Photos

Photos attached are of the eldest 10 chicks (very cute), and the younger 7 still with their Mum.  Best plan of action was to just take away both Mums (they had 5 chicks each) and chicks settled very quickly.  Youngest chicks were a month old, eldest 6-7 weeks old. All happy together after about one day. 

What a wingful!!!

They're capturing my heart.  Might have to start begging for another chook pen.Cosy.  As Dad said, that laying box looks quite big until those 10 chicks squeeze in there!!  Will take another photo of night time happenings in a few weeks!

Final count 24! There will be no more this season!

A friend has 7 in her care, thankyou!!!  7 hatched out of 7 eggs approx 16/11/10 over 36 hours early!!!! These will be good strong birds. 

Things I've learnt this breeding season:

One egg looked "mottled" when eggs were set under hen. Have seen this mottled look on eggs before, now I know it does not indicate a poor quality egg for setting.

Earlier chicks hatch the stronger and healthlier they are.

Place chicks 2 days old under hen that already had 14 day olds under her.  Did this with Fraser and Rosie successfully.

Set a total of 26 eggs, 25 were fertile, 24 hatched. 

And most importantly, don't incubate TOO many eggs!!!

4 More! Total is 17 now!!

On Tuesday the 9/11/10 four more beautiful cochins hatched.  They are under Ivory, the white pekin.  She's doing well, but is not friendly!!  The only friendly one is Fraser.  Blackie still getting there, but most importantly her chicks are thriving! Photos attached today are of Rosie and four out of her five, and Fraser and her lot, what a difference in size just 2 weeks makes.  Still no problems after putting the chicks all together.

Is this the 4th lot? I'm losing track!!!

Ok, first was Fraser's brood of 2, which is now 5, thanks to lovely Samantha next door.  Then Rosie had 2, which is also now 5 thanks to Samantha next door!

So yes, this is the 4th lot to hatch, 3 fertile eggs that produced 3 beautiful chicks, once again a day early!!!  They are under Blackie.

Kids and I drew a map tonight of the chook pen to help us work out where we can move them around to give them some space.   It was good seeing it in black and white, instead of ideas of where to put who running around in my head!!

So total now is 13, but boy o boy, watch this space.  Two more batches of eggs on the way, and that is it for me for breeding cochins in 2010!!  WHAT FUN, I WISH I COULD KEEP GOING, THEY ARE SO GORGEOUS!

3rd Lot of New Chicks!

Thanks to Samantha next door six more beautifuls chicks arrived on the night of 28th October, almost 24 hours early!!  What a lovely surprise!  The eggs were put under her 6pm 8/10, which would have made them due 6pm onwards on the 29th.  Interesting.  2nd lot that has been early.

Unfortunately due to space restrictions had to remove chicks from Samantha so she can continue her journey as a isa brown laying hen!! Haven't seen this breed go clucky before, it was gorgeous to watch, and sad to take the chicks from her.

Over the last few days have carefully put them under bantams Fraser and Rosie.  Started by putting two chicks under Fraser when they were four days old.  The age difference between these two and Fraser's two is 15 days, so it's great that it was successful.  Then put two under Rosie.  Age difference between these chicks is 7 days.  This is her first year as a mother, so was a bit worried, but all was fine.  Followed by one more each under each bantam.  Observed that single chick that went into Fraser's pen was a little "lonely" looking for first 24 hours, then she was fine.

Also trying to learn to tell what sex chicks are.  Sooo hard, but think that a chick with light black markings on it's head that has gone into Rosie's pen is a rooster.   Goodness me, total is 10, more due Saturday - wonder if they will come early?