Arizona Chickens

[meetthebubus]

@SonoranChick congratulations! That's so exciting
Thoughts on your broody question I read before that ice in the nest box could help making her uncomfortable
Another thought is separate her with a couple eggs, with food water and leave her, just check that she eats less work for you and when they hatch that will break her fastest with less work
But I understand
Also maybe put her in jail without eggs just food water for a couple days or so, so maybe she'll forget

It took awhile for me to deal with Punky's broodiness last summer, hopefully you can break her soon.

 

[nicollee]

. We recently found out that I am pregnant!

congratulations... Babies are lifes game changers... You will never look at life the same way... ENJOY EVERY Minute!!!

 

[FeatherPugs]

With my broody girls - I generally don't want them to sit - they go into the dog cage with water, feed, etc - I don't let them out until after the second day. I also put some baby aspirin in their water to break that baby fever - really they get warmer and the aspirin seems to help. I just put in three or 4 in the water and get them stirred and melted. Especially helps in the heat of summer. An old time chicken keeper - now in the great beyond - told me about this. I don't really know if it works - I haven't seen any science -but I do it because she said so!

 

[cactusrota]

With my broody girls - I generally don't want them to sit - they go into the dog cage with water, feed, etc - I don't let them out until after the second day. I also put some baby aspirin in their water to break that baby fever - really they get warmer and the aspirin seems to help. I just put in three or 4 in the water and get them stirred and melted. Especially helps in the heat of summer. An old time chicken keeper - now in the great beyond - told me about this. I don't really know if it works - I haven't seen any science -but I do it because she said so!

I've ready in numerous places that you need to cool them down in order to break it for real. Some say to put them in a open bottom dog crate or rabbit hutch to allow airflow in the nether regions and that cools them down enough. Maybe a cool bath would do it too then...

 

[FeatherPugs]

Yes the cage is open on the bottom and always in the shade. In the heat I also put in extra ice bottles. Cool bath and then cage may indeed help. Usually it just takes two or three days to break.

 

[SonoranChick]

Thank you everyone for the warm wishes and good advice with my broody gal. She did slightly better yesterday, she really hates the dog crate. The bottom is cold plastic and not very inviting...but I found her puffed up in the nest box again this morning so I may have her sleep in jail tonight. Chickens are stubborn little things!
@Catwest I am so excited to have a mini me who can help with chicken duties! Especially poop duty Hope everyone has a great day, enjoy the temps in the 80's while we can!!

 

[Catwest]

I was cleaning out their new brooder today and was able to snap a few photos soooo cuuuuute! My husband was not happy about being bombarded with chick photos, though

Also, I filled their feed container this morning, and now it’s bearly empty from them spilling it all over. Any tips on preventing this, or should I just put less in?

 

[FeatherPugs]

@Catwest I have found using a wild birdseed feeder. I just put it on the platform to start then lift it up as they get older. They can eat easily, the feeder feeds through and it is harder to beak or scratch out the feed. I usually keep a watch out at WM around Augustish and they come on sale. Some are even able to make them - ha - just not me! Cute pics

 

[Catwest]

Thanks! I’ll definitely have to keep an eye out for one!

 

[Salty Skroob]

And Bam! Just like that. 18 weeks +/- a few days.
First eggs for first time chicken farmers.

I have it on good authority that I can call myself a farmer now.