girls so far Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 8, 2010 Share Posted June 8, 2010 *likes* Hoping for 4 girls!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 9, 2010 Author Share Posted June 9, 2010 Drusilla has left the nest with 4 happy healthy little cheepers Unfortunately on emptying the nestbox I found the very dead...and slightly smelly ...bodies of the other two chicks......I don't know quite what happened, but they seemed fully developed I'm not going to dwell on the dark side though, only the bright happy chicks who have made it out into the outside world Can I once again request advice.............'Silla has a mucky set of knickers again due to exploding broody poos in the nestbox .....would I be better to stick a dustbath in the run & let her deal with it, or take her out & bath her quickly dry her off & return her to the run.........oh the trials of an Orpie brood I'll take a pic once the babies are all back out & about, they are resting at the mo Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted June 9, 2010 Share Posted June 9, 2010 Congrats I'd give her a dust bath tomorrow to sort her out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bessandra Posted June 10, 2010 Share Posted June 10, 2010 Brenda (my brahma) also has very fluffy knickers and was pretty minging. I gave her a dry flowerbed, she had a gay old time and is absolutely immaculate-the moral? I'm sure the 'dustbath' will be fine for Drusilla! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted June 10, 2010 Author Share Posted June 10, 2010 I put a tray of dry sand in the run & she ignored it, so I trimmed off the worst & left her to it, she's much better this morning Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daphne Posted June 12, 2010 Share Posted June 12, 2010 Hi Sha - been away - well done on the 4 little chicks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
