Bungle hatches her first Chicks!
6 Jul
Congratulations to Bungle, the millefleur pekin who
successfully hatched 4 pekin chicks on 4th July!
Bungle began showing signs of broodiness on 17th May and it was clear those powerful hormones had taken over and this little lady was not going to give in until she had some fertile eggs placed under her!
A broody hen is a very determined hen. Her behavior can sometimes dramatically change from a sweet little angel to a squawking and shrieking little terror, raising her tail and fluffling out her feathers should you attempt to go anywhere near her. She also spends hours in the nest box, making sure no other hen can enter to try and lay an egg. She lies flat like a pancake, her eyes focused as though in a trance. And worst of all, a broody hen will most likely stop laying any tasty eggs for you! I have had 2 different experiences with 2 different kinds of broodies. Zippy was a very placid and gentle broody whereas Bungle was the terror broody!
After many desperate attempts to try and break Bungle’s broodiness, I finally realized that the hens have beaten me again…
I made up a soft straw nest in our rabbit hutch, perfect for a broody to sit on eggs in peace. Bungle was placed in the hutch for a couple of days with some pot eggs to see if she would settle which she did without a doubt. Around tea-time on 13th June, I carefully put 4 eggs under Bungle. These had been laid previously by Kojak, the buff pekin, the father being the one and only Lemony Splicket of course!
- “Just another 21 days to go!”
- Bungle and her Chicks
- “Now where are my other 2 babies hiding”
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