Sufficient Self members with Poultry!

[Hinotori]

I have 3 pens with chicks right now. There are 32 chicks total. Molly ended up with the hatching stragglers because she's a very good broody and I can scoop her up and move her without any fuss whatsoever. She also takes in chicks for up to 2 weeks after the first hatches. As in just put them in front of her in the daytime and she'll put them under her.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Molly ended up with the hatching stragglers because she's a very good broody and I can scoop her up and move her without any fuss whatsoever. She also takes in chicks for up to 2 weeks after the first hatches. As in just put them in front of her in the daytime and she'll put them under her.

Molly sounds awesome!

 

[Hinotori]

Molly is awesome. She's just over a year old. She's been broody a total of 6 times now, which is an annoying amount. Not all times did I let her have chicks. She actually only got chicks the first time because i only had a couple broodies for the ordered eggs and she was the only one who didn't care I moved her into a tub in the house.

She's very attentive to the chicks. Last batch it was eggs from all 5 pens and they were off each other on timing a bit because Id let the hens start them before moving to the incubator. Id have tried another broody with the last ones to hatch, but Molly was in the broody coop so I figured I'd try her first. She happily took them and adjusted her care for younger chicks.

She's very valuable to me just for her mothering.

 

[CrealCritter]

Turkey
View attachment 19684

Young one

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

First time with a hen and eggs-do they go into a 'lockdown' of sort? Just wondering what to expect starting today until hatch day--we are on day 18! I have the crate-ish box-ish spot ready for when the chicks come. I am hoping to move her from the top nesting box to the floor once the first chick comes, but wasn't sure if she won't get off the nest anymore now. I need to add an additional lip so no one falls out

 

[Hinotori]

Mine always get off at least once at day to poop, eat, and drink until the chicks pip. Then they don't normally move. I do have a few who will get off to go poop if they absolutely have to, but they rush back.

I always move the hen well before hatch if they are in a high nest box. The large fowl get one of the wood nest boxes on the floor in a large dog crate.

Yes you need to wait for hatch now. A nice high lip will keep the first hatched in. Chicks are good at getting in trouble.

Id keep an eye on a first timer. Ive had some large fowl kill the chicks as they hatch and others abandon the chicks because something went wrong in their head and they just want the eggs.

The super broody breeds like cochins and silkies are less likely to have issues.

 

[Trying2keepitReal]

Sounds good, I will keep an eye out @Hinotori Thanks for the help and info

I had tried moving her at the beginning but she went right back to that nest so she stayed

 

[Hinotori]

They usually resist being moved violently. That's part of why I love Molly so much. She doesn't care which is super rare

 

[CrealCritter]

Every morning I look forward to saying "Release the Quacken" they hear me even before I get to the door and start Quacken it up their routine is the same every day. As soon as I open the door, they make a bee-line to the pond. They swim around some then walk around, seeing how many mud puddles they can make. Today they watched me work on a piece of equipment from outside the barn door. I like having ducks around, they are hilarious and keep enough distance away, to not really get in the way.

Jesus is Lord and Christ

 

[CrealCritter]

They usually resist being moved violently. That's part of why I love Molly so much. She doesn't care which is super rare

A broody chicken will peck you up one side and down the other before you even knew what happened. A broody turkey hen will puff up and peck you one time and draw blood. You have something special, if you can move her when she's on the nest

Jesus is Lord and Christ