MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

They like it when Peter Gabriel sings Solsbury Hill

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I was searching back to the most recet failed clutch and found this wonderful photo! It's not the washing machine, but it's still an awesome photo

 

[MaryJanet]

Turns out the river chickens find it fascinating! A new definition for Chicken TV!

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And this chestnut

Still working on the details of the last clutch. I had completely forgotten it started under Ivy and was taken over by Mary.

 

[RoyalChick]

Isn't brooding about chicks?

In anticipation yes. But once failed, she won't be interested in chicks. So in a way by introducing chicks 'in case' the eggs have failed you are sort of playing with her psyche that would naturally lapse into not being interested in chicks any more.
Sorry MJ, I am finding it tough to express myself - and I totally respect what you are doing. As you know, I have zero knowledge of this process. I am just trying to think about the world through Mary's eyes.
Maybe the closest I can get to expressing myself on this is that I don't believe she will miss what she doesn't have, and so if (sadly) the eggs fail, Mary will actually be fine with it.
You, and the rest of us will of course be basket cases!

 

[MaryJanet]

It took a lot of memory stirring, but I've pinned down the dates of the previous mis-remembered clutch.

Mis-remembered in that Mary was the hen, not Ivy.

She started during the afternoon of 6th. The 20th will be 14 days. Today is day 12.

That's November 6.

I didn't remember about the "lockdown", so I took Chipie off her nest until D.Day
as she didn't get off it on her own, for about 10 minutes (she always got back on her own). 4/5 eggs hatched, so I can't imagine that it did any harm.

Very interesting memory from @ManueB

And this post from December 1.

The eggs didn't hatch, so it's time for Mary to consider her options. I took down the temporary fence and opened up the little coop. As in, every door and lid open. That was enough for mary to get up for a good long self-care session, actually she's still going. So I've removed the eggs and they had no weight at all. I think they were never fertile. I messed up her space a little but hadn't the heart to destroy her actual nest.

Ah, she has just this moment returned to her nest.

I'll see how her day unfolds and if necessary, put her on the roost tonight.

So that was 25 days.

 

[RoyalChick]

What do you have in mind when you say 'stress'? What would it be caused by? The arrival of chicks or the loss of eggs?

Well I am doing what you do in thinking through scenarios. The scenario that would stress Mary is if she either is done with wanting chicks or realizes they aren't hers, and rejects them.
She will reject them because she doesn't want or like them, may even feel threatened by them (not physically, but in the sense of them being intruders).
That situation would be stressful for her (and them of course!).

 

[MaryJanet]

In anticipation yes. But once failed, she won't be interested in chicks. So in a way by introducing chicks 'in case' the eggs have failed you are sort of playing with her psyche that would naturally lapse into not being interested in chicks any more.
Sorry MJ, I am finding it tough to express myself - and I totally respect what you are doing. As you know, I have zero knowledge of this process. I am just trying to think about the world through Mary's eyes.
Maybe the closest I can get to expressing myself on this is that I don't believe she will miss what she doesn't have, and so if (sadly) the eggs fail, Mary will actually be fine with it.
You, and the rest of us will of course be basket cases!

So you're unconcerned that she won't get another chance?

 

[RoyalChick]

And this chestnut

Still working on the details of the last clutch. I had completely forgotten it started under Ivy and was taken over by Mary.

I really do love that photo!

 

[RoyalChick]

So you're unconcerned that she won't get another chance?

Yes. I think that is a human overlay on how she is thinking.
Of course this reflects what I believe about how others think (including other species) and likely projection of my own thinking and life experience (as an example, I have no children, have never wanted children, and have no regrets).
I don't think Mary, on her deathbed, will think about how she regrets not having chicks.
I also don't believe that when she is not broody she spends her time thinking that she would like chicks.
So I believe once she decides that the eggs won't hatch she will just move on with her life and live it with happiness in the moment and day to day.

Edited: This doesn't mean she won't be distressed about eggs failing and may look for a chick, but once she decides to give up on them, I think she will move on. Happily.
I should probably shut up now, I am not meaning to be disruptive here.

 

[Ribh]

I'm so sorry for you both.

This does not mean none of the others will hatch. Let what will happen, happen. Try not to fret at this point. You just never know.

Bear in mind I've just had the same thing happen but still have 2 healthy chicks.

 

[Ribh]

Just checking in to see how the hatch is progressing. So sorry things don't seem to be going well but don't give up hope just yet. I had chicks hatching well past their due date. Not sure what's happening in S.A but we are in the middle of a heat wave & if you're experiencing that I would be more concerned about that than the chicks hatching late.