Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 30, 2021 11:39:10 GMT
Two little chicks. We watched for a time this morning because we thought they might only be feeding the older one. For some reason mum and dad both want to feed the same one at the same time. But then they moved onto the younger one and fed it too, so they are feeding them both. The nest box could do with clearing out, but I don't want to disturb them. Mum does not like leaving them even for a short time. If she does go out she stays on the edge of the nest box looking in. She's lost a lot of feathers-is this normal? I know after having a baby you tend to shed hair There's a line of feathers that seems to have gone along her chest, I wondered if this was something to do with the way she's lying. I'll try and get a photo next time she comes out.
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An Egg!!
Aug 30, 2021 14:41:55 GMT
via mobile
Post by Morgan on Aug 30, 2021 14:41:55 GMT
Hens lose belly feathers to create a “brood patch” of bare skin to directly rest on the eggs and chicks to keep them warm. Otherwise the feathers would insulate their body heat from the eggs/chicks. They usually only lose the down, and the outer feathers mostly cover the brood patch when the bird gets off the nest so most people don’t notice too well. If that is what it looks like then it’s perfectly normal.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 30, 2021 15:22:01 GMT
How exciting - two hatchlings! I read somewhere that the babies typically aren't fed by the parents the fist 24 hours because they have plenty from being in the egg. I don't know if that's true or not.
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Post by Morgan on Aug 30, 2021 15:55:01 GMT
How exciting - two hatchlings! I read somewhere that the babies typically aren't fed by the parents the fist 24 hours because they have plenty from being in the egg. I don't know if that's true or not. It’s true for chickens. They don’t need food for the first 48 hours, but they usually start pecking at things immediately anyway haha
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 31, 2021 16:54:52 GMT
This is the ridge of feathers down Violet's front that look like they're missing. It may be just that they were pressed outwards. The babies are getting very noisy! I will translate: "Food!" "More Food please!" "Get me more food" Dad sometimes comes out and just stands swaying on the side for a moment's peace.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Aug 31, 2021 17:55:16 GMT
Like most new moms, Violet is busy taking care of the babies that she's neglecting her own beauty treatments. Good mom!
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Aug 31, 2021 21:56:00 GMT
Like most new moms, Violet is busy taking care of the babies that she's neglecting her own beauty treatments. Good mom! She is! And Rose isn't grooming her as much either. Rose has been very busy today eating lots of food to feed to both mum and babies. There was a moment, where the babies were being very noisy, and he went to the far end of the cage for 5 minutes and stood there with his eyes shut. I sympathised. Then he went back and started feeding again. Violet wants to keep them both and the eggs underneath her. She kind of plumps down on them and pushes them back in when they come out. Going to be interesting to see if she still wants that when they grow bigger as she's a diddy little hen.
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Post by Hezz on Sept 1, 2021 0:36:09 GMT
That’s where she would pull feathers for a brood patch, so I’m sure there is nothing to worry about.
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An Egg!!
Sept 1, 2021 6:05:08 GMT
via mobile
Post by Morgan on Sept 1, 2021 6:05:08 GMT
That’s where she would pull feathers for a brood patch, so I’m sure there is nothing to worry about. Well most birds don’t actually pull them out, they molt naturally I. That area. But yep that’s what it looks like
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Oct 6, 2011 7:41:27 GMT
Marianne Marlow
Administrator
George, Daisy, Iris, Billy, Peter, Chipper, Dinku, Barney, Ayla and Rocky
Posts: 28,750
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Post by Marianne Marlow on Sept 1, 2021 7:26:49 GMT
Wow, nature is amazing. That’s where she would pull feathers for a brood patch, so I’m sure there is nothing to worry about. Well most birds don’t actually pull them out, they molt naturally I. That area. But yep that’s what it looks like
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Sept 1, 2021 17:23:14 GMT
Thank you! 3 chicks now. And they all seem to be being fed, although the youngest now looks tiny in comparison. I'm a bit afraid of it being squashed by the others, but they seem to spend their time in a heap and it seems none the worse. Having refused spinach for a couple of days mum and dad are back to wolfing it down. Mum even left the chicks for nearly 30 seconds alone while she grabbed some mouthfuls. She ran back in and splatted on top of them after that though. I think 2 more of the eggs may have chicks in, but unsure about the third It looks a lot darker than the other eggs. Can you still candle at this stage or is it a bad idea? I guess I might as well just leave it as it's only going to be another week or so. When dad comes into the nest box after feeding, he wipes his beak down the sides of the box. I can see a few indents where he's done that. Is that usual?
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Post by ffiscool on Sept 1, 2021 17:39:59 GMT
I know nothing about babies, but very excited to see their growth/colours
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Sept 1, 2021 17:48:07 GMT
How exciting!!! You're doing a great job keeping an eye on them and making sure mom & dad have a good diet. Looking forward to seeing the others hatch and when they get old enough to be handled.
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Aug 12, 2019 15:44:50 GMT
Biggles
Normal Violet
Posts: 165
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Post by Biggles on Sept 2, 2021 15:45:55 GMT
And today's picture: Chicks in a heap. Mum is struggling to get both eggs and chicks underneath her at the same time, so she keeps swapping them about. When she's sitting on the eggs she feeds the chicks.
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Post by tweetiepiesmom on Sept 2, 2021 15:50:31 GMT
Oh my, she's such a good mom!
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