4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Gallina]

Here's the link to Martin's baby quail from Tesco's.

 

There's nothing at all to making a link. Just click on "BBCode" to the bottom left of the message you are typing, and you will get all the information you need.

[The Dogmother]

I'd recommend doing the hatching thing if you have appropriate accommodation.

 

so...just in case one of the six does hatch (gulp) what constitutes appropriate accomodation for mum and chick?

 

and how do other, grown hens get on with ickle ones?

 

You need a broody ark Tara (I used a rablu last year) - somewhere for the broody to be alone with the eggs, and the chicks when they hatch. It's ideal to have an ark that is in the freeranging area used by the other chooks, so that when you introduce the broody and her babies back to the flock, there's a minimum of fuss. The rablu was ideal apart from the mesh on the run being big enough for the silly chicks to poke their heads through I just leaned some boards along the sides of the run until they got bigger.

 

The mum needs to be turned off the eggs twice a day to make sure that she eats and drinks, then when they hatch, the chickies need a non-slip flooring, chick crumbs to eat and a shallow water dish with stones in it so that they don't fall face-first into the water.

[Tom and Barbara]

I'd recommend doing the hatching thing if you have appropriate accommodation.

 

so...just in case one of the six does hatch (gulp) what constitutes appropriate accomodation for mum and chick?

 

and how do other, grown hens get on with ickle ones?

 

i use a rabbit hutch for a broody cage, got it from pets at home for £20 and made run out of batten and aviary wire for when chicks get bigger. tis only suitable for a bantam though really

[bronze]

ask for a hutch on freecycle

[Tara.F]

so far, Lacey has commandeered the eglu nest with her three eggs and Frizz is in a shallow plant pot on the roosting bars with her three, sorry, two now

Both hens seem far happier now they have eggs to sit on and have started eating again when turned off their nests.

 

The two hybrids simply lay their eggs on top of Lacey each morning and she quickly hides them underneath.

we retrieve those when we turn her off

 

and our little Araucana stopped laying when Lacey first went broody although she shows no sign of broodiness herself. She only laid one egg a week anyway.

 

I think we'll start candling the eggs next week and if we identify any signs they might be fertile, we'll start running around to sort out a broody coop for two.

 

does that sound okay?

[The Dogmother]

That sounds grand Tara, I'd recommend moving them at night when the girls are dozy and less likely to abandon the eggs if they are moved.

[Paola]

Thank you How amazing I wonder what his parents think

[Tara.F]

you know?

I doubt wild horses could make little Lacey abandon her eggs!

 

Bless her, she's so tiny and yet so brave!

She stretches her wings and puffs up her feathers and attacks my Staffordshire Bull Terrier, the kids, me and Dave and woe betide any wood pigeon that comes near

[The Dogmother]

Aww, bless; what a good mummy... you'll love watchng her protect them when they hatch. I like the way that they peck out the choiciest morsels for the chicks and point them out with their beaks for the chickies.

[Tom and Barbara]

WOOOOEEE!!!!!! just bought a dozen Clarence Court eggs from Sainsbury's so will be slippin' them under a chicken later

 

be interesting to see what results we all get...

[Nicola H]

Good luck i hope you get some to hatch.............I put 6 under Bunty last year but none hatched you might have more luck with 12.

[Tom and Barbara]

some do look quite porous Nicola so i'm not holding out hope for those....we stood for ages opening all the boxes and choosing the best looking eggs

[Nicola H]

we stood for ages opening all the boxes and choosing the best looking eggs

 

Snap............I got some very funny looks.