Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

You may remember on the 8th August, we candled the Oxford English Game and Maran eggs and saw that ten and six respectively (both out of 12) were still growing. Well by the end of yesterday EIGHT of the OEG had hatched although just three of the Marans - and unfortunately the latter do not look particularly healthy chicks. The OEG chicks on the other hand all look great (and very pretty as you can see) and today Arthur has successfully popped all of them under one of our two Light Sussex broody hens.
We had given both of these broody hens some false eggs to keep them broody (see 14th August) and then it was simply a matter of quickly and quietly removing the eggs and replacing them with chicks, the idea being to fool the bird into thinking the chicks had just hatched underneath her. This technique usually works fine as long as the bird concerned really is broody and so 'programmed' into wanting to be a mum! We could have put the chicks in an enclosed area with a heat lamp but we are much happier if we can get a chicken to raise the chicks more naturally. As well as her teaching them how to eat and drink and scratch around, it also means the chicks get outside much quicker and so learn how to live in a more natural environment. The new mum took to them brilliantly and they to her as this photo shows. Tomorrow we will do the same with the Marans. They only hatched today and we want to check they are all okay before giving them to their new mum.
Our quail house is finally finished too and we've moved the oldest birds from their indoor aviary to this new outdoor one. Great fun was had providing plant and straw cover for them in order that these rather shy birds are able to hide when they feel the need. More babies are on the way as the set of Bobwhite quail are now hatching well.