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You can put a fan out for them when it's hot too. I have one of those cheap box fans on a Xmas light timer so it comes on around 11am when it warms up and goes off around 7pm. I have one big 9lb BO who will come up to the fan when it comes on, turn around and put her tail towards the fan and...

Some birds don't like pellets. In which case you can feed them crumbles. Layer crumbles and layer pellets are the same formula just processed into a different sized shape for the chicken to eat. They will nibble on these all day long.

I'd recommend that 95% of her diet be her layer pellets/crumbles. Keep treats to a minimum. A very light minimum. Treats don't typically contain the necessary protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals a hen needs to make an egg. Even healthy treats need to be doled out sparingly. Or you upset...

Poor thing. Is she on a Layer Ration w/ calcium?

Yes, she walks around making the mama hen chuck, chuck, chuck sound.

My BO has gone broody. Here she's just puffing up into Turkey Mom. She's so funny.

Yea, I don't do the light thing either. If they want to lay, great. If they want to take a break, that's cool too. But it is fun to find those eggs.

She's getting close. But if you are not getting lots of daylight this time of the year, she may not come into lay till the days get longer. Or you supplement w/ light in the coop.

I've had that happen. If your eggs have good shells on them, chances are the hens may give them a peck or two and give up. Especially, if you have nest curtains and the nests stay dark. I find that helps. The hens lay and then walk out and don't really look back at what they laid and if they...

Not necessarily. But I'd keep a close eye on my nests and try to collect eggs right away just so they don't give it a try again to bust into an egg.

OMG, how totally adorable. I may have to try this w/ my BO's.

Thank you. She is beautiful. I love that we call her Ciao Bella because it totally suits her.

I love your Bella so much that I had to borrow her name. This is my Bella. She's a Cochin and she's still a baby in this photo. She's filled out quite a bit now that she's 7 months old. Still hasn't laid an egg yet but I still lover her. I call her Ciao Bella and she knows her name and will...

OH, Bella. You get prettier and prettier all the time. I love her sweet face. I just want to snuggle her.

My last batch of BO's seemed pretty normal. They came into lay at 20-22 weeks. I think I had one hold out till 25 weeks. They are now 6 months old. All are laying super regularly. But they don't look fully grown to me. I suspect they will take several more months to fully fill out. 18...

I had one who weighed 9lbs. I swear you could feel the patio pavers shake when she came running up to me. LOVED that bird. Sadly, we lost her. But yes, BO's can get big.

The old feathers or the new ones? I was amazed at how light my BO's were as she started to molt. Her feathers coming in are so much darker. I guess when they are that old, they just get faded and worn. I've also read that chickens can molt and the feathers come in a slightly different...

Their combs go pale because they stop laying eggs. That bright red comb is a signal to the rooster that the hen is fertile and laying eggs. But most hens stop laying while molting. So their combs go pale so that the rooster will leave them alone. Once they finish molting and come back into...

You know, if my 6 years of raising hens has taught me anything, it's that there is no one normal way a chicken will behave. And while 9 months does seem rather early. I have 2 BO's and they didn't do their first molt till they were 2 1/2 years old. And they had some ratty taddy feathers. So...

How totally adorable.