2018 Newbie Chat!

PNW_Peepers · Aug 4, 2018

Well, I’ve got another broody. Was gone all day Wednesday, collected eggs after dark when I got home. Instead of finding a bunch of eggs, I found my top hen Ash sitting on them all.

My custom rabbit hutch investment is paying off. Here were are on day three of breaking the broodys and they aren’t letting up! Is the universe pushing me to have more chickens?!?

llombardo · Aug 4, 2018

So here is what happened today and I want to make sure I handled it correctly.

It's pretty hot and the smaller ones found themselves in the corner. I go to pick them up and move them and of course they squeal like I'm killing them. I knew Prince(rooster to be) was watching me. I heard a ba ba bawk and he was right there. I stood up and stood over him and told him in a stern voice back off and he did. I am not afraid of him and he has never done anything more then do his ba ba bawk and come close enough to see what I am doing. I pet the older girls no problem but they don't squeal like the little ones. I complete understood how he thought they needed help. I understand what his job is and we have done well working together to watch over the girls. He is just over 5 months, still waits at the gate for me and will eat out of my hand(the girls really don't let him get the treats) He moves out of my way when I walk through. I am a first time chicken(girl and boy) owner. Just want to make sure I handled it correctly. I do trust him, I also know this is the time frame to challenge me. I wouldn't call today a challenge, but definitely a concern for the girls.

CannedMonster · Aug 4, 2018

PNW_Peepers said:
Well, I’ve got another broody. Was gone all day Wednesday, collected eggs after dark when I got home. Instead of finding a bunch of eggs, I found my top hen Ash sitting on them all. View attachment 1493503 My custom rabbit hutch investment is paying off. Here were are on day three of breaking the broodys and they aren’t letting up! Is the universe pushing me to have more chickens?!?

Stubborn girls!
My plan with broodys is to let them hatch some lol.
We’ll eat the males and sell the pullets.
I’m not going to let them sit on huge clutches though.
Just a few.
I’ll have so many hens that even if half of them went broody we will still have plenty of eggs for ourselves.
I’ve never dealt with broodys yet so I may be being naive lol.

CannedMonster · Aug 4, 2018

llombardo said:
So here is what happened today and I want to make sure I handled it correctly.

It's pretty hot and the smaller ones found themselves in the corner. I go to pick them up and move them and of course they squeal like I'm killing them. I knew Prince(rooster to be) was watching me. I heard a ba ba bawk and he was right there. I stood up and stood over him and told him in a stern voice back off and he did. I am not afraid of him and he has never done anything more then do his ba ba bawk and come close enough to see what I am doing. I pet the older girls no problem but they don't squeal like the little ones. I complete understood how he thought they needed help. I understand what his job is and we have done well working together to watch over the girls. He is just over 5 months, still waits at the gate for me and will eat out of my hand(the girls really don't let him get the treats) He moves out of my way when I walk through. I am a first time chicken(girl and boy) owner. Just want to make sure I handled it correctly. I do trust him, I also know this is the time frame to challenge me. I wouldn't call today a challenge, but definitely a concern for the girls.

I think you did perfect.
He just wanted to see what you were doing.
If you ever had to treat a hen in a way that might make her freak out a lot you might want to take her where he can’t see/hear.
I’ve been watching both of mine and Loki has been invading my space quite a bit.
Angus keeps his distance and is quick to move away.
Loki really doesn’t though. He will circle me and act like he’s picking grass or other things up off the ground.
All the while he cocks his head looking up at me and making small noises.
When I stamp my foot or step towards him he will only move a couple of steps away, still looking at me.

ketojenn · Aug 4, 2018

Some updated pictures..... The white Cochin

Unknown, any ideas?

Sicilian buttercup

Blue copper marans, Lucifer

Salmon favorolle

Partridge Cochin

Buff brahma

There is another unkown that wouldn't accommodate me today, so no picture. They are growing up so fast :love

ketojenn · Aug 4, 2018

Some of my bigger babies.

We just pulled the peas, they are finding lots of whole peas.

Dust bathing in the compost :rolleyes:

samzoost · Aug 4, 2018

ketojenn said:
Welcome! I'm your neighbor to the west in North Dakota! Good to have you. I'm into permaculture too. I've been working on a hugelkulture bed this summer and we are planning an orchard on a vacant lot. Lots of things in the works. Just takes time.

I look forward to your posts!

thanks!! you too

may I ask, what is a hugelkulture bed?!

samzoost · Aug 4, 2018

ketojenn said:
View attachment 1493805
Some updated pictures..... The white Cochin

View attachment 1493806
Unknown, any ideas?

View attachment 1493807
Sicilian buttercup

View attachment 1493809
Blue copper marans, Lucifer

View attachment 1493810
Salmon favorolle

View attachment 1493811
Partridge Cochin

View attachment 1493816
Buff brahma

There is another unkown that wouldn't accommodate me today, so no picture. They are growing up so fast

You've got some super duper cool chickies! great colors and patterns. can't wait to see them when they grow up!

ketojenn · Aug 4, 2018

samzoost said:
thanks!! you too may I ask, what is a hugelkulture bed?!

Some info.
https://richsoil.com/hugelkultur/

I have a hardpan area where there used to be a driveway, plus a bunch of debris so it seemed like a great thing to try.