Arizona Chickens

[Sonoran Silkies]

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A broody will stay on her nest almost non-stop, and someone correct me if I'm wrong, stop laying after a week or two.

So, if I'm planning for just eggs (for now), then I don't really want a "broody hen", right?

Since I'm asking questions (again!), could someone explain why I might care what "comb type" my (future) hens have? I'm seeing that option on the Breed Search and I don't know why I would care one way or the other.

Thanks!

Anne.

If you live in a cold winter area, single combs are more likely to get frostbitten than are rose or pea combs. In a warm climate, single combs help the birds get rid of heat. Pea comb is closely linked to the blue egg gene. Some people like or dislike the looks of certain kinds of combs.

 

[mclevinson]

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Ack! But at least you're not reallyan empty nester! Hows about tomorrow morning?

Sure. I'll give you a call and we can work out the time.

yea!

 

[annekaelber]

My wife came across this article. I'm curious if (1) anyone is using this method and (2) if there is more science available now (the post was written a year ago)? Is anyone here doing this? How do you like it?

My greatest concern (after "health of chickens and people") is that I have fibromyalgia; one of my lovely "benefits" is that my nose can go into over-drive. I can smell things before anyone else can sometimes. It's a blessing (when my wife wears a lovely fragrance) and a curse (dog poop sure seems to waft over a long distance!).

Still learning.

Anne.

P.S. Is anyone here as surprised as I am that the board's smiley icons aren't *all* chickens? *grin*

 

[Arizonachicken]

Ok, so this might be nothing, but I thought I'd ask. The last few days, my Buff Orpington seems to be having difficulty laying. She is laying, but only after being off and on the nesting box for hours a day. She'll sit and sit and sit, get down, waddle around a bit, get back in, sit some more and so forth until she finally lays an egg. Any thoughts, or am I just being a paranoid newbie?

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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I would be concerned.

 

[Arizonachicken]

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I would be concerned.

I am, I'm just not sure what to do, if there is anything to do. Heck, I don't even know where her vent is. I mean have an idea, but that's all. I guess I need to look up chicken anatomy!

 

[pdx2phx]

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I would be concerned.

I am, I'm just not sure what to do, if there is anything to do. Heck, I don't even know where her vent is. I mean have an idea, but that's all. I guess I need to look up chicken anatomy!

I am very much a noob,

but after losing my favorite hen (eventually) due to complications from egg-binding and prolapsing (read up on both of these so you can familiarize yourself!!), I would definitely keep an eye on her.

I read that calcium is very important, not only for egg shells but also for muscle contractions (like used in pushing the egg out). We have oyster shell mixed in with feed, so they can eat what they want of it (unsure how effective this method is) but I still notice that one of our hen's egg shells can be very thin at times anyway. Obviously it didn't prevent the hen we lost from egg binding - she was very small (OEGB), and laid large eggs for her size before this happened though.

good luck!

 

[mclevinson]

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I am doing this, and it's working very well since January. Ammonia buildup is not a problem as the coop has only one full wall. They like to scratch the shavings out of the nest box every day and usually cover their own perch poo like that. But if there is ANY smell I just toss another layer of shavings. If it rains into the coop (from the wind) they scratch a hole to enjoy the coolness.

Benefits? EASY. When it gets deep I'll put it in the composter, and I really do think that if kept dry it's healthy for them. And there isn't a smell, properly aintained.

 

[ca]

Did I mention that I have 10 nest boxes?

 

[AZBootsie]

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Too funny!!

That would be a great pic for the calendar.