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If you had your hands were in there, close to her and babies, it is likely that she was warning the chick to "take cover" under her. Enjoy the cuteness!

Was just thinking about this this morning. Last years September hatches are a mix of home brood and hatchery day olds added on hatchday. The backyard mutts are strong and excellent layers. The RIR from the hatchery is smaller but still a great layer (of small eggs). The Barred Rocks are tiny...

Buff Orpington's are great Mama's. The first hatch I took the day off and sat and watched in wonder, but really, she's got this better than we do. I found it helpful to put a cage around her and babies in the coop, so the early birds couldn't stray while she sat on the late hatchers. Buy...

Here is a great article "Understanding your Rooster" which may give you some insight: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/understanding-your-rooster.75056/ Separating him may or may not help... In my case it did not, but in my case he did not have his own flock, but was under the alpha...

Have you seen the gapeworm in her throat, or are you just assuming because of her gasping? If she is only doing this at night when she is locked up in the shed, I'd be concerned about the ventilation inside. If you have seen gapeworm, then you will need a de-wormer. How much ventilation is...

You can try it, it will depend on your flock. If they let her be, then it may be fine. I have a few hens that tend to pile into her nest sitting on top of her and the broody chasing them off has broken a few eggs. If things seem calm during egg-laying time then it should be fine. If your...

Beautiful boys! It sounds like Preston's hormones are in full swing. Unfortunately I haven't had much success with agressive young males. The behaviour increases as they try to establish dominance over the flock, and is likely increased with another male to compete with. How many hens do you...

Have you treated her for these issues? If she is ill, the rooster will likely drive her away to protect the rest of the flock. Keep her quarantined until she's been treated and recovered. The magic water may be a preventative measure, but the gapeworm, respiratory infection and vent gleet (if...

Yep both cockerels. I've noticed that when there are 2+ cockerels in a brood, one tends to develop faster, even though they are the same breed. I suspect that the one that matures faster would wInd up being the dominant roo, but I've never kept both to see that evidenced.

I've had my flock 3 years. For some reason they always wait until then end of July into late August to go broody. No spring chicks in my hen house.

She'll likely spend the first few days on full lockdown - not leaving the nest at all, and then start making a daily short trip out to poop, eat & drink. Each hen is different. Mama hens know what to do usually, so I stay hands off best I can. If she's in the nest boxes, keep an eye out for...

How many days has she been in the nest overnight? I would say being a first time broody, don't let her have the real hatching eggs until she's been sitting for 4-5 days straight. You can give her fake eggs or each day collect the real eggs she is sitting on and replace with a few fresh eggs...

Miss Tawny, my 3 yr old hen who was raised with Pedro my roo has just recently started rejecting his advances. He moves in for the mount and she does the shuffle at him. As he backs off she does it again. Have any of you seen this? It's spring, she's not molting, she's laying regularly and...

Not sure if you've tried it, but I find wrapping the cord around your elbow and keeping the cord taught between your arm and your torso helps tremendously. (A trick I was taught by my highschool shop teacher) Gives you much finer control over the movement of the stick. 😏

I've never tried this, but if you were to try this method, I would just do it once per hen's egg and use that egg as your guide, not incubate it. So 1 egg from each hen would not get incubated. Often you'll see varying shapes, sizes & weights to each hen's egg. You can't always go by the...

Are they molting? Mine tend to molt in autumn and when they molt, they reserve their nutrients to regrow feathers.

Hard to tell on the first 2 pics. #2 doesn't look like it. #'s 3-5 do look fertile though. I've considered doing the same in the past, but I was leery, not knowing the health or history of the hens that laid them. I have a few friends with chickens, so if I want to add some fresh DNA to my...

What a beautiful boy! You make some very good points. In all my efforts to replace my original beta polish rooster with a rooster that is equal to my alpha, Pedro, I have learned to see things in this light. In hindsight, Paolo the Polish was actually a much better beta than I gave him credit...

I can't tell how big the scat is by the picture, it looks like squirrel to me, and they have a tendancy to be messy eaters. That said it could be a skunk, weasel or some other critter that could be a predator to your chickens. Leaving food out leads pests and predators to your flock. Rats and...

I try to pay attention first thing in the morning and early evening before they roost. That's prime mating time in my experience. Make a cup of tea and just hang out. I see who's being mated and check their eggs over the next few days. In the meantime, a vent trimming won't hurt and you'll see...