Monday, July 26, 2010

2 Broodies and a Last-Minute Fix

Remember Wanda? She hatched a chick in March after a long period of not-so-successful brooding attempts. Well, I found her secret nest a couple weeks ago (it looked like a community nest), and let her sit on them. I figured it's easier to let her hatch eggs than it is to fight her broodiness. This is her calling. Who am I to crush her dreams of motherhood?

I noticed Friday night that her eggs were starting to hatch. I took 2 of her eggs that had pipped and gave them to a Barred Rock hen that recently went broody.


As of Sunday, 4 of Wanda's eggs had hatched. See the little black one on the left with the yellow spot on its head?
This Barred Rock hen has been broody for a few weeks now. She's pretty vicious. She pecks my hand when I reach under her, and if I even peek through the coop window at the nesting boxes she'd let out a big growl (beak open wide) and puff up. Hateful thing! I gave her 2 of Wanda's eggs and they both hatched out. Hopefully she'll enjoy being a mom and won't go broody again for a while.





So Sunday morning I decided to put the ram and Theo in the bachelor pen since it was finished. I realized that there was no shade in the early morning hours because the sun was so low in the sky, so I needed a quick fix! I found 2 scrap pieces of lumber to screw to the front of the shelter. It doesn't look pretty, but it solved the shade problem.


I went out a couple hours later and saw the ram lamb had squeezed his body into the one little patch of shade from the trees. Luckily the pen has a ton of shade from mid morning to evening.

Theo took advantage of the shelter almost immediately. Well, after he'd scratched himself.


6 comments:

Kim said...

What cute chicks!

Becky said...

Wanda is so pretty. She's a good broody momma. I love the black chick with the white spot. You need a name for the nasty barred rock hen. Maybe she'll take really good care of her babies since she's so protective. The quick shade fix was a great idea!

Dad said...

Very smart Katie girl. Very smart. :-)

Kelly said...

I have learned that beauty isn't everything with shelter. If it works, that is all I ask. It sounds like you have chicks everywhere. I never have a broody hen. I'm going to try different hens in the spring. I have noticed my numbers have dwindled and the girls need new blood.

Jen said...

Awwww... the chickies are so cute! I just gave my lil broody bantam 2 eggs last night, poor girl has gone broody 3 times this year and something has happened EVERYTIME to her eggs! So I'm hoping 4th times a charm.

Deb Johnson, Quiltbeeme said...

I love your resourcefulness! Is that the little black ram lamb from spring? He looks brown in the sunlight. We missed you at camp this year sweetie. It did get hot at times but was so much fun! I always wish I could bring the lake home with me. Love and hugs, Momma

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