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Friday 4 June 2010
Exchequer Leghorn chicks hatching
Two days early there is the sound of cheeping and cracking of egg shells to be heard in the poultry shed, accompanied by the familiar low growl from the broody hen whenever I enter. The Exchequer Leghorn eggs are hatching...fingers crossed for all 8 and hopefully mostly female !
9.00pm the broody is still sitting tight but I have removed at least 7 empty shells so hopefully a successful hatch ..tomorrow will tell.
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This is a lovely blog and a treat to discover. The banner photo is excellent. Our hens don't stand still long enough to take a good picture! I hope the hatch is a good one with lots of girls!
ReplyDeleteKen
Thank you. The joy of digital cameras you can take hundreds and one maybe OK :) most of my photos are either a head or tail disappearing off the edge of the picture or just a blur.
ReplyDeleteKen I have just popped over to your site...fantastic and very professional ..I'm embarrassed now my ramblings are mostly notes for my own record and my photos snapshots using a point and shoot.
ReplyDeleteOur camera (just a point and shoot!) has just broken! Your blog made me want to put another page about our hens so tonight I added one with our grand daughter on. She seems to have the makings of a competent poultry keeper!
ReplyDeleteKeep writing your blog! - it's unpretentious, friendly and delightful.
Ken
Hi Sandra,
ReplyDeleteAnxiously awaiting hearing about the chicks. We have a Gold Wyandotte who starting sitting yesterday and thought we'd try our luck again at natural hatching. I wonder if we should set her in a nest away from the others from the beginning, rather than wait until the chicks hatch. I think our Australorp was being disturbed by other hens coming into her "space" to lay their eggs since we found new eggs in her clutch each day. Ideas?
Ken thanks again.What a delightful photograph of your grand daughter.
ReplyDeleteHi Marianne,
Quick peep ths morning and I think I have 8 chicks :)hopefully later in the day she will take them off the nest and I will be able to have my fisrt 'proper' look.
I always give broodies they own quiet space. As soon as I am sure they are sitting tight I place them in a broody pen (either the A frame ark, the pen in the shed or just a box in a quiet,safe corner.) A day or so after the move if she is still happy I give her the fertile eggs. She is then very much left to herself. A quick daily check to freshen the food and water is about it. I leave her to come off the nest herself. To begin with I always think she is never going to as for the first few days she sits tight, after that depending on the hen they will leave the nest daily or sometimes every 3rd day. They do appreciate a dust bath. I have also found they are reluctant to leave the nest for the last couple of days before hatching.
Good luck !