How young will a chook go clucky?

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

She is isn't she BFLF,

But then again I can't help but be totally biased.

I think she will be a great mum. She is so committed to sitting on those eggs & she is very protective of them, so I think she will be fantastic.

So the next question is.....

Now that I have found out the answer to my original question of "How young will a chook go clucky", which I have found out is obviously 8 months old (for this little chicken anyway), should I now put this post to bed & start a new one if/when the little ones arrive in just over two weeks time?

Or, should I continue with this post & post the picy's of the little ones when/if they arrive under this post heading?

Let me know your thoughts all.

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Continue with this post until the chicks hatch, we can follow her progress. Or start another post on Clara's nesting and hatching etc

Looking forward to the baby photos. What breed of eggs is Clara sitting on? Is Clara named after Clara Schumann?

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Petite Poulet wrote:

Continue with this post until the chicks hatch, we can follow her progress. Or start another post on Clara's nesting and hatching etc

Looking forward to the baby photos. What breed of eggs is Clara sitting on? Is Clara named after Clara Schumann?

Thanks PP. :-D

I think I will continue with this post then, but I may start a new one for the introduction of the new family members, as I'm sure there will be lots of questions I will need to be asking once they arrive. :?:

The breed of eggs Clara is sitting on is white leghorn because that is all I could get this time of year.

I was so hoping to get some Barnevelder eggs but they were impossible to find because a lot of the heritage breeds have gone into moult. But, Im happy for the leghorns as hubby wanted a Leghorn next anyway and since he built me this wonderful new coop I can't really deny him that.

Clara is named after one of the characters in the Foghorn Leghorn cartoons.

Clara was one of the girls that use to encourage Miss Prissy into going after her man! Nothing nearly as profound as Clara Schumann. I'm just not that deep. Lol. :lol:

Cheers
Chicka-Dee

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Thank you, kindly, Chicka-Dee

for your information.

Hope that you don't get four little Foghorn's :shock:

in your hatch! The only people who want Wheezy and Muffy are ones who want to put them in their stockpot

they aren't a meat bird so wouldn't make a good roast. Finding homes for cockerels is really challenging.

Is either you or your husband artistic? You could paint a mural of Foghorn on the coop?

Have a :-D

day!

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Petite Poulet wrote:

Is either you or your husband artistic? You could paint a mural of Foghorn on the coop?

. Nooo

, not artistic at all! Lol. I don't have an artistic bone in my body hahaha. we have a mural around our pool that we paid someone to do!!!

I was thinking of trying to keep it ........conventional?, but not too conventional. If that makes sense? Lol. I will just have to troll through the Internet for inspiration.

Petite Poulet wrote:

Hope that you don't get four little Foghorn's :shock:

in your hatch! The only people who want Wheezy and Muffy are ones who want to put them in their stockpot

they aren't a meat bird so wouldn't make a good roast. Finding homes for cockerels is really challenging.

Not worried if we do get four little leghorns as they will end up in our stock pot!!! Lol. Leghorns are great meat chickens, so we will fatten them up & just after they do their first crow..... [smilie=a_flyaway.gif]

off to the heavens they will be! Lol

Sorry PP if that upsets you in anyway.

I know cockerels are really hard to find new homes & if anyone is going to put them in a stock pot it will be me. My hubby says I say that now but when it comes to doing the "job" I will chicken out, but I think I will be strong. If not, I'll just call my mum hahaha. She use to do the "job" when we were kids & lived in the country.

I think it is different for Muffy & Wheezy because they are not a meat chicken & anyone who gets a heritage breed like them, wouldn't be looking at them as a potential dinner. Lol. Plus Muffy & Wheezy have had such adventures it would be really sad to hear that they ended up in a stock pot instead of being the little rascals they are on a farm somewhere like where Boss Chookie & Mr. Rooster are. :-D

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Okay! So its day 14 of Clara sitting on the 4leghorn eggs & she's still going strong.

According to a previous post (see link below) "On the fourteenth day, the claws are forming and the embryo is moving into position for hatching."

This sounds so exciting! I hope the littlens make it to maturity. Not sure what to do if they all fail.

Does that mean Clara will be all post-natally depressed on me & turn a little bit wierd? Jeeze I hope not. Not sure what to do if at least one of these little guys(or gals) doesn't turn up!

Won't be good for Clara, that's for sure.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=8000

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Chicka-Dee wrote:

Okay! So its day 14 of Clara sitting on the 4leghorn eggs & she's still going strong.

Does that mean Clara will be all post-natally depressed on me & turn a little bit wierd? Jeeze I hope not. Not sure what to do if at least one of these little guys(or gals) doesn't turn up!

Won't be good for Clara, that's for sure.

Have you candled the eggs at day 10? If she hasn't rolled any eggs away from under her and pecked a hole in it (idicates that the egg wasn't developing) then all 4 eggs have the chance of being viable.

A very interesting diagnosis a pullet/hen with potential post natal depression...Quite, possible if she was manic and OCD to begin with.

the countdown begins...

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Petite Poulet wrote:

Have you candled the eggs at day 10? If she hasn't rolled any eggs away from under her and pecked a hole in it (idicates that the egg wasn't developing) then all 4 eggs have the chance of being viable.

I tried to candle them but didn't have any success with that as I didn't have anything other than a torch to use & being a newbie to this whole candling thing, I had no idea what I was looking for. So gave that up and thought she would just kick them out if they were no good, but so far no rejects. But...that could be because she is new to this too.

Fingers crossed PP. I would love to see 4 little peepers running around her & seeing her clucking & everything. Priceless.

But after reading 'asthecrowflies' experience with his chicks and his broody I am even more worried.

The next seven days are going to drag by!

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hi, Chicka-Dee

,

Here is the thread on candling eggs for future reference.

viewtopic.php?f=39&t=14713

Chicka-Dee · **Joined:** Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:12 am **Posts:** 1194

Day 16

So according to the sticky: "Sixteenth day - scales, claws and beak becoming firm and horny"

Even if these little guys don't hatch at least I will be able to get Clara into the new pen with the others. She is losing condition badly.
Her comb has become is so pale and she even has had spots of blood around her eye/cheek bones & some blood near her nostril. I have no idea why that is happening but I started feeding her more foods (veggies, boiled eggs, a bit of meat etc) and the spots of blood from her eye/cheek went away but not near her nostril. This morning she has a little more colour in her wattle & comb, but not much more.

I honestly can't wait for this to be over!

Only 5 days to go now [smilie=a_cookiemonster.gif]

.

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