Basil's a Daddy :)

[Nicos]

I've only just seen this thread!

...fantastic news...aren't they sweet???

[Suechooks]

They are just SO cute!
I get tempted every time I read about chicks but none of my girls went broody this year and the ones I bought who would have were stolen! I'm thinking the incubator is just not as nice but may be my only hope ! Next spring maybe!

[Bramble-Poultry]

You can borrow my little incy if you want Sue, it only holds 12 eggs but quite good and idiot proof to use (not that you're an idiot - unlike me!)

Maureen they are coming on lovely bet you are sooo proud of her - so whats she hatching next year ???

[MaureenHall]

Maureen they are coming on lovely bet you are sooo proud of her - so whats she hatching next year ???

Hopefully Welsummers, and possibly Orpington x Jersey Giant We'll just have to wait and see though won't we!

[RedThorn]

thanks for the update. They're brilliant! OH is now talking about more eggs in the spring *bounces off the walls like a cartoon character!*

[CoraxAurata]

Oh right. Thanks Hilary

ROTFLMAO !

I've said that (what Hilary said) 3 different ways since you first introduced us to Basil he is a bonny boy and he looks very much like my Silver Blue marans though a little richer on the hackle, but I've seen that vary quite a lot!

See Vals "copper" blue marans cockeral for example.....

Baythorne Fowl

[Suechooks]

You can borrow my little incy if you want Sue, it only holds 12 eggs but quite good and idiot proof to use (not that you're an idiot - unlike me!)

Maureen they are coming on lovely bet you are sooo proud of her - so whats she hatching next year ???

I've got an incubator thanks Jennie! It's just getting the courage up to get the eggs and get going! I'd really love to have a broody so I can do both - some in incy and some with hen. Going to build some little Bramble-coops over the winter then get my act together in Spring.

[Shellintons]

Just a little update on this thread. I have been incubating all kinds of chicks this year and never fail to be caught up in the process. the last chicks to hatch were these ones I hatched for Maureen and we had dinner guests who were here at the time of hatching they were facinated. I think we have another pair of converts lol.
I have quail in the incubator again as my numbers are too small but I did (perhaps a little late in the season) ask Mo for more of 'Basil's Babies' and they are currently under my very broody Light Sussex. She is an absolute doll, she moves to let me see the eggs are ok but soon tells me when she wants to sit down on them again.

I was going to hatch them in the other incubator but I didn't want to worry about the cold weather and my sussex has been broody for weeks and nothing seemed to change that. So while she isn't laying she may as well save me from the expense of heating the chicks, so to speak.

I like to see a mother hen with her chicks but there is something about being so close to the hatching process too. In my experience I find using a broody hen(this isn't the first time) I worry less about the chicks and how they are doing up to hatching point, I figure mum will know what to do.

Anyway sorry for the long winded way of saying, Basil may yet be a daddy to some more cute chicks, I will keep you posted.

[MaureenHall]

Latest additions

Well, even though he's no longer around, here's the latest progeny 11 mixed bunch gorgeous little chicks There's 10 of them in the basket, the other one was still in the incubator drying out

[Suechooks]

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

[frias]

Well done Maureen (and Basil.) Is that a couple of Wellies in there?

Wished you lived nearer Sue. You would be welcome to my broody. She's getting on my nerves now.

[Eco-Chic]

Oh they are so darling. They're abusing the right to be cute

Are you able to sex any of them at this stage Maureen?

[MaureenHall]

I haven't a clue which are boys and which are girls!! A couple of them do look a bit like Wellies, but Rowan had been well away from the mums for at least a month before I collected these eggs for hatching. They're just pretty "back yard chooks" There'll be traits of Rhode Island Red and Marans and whatever else went into the genetic make-up of Bluebelles. Out of the last lot, I sold 2 black, 1 bluey-grey and 3 yellow. The lady who bought them tells me that she's got 4 cocks and 2 hens. Out of the 5 that Precious is raising, 4 are sort of pale splash and 1's black. It looks as if one of the splash is a female and maybe the black one too, so they're not sex-linked colourwise