Henrietta is Sitting!!

Update 4/17/18:  Henrietta has rejected her nest. The big bossy hens pushed her off of it several days in a row. Then she was moved to a holding pen to protect her from bossy hens. At the same time a cold spell hit. In all it was enough to break her broody mood.  She will go broody again this spring. Next time she will be moved to the holding pen right away. 

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Henrietta is sitting on a nest! She is a Black Cochin, a breed that goes broody more frequently than many other breeds. Last year Tiger, the first Henrietta and another Black Cochin sat and hatched eggs and raised babies. Then the Chicken Hawk got them during the year. 

This year, a new Henrietta is sitting on her first nest. The chicken pens are now enclosed with two covered chicken runs attached. Hopefully no predators can get to them.

Other hens have run her off her nest two days in a row now, so she and eleven eggs are tucked into an isolation pen used to introduce new chickens to the flock.

She has private water and private food and protection from other bossy hens. Not all 11 eggs are her eggs. Some are blue-green and some are olive and some are brown. The chicks that hatch will be a "barnyard mix" for primarily egg production.

Twenty one days from several days ago. Little chicks should be breaking out around May 2nd.

Photo by Lindi Turnipseed.

Comments

[Pamm]

Thanks Penny. Never knew all that about chickens. Guess most people are like me and jist think each mama sits on her own eggs and they hatch. Looking forward to updates.