In
April 2012 my speckledy hen, Treacle, decided it was her time to raise a family
and sat determined in her nest box for a couple of weeks pecking me if I dared
put a hand anywhere near her. Quite
frustrating when your family has become reliant on a constant supply of fresh
home reared eggs. With 3 young boys the
Saturday routine of 2 boiled runny eggs and toast each was under threat!
On
the 5th May I decided it would be a good idea to increase the
flock.
I
bought 3 fertile Rhode Island Reds eggs locally. Slipped them under Treacle and left well
alone.
On
the 25th May a little soggy yellow chick hatched. The other 2 eggs did not hatch, but I did not
mind, I had a chick and I was sure it would be a hen!
At
15 weeks the “hen” started looking quite a specimen. Actually Spiderman,
as my boys had nicknamed it, was looking enormous! Then one Saturday morning……….. “Cock-a-doodle-do”! It was not a strong powerful voice but one
that sounded like a teenage boy with a voice that was just starting to break!
I
laughed and laughed. Until the next
morning (Sunday) when “he” tested his vocal chords again, this time pre 5am.
It
woke my boys, so that was that. I was
fortunate that the farm I bought the eggs from agreed to have any cockerels. He is now in a field full of ladies to look
after.
Hi, not sure if tjis still works.. I am
ReplyDeletelooking for fertilized eggs, where did you buy yours?