Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us! - Page 356  

Yup, when we re-built our barn a few years back, the first thing I did was wire it up for lights, with switches, receptacles, etc.  Being so far north, winter is DARK.  At the worst of it, it's barely light at 8 am and already dark by 5 pm.  That means, to do chores, lights are a must.

Question?  If a rooster starts to try to breed a hen, does that mean the hen will be laying eggs soon? 

Well, yes, sort of.  The cockerels get pretty randy at a certain age and would jump a tennis shoe, if it could.  But yes, a mature rooster does indeed sense when "it is time".

Freerangee chickens

Looking for advise on giving broody hens eggs..........  Two hens, both been steadfast on the nest for two weeks +.  I have 3 large wooden eggs under the smaller hen, 4 under the larger hen and have them in separate areas.  15 eggs in the incubator, due to go on lockdown tonight.  Figured I would remove the wooden eggs and put 6 eggs under the smaller hen and 9 under the larger hen after dark tonight.  OK plan?  Neither of the hens have raised chicks before, the larger Delaware hen I broke up about 5 times last summer and figured this year I would let her do her thing and see how she does.  The other hen is under a year old and is a leghorn cross, surprised she seems to be so dedicated to this task so far!  The eggs are some second generation Delawares of my breeding and I really want the chicks to do ok so I figured on being prepared to take them back if the hens won't do the job.  I can always set more eggs if this doesn't go as planned......................

Sounds like a good plan to me.  I have done this before and it's worked out just fine.  I would candle the eggs first just to check.  Good luck with your broodies.  One of my Leghorn crosses chased my Lab/Pit mix across the yard cause she got to close to the chicks.  Poor dog just looked at me with her tail between her legs and the look on her face was like what the heck was that.  LOL

looks familiar. looks like parts of my property that my birds range on

Quote:

Originally Posted by Achickenwrangler#1 

Freerangee chickens

Quote:

Originally Posted by FuzzyButtsFarm 

Sounds like a good plan to me.  I have done this before and it's worked out just fine.  I would candle the eggs first just to check.  Good luck with your broodies.  One of my Leghorn crosses chased my Lab/Pit mix across the yard cause she got to close to the chicks.  Poor dog just looked at me with her tail between her legs and the look on her face was like what the heck was that.  LOL

Thanks fuzzybuttsfarm!!  Candled last night, all is as should be.  Hee, hee, good for the little leghorn!

Achickenwrangler#1, Love the Freerangee chickens!!!  I also have a similar 5 acre woodlot next to the hayfields which they have available to free-range, nice when it gets hot out although Oregon is fairly moderate anyways.