Recent content by StevenMNielson

  1. StevenMNielson

    Legs changing color

    This is a process called 'Bleaching' - it is very useful in determining how lazy of a layer your hen is. If you raise a yellow-skinned breed, you can sort out he less productive hens by the color of their skin after they have been laying a while. The same pigment that makes egg yolk yellow...
  2. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Hey all. Just thought I would check in with the forum! Been too long! We are getting ready to add another bird to our flock. Seems our Buff Orpington may be eating the eggs, but definately went broody a second time after laying just 5 eggs since her last brood. Now she is as mean as stink...
  3. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    HELP - My BO went broody back in April and I let her ride it out. She multed through most mof May, layed 5 eggs AND IS BROODY AGAIN. I feel like I cannot just keep feeding a broody non-laying hen. I can build a cage and try breaking the Brood, but I feel like she'll be right back at it in...
  4. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Quote: Tam - Guess I need to learn about moult! There are feathers everywhere! But would that still make her head to the nest every waking moment? I also got a nest full of the most putrid smelling green poo... and did a search, found out that it is common for broodies to pooh green when...
  5. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Just checking in with everyone! My BO went broody and I decided to let her sit it out. I only have the one nest, so the other two RIR hens jump in there with her to lay their eggs. She keeps them nice and warm until I come grab them at night when I put her on her roost. She is a full 3...
  6. StevenMNielson

    Letting Broody Hens Lie...

    I have a BO, Daisy, who went broody about 3 weeks ago. Instead of trying to break the brood by the cage method, I figured I would just move her to the roost by hand at night and in the morning to get some scratch and water. She takes the morning 5 minutes to dirt bath, pooh, and grab a fast...
  7. StevenMNielson

    Broody now!

    Quote: I have a BO who went broody today... but we're not hatching, we're eatin 'em eggs I do have a broody BO, but I'm going to be breaking her. Funny timing though!
  8. StevenMNielson

    What do you think of this broody breaking idea

    I dont know about removing the nest, but it should work. I am now encountering my first broody hen, and when my wife told me that Daisy (a BO) was sleeping in the nest my first thought was sick bird, then when I saw her all puffed up in there, I lifted her up to find her sitting on two eggs. I...
  9. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Nearly two weeks in and BAM - found my first rat! Just got home from the night shift, went out back to perform my nightly head count (1...2...3)... Flashlight in hand I pointed it toward the chicken run to do a perimeter check and door check... there, about 3 feet up the 6 foot chicken fence...
  10. StevenMNielson

    Awww, RATS!

    Just got home from the night shift, went out back to perform my nightly head count (1...2...3)... Flashlight in hand I pointed it toward the chicken run to do a perimeter check and door check... there, about 3 feet up the 6 foot chicken fence was a rat staring into the flashlight... Keeping the...
  11. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Quote: I am new on the forum, but I have heard it many ways. We rinse with cold water, especially if there is anything stuck to it, but nothing further. We have been doing this since I was 5 years old, no ailments yet! Quote: Only if they're full of mud and/or poop that you don't want...
  12. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Quote: Yeah... Pretty much just living IN Enumclaw counts as farm living Grew up there, couldn't wait to get out... now that I have a family, can't seem to find a place quite as nice... funny how that works! A little rain now is nice... so long as it passes by the time Friday rolls on in...
  13. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Picked up the three chickens on Sunday, and had 6 eggs over the last three days... until today - FIRST PERFECT DAY... 3/3! I know it is easier to get a perfect day when you only have three... but it just feels good! Not to mention, I think I broke one of the hens from laying all over the...
  14. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Quote: from Silverdale!
  15. StevenMNielson

    Washingtonians

    Quote: Hopefully she's not really eating it, just having a taste? Or pecking at the floor beneath it for creepy crawly things? However, I use straw as bedding, not shavings, so hopefully it is just new to her and she was just checking it out. I can't imagine it would be good for her to keep...
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