Post by Shawn on Aug 29, 2023 11:14:21 GMT -5
There is no astounding ending to this, so just know that up front.
Last summer when my White Leghorn went broody (yes, you read that correctly) I gave her 4 banty chicks from TSC because she was trying so hard and I figured she'd kill them anyway, so you know. Of course, she was an excellent mama and out of those 4 we have Birdie. So named because she's slightly larger than a wild bird. Tiny thing. Anyway, I finally found out she's an Old English Game hen.
So this spring Birdie disappeared, I found her nest. She had been on it for 5 weeks, so I took her eggs away.
A couple weeks ago she hid again. I found where she was and noted the time. Yesterday I stopped and picked up 5 Prairie Blue Belle pullets (I think they're just making up weird names now.) I stuck them in the nest box with her yesterday and monitored. She's in the mini hoophouse so the nest is up high. A couple fell out, we put them back in. By the evening she had them all under her so I thought we're good.
I moved the hoophouse up where I can see it from the kitchen window and to also discourage raccoons since the dog can circulate around her pen.
I looked out this morning and she was frantically going in and out of the hoophouse and I realized none of the chicks were down out of the nest. I got them down and eventually she had them all under her.
After another 15 min or so I went out and showed them water and food. She's not clucking them over to food, etc. They ate and drank well, then huddled next to her. I picked up a wing and shoved babies under her.
She does growl when the cats come around.
I don't have any experience with game birds, so not sure what their mothering skills are. I'd give her a C- on mothering at this point, but she's catching on, I think.
Last summer when my White Leghorn went broody (yes, you read that correctly) I gave her 4 banty chicks from TSC because she was trying so hard and I figured she'd kill them anyway, so you know. Of course, she was an excellent mama and out of those 4 we have Birdie. So named because she's slightly larger than a wild bird. Tiny thing. Anyway, I finally found out she's an Old English Game hen.
So this spring Birdie disappeared, I found her nest. She had been on it for 5 weeks, so I took her eggs away.
A couple weeks ago she hid again. I found where she was and noted the time. Yesterday I stopped and picked up 5 Prairie Blue Belle pullets (I think they're just making up weird names now.) I stuck them in the nest box with her yesterday and monitored. She's in the mini hoophouse so the nest is up high. A couple fell out, we put them back in. By the evening she had them all under her so I thought we're good.
I moved the hoophouse up where I can see it from the kitchen window and to also discourage raccoons since the dog can circulate around her pen.
I looked out this morning and she was frantically going in and out of the hoophouse and I realized none of the chicks were down out of the nest. I got them down and eventually she had them all under her.
After another 15 min or so I went out and showed them water and food. She's not clucking them over to food, etc. They ate and drank well, then huddled next to her. I picked up a wing and shoved babies under her.
She does growl when the cats come around.
I don't have any experience with game birds, so not sure what their mothering skills are. I'd give her a C- on mothering at this point, but she's catching on, I think.