Recognise this. The chicken keeper leaves the broody on the eggs and doesn’t take away the eggs underneath. (Better instructions next time).
I break the broodiness by removing all the eggs. And make sure the broody sleeps on the roost again. This works with most of my hens within a few days...
I would consider to change this expensive habit before next winter. Make a poop board under the roosts, and daily pick up the poop from a thin layer of sand, or put cardboard on the poop board and change that weekly.
I don’t think its the food. In the Netherlands the amount of protein are way lower as the US. 14.5 - 16.5 % is normal here. But feather pecking is not an issue with most BY chickens here.
There are many reasons why chickens start feather pecking. Itching (healing wound or lice), getting bored...
Did you check her feet for SLM (that’s scaly leg mite for the newcomers on this block) .
They look a bit awkward. 😬
Great egg color, btw. Mine are just small and plane off-white. A couple of times I had a tiny egg, even smaller as a quail egg. It’s called a fairy egg.
Not necessarily a breeding project. Sooner an illegal or expensive shopping project.
According to the Dutch Chickenencyclopedia the Appenzeller spitshauben and Brabanter do exist as bantams.
http://www.kippenencyclopedie.nl/php/index.php?title=Appenzeller_spitskuif...
? WTF are Dutch rabbits?
I only know Flander giants, rabbits with hanging ears and dwarf (bantam) rabbits. In the Netherlands we just do not have Dutch rabbits by my knowledge.
Welcome Zelda.
I wanted to read the whole thread before reacting but that seems a ‘ondoenlijke’ or impossible no go. Thanks for the spirit!
Time for a lesson in Dutch and Chicken breeds.
Schijndelaar is the name of a village in the Netherlands. The same country as where the have they heavy G...