[Sharondp]

Hi all 

I have a black rock that's gone broody in the past, but I've taken the eggs away and she's given up after a couple of days. However, this time she's been a bit more persistent so I've given her 6 eggs to sit on. I know the breed aren't renowned for their model motherhood, but I was wondering if anyone had been successful with them?

I also have a buff orpie that has gone broody so she's sitting on eggs, and if the BR deserts hers I will hopefully be able to transfer them to the buff!

Sharon

[Fleecewife]

I have had at least 3 Black Rocks which have successfully hatched chicks.  The first did so inside a tyre  and only one chick eventually emerged, but she did sit for the required time, out in the wild.  The second  hatched 8 and they lived in my polytunnel destroying the crops for several months before she finally wandered off.  The third shared a nest box with a Scots Grey and between them they hatched a grand total of two chicks.  They went round as a team for weeks - two hens and two chicks - until finally the BR gave up when they were about independant.  The SG gave up a couple of weeks later.  So not huge success but it does show that they can sit and hatch

[Sharondp]

That's good to know - thank you! 

[plumseverywhere]

I had one that hatched guinea fowl so had to sit a bit longer (I believe?) than normal.

she's called Chicken Tikka and is a funny little thing - she helps me dig potatoes up and is very good at it 

[Sharondp]

Bless! Have you still got the guinea fowl? Noisy things! 

[plumseverywhere]

they are aren't they?! always make scarlett cry when I take her to dom fowl trust!! no, they weren't ours - we lent tikka to sit on someone elses clutch because unlike most of my broodies, she was impossible to break out of it!! at least I know that when we do want her to sit on some eggs she'll be a good'n (hopefully!!)

[Roxy]

I saw a black rock at weekend, and she had 13 nice chicks with her, so she had a good success rate.

[Sharondp]

13 

I thought 6 was ambitious! 

[Roxy]

Oh, she had 19 - which included the  5 "adopted" copper black marans, which I bought .......super hen, eh?  6 would be a doddle for her  to handle

[Sharondp]

What a girl! She desreves a 'Mum of the Year' award! 

[meebh]

Hi

We have had 2 broodies this year with very successful hatchings and exceptional mothers and ........ they are both black rocks!!!

Supermums 

[Sharondp]

Well I candled the eggs at 12 days (sneekily while she was off having a poo!) and only 3 were fertile, so I took the three away, and I'm happy to say she has hatched the other three today - 1 Buff-O and 2 RIR's.

What a good mum! 

Another BR has gone Broody so I've given her 4 RIR eggs to sit on. I also have a broody Buff-O due to hatch 4 on Monday. All go here!