Against the odds

Stonehead · Post: # 36260Post **Stonehead** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:13 pm

One of our Scots Grey hens went broody four weeks ago and, as there was no way she was going to be forced out of it, we gave her half a dozen manky, reject eggs and left her to it.

We didn't expect any to hatch as Scots Greys are notoriously bad sitters, as she proved. She'd wander off, let the eggs get cold, go and sit on freshly laid eggs elsewhere, and complain when she was put back on her clutch.

Also, with our broody box already in use, she had to remain in the main chicken house so she had to drive the other hens out of her "box" from time to time.

But, when we checked the hens this afternoon and gave them their afternoon feed, we found she'd managed to hatch two Scots Grey chicks. (The other four eggs came from our ISA Browns.)

One's very healthy and the other is a bit shaky, but mum is very pleased with herself. I suspect the other eggs won't hatch, especially as she'll be off them in the next day or two as she takes the chicks out, but you never know...

Chickpea · Post: # 36266Post **Chickpea** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 5:30 pm

Congratulations. Got any pics?

Stonehead · Post: # 36279Post **Stonehead** » Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:03 pm

Chickpea wrote:Congratulations. Got any pics?

At the moment, all you'd get would be a top down view of a very fluffed up hen in a nest box. The chicks are both hidden under her so I'd need to lift her up to get them in the photo - and I'd prefer not to do that just yet.

PurpleDragon · Mon Oct 09, 2006 7:57 pm

Well, congratulations - you're an uncle!

Do you eat the fertile eggs?

PurpleDragon · Fri Oct 13, 2006 9:57 am

Did the 4 ISA eggs hatch?

2steps · Post: # 36889Post **2steps** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 3:21 pm

awww congratulations

Stonehead · Post: # 36905Post **Stonehead** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:11 pm

First time outside.

Day after hatching.

Millymollymandy · Fri Oct 13, 2006 4:11 pm

What a nice surprise!

the.fee.fairy · Sat Oct 14, 2006 1:46 pm

cute!

Stonehead · Post: # 38881Post **Stonehead** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 5:50 pm

Unfortunately one of the chicks died overnight. It was dead under the hen when I let them out this morning.

PurpleDragon · Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:04 pm

Oh, no, what a shame

It was probably that flamin crying dolly that scared it to death.

Stonehead · Post: # 38889Post **Stonehead** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:08 pm

PurpleDragon wrote:Oh, no, what a shame

It was probably that flamin crying dolly that scared it to death.

LOL!

Chickens are almost as bad as sheep for dropping dead. When I told the boys, the Big Lad was very matter of fact "Oh bummer, I was hoping it was a cockerel for dinner". The Wee 'Un was too: " Can we cut it up and see what went wrong?"

They are disappointed but they're also used to chickens dropping dead - their favourite was the cockerel that fell out the shed door and rolled on his back with his legs in the air - dead. They love to tell that story even 18 months after the event.

PurpleDragon · Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:35 pm

Your kids are crackers.

Ishers - when we went there the other day, No1StoneySon was telling No1Child (of mine) about his pigs. The look on my son's face when No1StoneySon said "We used to have another pig, but we et it"

Mind you, the look on Stoney's face was pretty priceless as well when, on offering No1Child one of his homemade spicy snaps, was told something along the lines of "it's okay, we've got digestives in the car".

2steps · Post: # 38896Post **2steps** » Mon Oct 30, 2006 6:39 pm

know what you mean about chickens just dying. went out yesterday morning and one of ours was dead

was fine the night before and I couldn't see anything wrong with it at the time.

My children are quite good about death too. They know we are going to eat any cockerals that hatch but will have to see how they are at the time