Thanks so much, everyone! We're all good! I opened up the crate this evening and Lucy had no interest in leaving. :) . Mama and baby are happy and that's all I can ask! I seriously love watching my hens raise their littles. So much fun! <3
My mama hens all show the babies how to do the other ramps so I'm guessing that it would learn eventually LOL. That said...thanks so much for the reply, but I tried the brooder pen again today and Lucy is perfectly happy in there now with her new chicken nugget. They've got food and water...
Good morning, everyone! So, one of my girls has been sitting on three silky eggs. Sadly, two of the three did not survive, but the third is happy and healthy :).
Here's my conundrum and I'm looking for some thoughts. Lucy hatched the baby in an upper level nesting bucket inside the coop...
Thank you :). Oh, their wings are good. They fly all around and have flown away for 10-15 minutes at a time, only to return to the back yard LOL. They are free to go at any time. As I said, my only concern was as they were roaming out into the woods. It's not a "normal" place for them to...
Thanks for this. After a discussion with another rescuer today, we came to the same conclusion. If they head out directly from here, even if it's just into the woods, they know this area and can certainly fly back in if they feel the need or desire. I'll let them make their decision and be...
Thanks so much! This is exactly what I have wanted for them since they were babies...we have purposely not loved on them (holding, etc) because we wished knew that the day would come that they would leave. They have always had the opportunity to go whenever they wish, they simply haven't. So...
Approximately one year ago, three little day (or two) old mallards were orphaned at a condo I manage. After attempts at finding a wildlife rehab for them, they simply stayed with me.
They have grown up with our chickens, free ranging in our yard. We have never stopped them from going...
Four down and one egg left!!!! First one hatched yesterday, on day 20. I woke up this morning to three more fluffs. Oh my goodness...the cuteness is almost more than I can take LOL. So far, no sign of any pipping in the last egg so we'll see what happens. But, today is day 21 so maybe we've...
Awww, they do. They just do it when you aren't looking. They don't do it often, but I guarantee that they are at one point or another, even if it's to simply get up, take a huge poop, get a quick bite and drink, then back to the nest lol.
Betty White is now so comfortable that she gets up...
LOL! She's so broody that she was sitting in one spot for about 3 weeks prior to my giving her eggs. She LOVES to sit, that's all she wants to do.
I was nervous that she wasn't coming out. I know that's ridiculous and in my head, I know that wasn't the case, but I swear, I NEVER saw her...
OMG guys...so I finally let our insanely broody silky, Betty White, sit on eggs (first time letting a broody hatch). I figured that if she was gonna sit in the corner of the coop for days on end, she may as well make herself useful Here's my sweet girl :)
Earlier this week, I walked into...
I spend a good bit of time going back and forth from the house to the coop, so I see my girls laying all the time. I am fortunate to know who lays what eggs, which has been fun!
Why rehome your older girls that have stopped laying? I say just let them live out their lives with you :)
We have the duck and chicken struggle, too LOL. It isn't cold enough here yet, but for the times that we do dip below freezing, we'll just use heated waterers.
Our run is 18x27. It's just plain dirt. A 3x8 foot section off the side of the coop is covered - that's where their food and water is, and that's where they do their dust bathing when they aren't free ranging. Their coop floor has straw, I toss some of it out into the run each week when I clean.