Good Broody/Bad Broody

[dinosaw]

Well the chicks under the two broodies have finally hatched, not entirely sure how many I will have at the moment but there are at least two live fluffed up chicks hiding under the Leghorn and one under the Sussex. In addition I found what I thought was a dead chick in the corner of the house who turned out to be alive but very cold, it most likely came from under the Sussex who has already crushed to death 3 chicks and had probably thrown it from the nest so I have stuck it in with the Leghorn to see if she takes to it and can save it. The Sussex surprisingly has turned out to be a nightmare and I don't know how many more dead chicks are under her, the Leghorn is looking a much more sensible and dedicated mother at the moment. My dilemma is whether to separate the mothers in case the Sussex ends up attacking Leghorns chicks.

 

[dinosaw]

We have 9 chicks (I think) 7 have hatched under Leghorn and 2 under Sussex. Went up this morning to find that the birds had switched nest boxes with all but one of the chicks under Leghorn, presumably Sussex had gone out to eat and drink for long enough that Leghorn decided to move her entire brood and keep the other two chicks warm. That being the case I decided to pull the Sussex out, a bit sad for her and she was going spare but she's clearly not mother material, chicks are now feeding happily with mother Leghorn, a Leghorn making a better mother than a Sussex who'd have thought it.

 

[rick]

Sounds like Leghorn mum made an executive decision on everyone's behalf!

 

[Marigold]

What a sensible bird! Surprising, as you say - but a broody leghorn is quite unusual in itself,isn't she?

 

[dinosaw]

Your right, I was very surprised when she went broody and she has been one of those fanatical broodies too.

 

[chickenfan]

What breed has the leghorn hatched Dinosaw?

 

[dinosaw]

A load of mongrels chickenfan, all Orloff crosses.