Australia - Six states..and that funny little island.

[locknest4]

Thanks Teila, it's a close up pic of one of the leghorn pullets. All the 3/4 leghorn pullets have these brown and ginger feathers near their head and upper bodies, with lighter feathers towards the back half and tail. All of them that is, except Zachery Quack who is pure white.

I thought I should change the avatar now that we are "out of the brooder" and officially "Chilling with my peeps"

When we have had "numerous" repeat broody hens in the past we have used a 'broody cage' (I actually used it for a brooder for the chicks when they got bigger).

The hen was put in it for about a week with food water and a small shelter, but no hay,bedding or dark corners (and especially no eggs!). She was still in the chook yard and the others could all see her. Worked every time. Have you tried something like that with Cilla?

Lol she has tried everything with Cilla, over, and over and over again lol

I guess u can't get the parental urge to stop with some ! Maybe Cld Teila hire her out for egg sitting? LOL

 

[RodneyRooster]

Haha yes, yes she has. That little broody sure is one determined broody!

So many pics i cant pic the best ones so ill just upload a few randomly haha, starting with the peaking wing!

So many gorgeous little markings! Pity they dont keep them.

Sorry to hear about the cocci loss, fingers crossed for u its the only one x

 

[Teila]

Thank you for the chuckle peeps .. Cilla appears to be earning herself a well deserved reputation as one determined broody

Yep, we have done the broody-breaker in the past but that only lasts a couple of weeks and she is broody again. The gradual locking out of nest box, ensuring on roost at night etc works with her. It takes a week or two but she at least then waits 5 weeks or so before going broody again. I keep a very close eye on her food intake and weight.

Actually, I am quite proud of her, she made it to 18 eggs this time .. normally it is only 10 or so. It is going to be a long summer, lol

Cilla is such an old hand at this now .. when I shut down the nest boxes, newbie broodys try all ways to break into them .. when I lock Cilla out, she just thinks ‘here we go again’ and patiently camps out on the roost until she can get to them

There is a good side to that, while she is sitting there, patiently waiting, she is not terrorizing the flock.

Deej211 I am so sorry to read you lost your little Maran boy

RodneyRooster love the pics .. so so cute! Mental note to self: Do not show Cilla!

 

[RodneyRooster]

Well the intergration into the flock has gone very nicely so far. The big ones came out and had their treats, once they started to move on Miss Vonte brought her babies out. Whilst she was eating they were either standing in the feed watching hehe so cute, or grabbing all the bits she flicked out.

They others came straight back to check out the commotion and each took their turns at peaking at the door, none went in for a while. What the.. what on earth are they, arent they strange looking!

Then they all decided to go in for a wander around to get to water and just for sticky beaks. They all gave them a wide berth and walked around the outside each time. Was very sweet im not worried at all not to say i wont be cautiously watching all day! Miss Vonte was great with them. Very cold morning i think theyre just sooks and 'prefer' heat lamps, dont need them out here in the cold as 1 and 2 day olds lol.

Thought the bigens deserved some more pics too theyre being so good!

 

[RodneyRooster]

 
RodneyRooster love the pics .. so so cute!  Mental note to self:  Do not show Cilla!

Hahaha good plan!

Yes i did notice 18 was much more than 10! :-D not terrorising, maybe its a good thing then

 

[Teila]

Great pics RodneyRooster you have a beautiful flock!

 

[Deej211]

Are you treating them with amprolium ?

Treating with baycox.
I also add chilli and sulpher to their food. I think I'll also start a once per week ration of greek yoghurt for the chicks.

 

[satay]

5 Belgians out so far. 2 of my own and 3 of the posted ones. e
Zeus seems to be doing better. He can now walk with a limp on his leg. Oddest thing I have seen yet. Until Monday night he couldn't use that leg at all. It was like jelly and Monday night his strength had started to return. I don't quite get how that is as the vet originally said he had a break in his shoulder and had pulled the ligaments think it was off from there hence the limp leg. Then he looked further and though he saw cancer which would have been the reason he said for the injury. Either way I am hoping this is a good sign. Now to stop him from running after things. Hard to keep a work dog still.

 

[satay]

 Thank you for the chuckle peeps .. Cilla appears to be earning herself a well deserved reputation as one determined broody 

Yep, we have done the broody-breaker in the past but that only lasts a couple of weeks and she is broody again.  The gradual locking out of nest box, ensuring on roost at night etc works with her.  It takes a week or two but she at least then waits 5 weeks or so before going broody again.  I keep a very close eye on her food intake and weight.

Actually, I am quite proud of her, she made it to 18 eggs this time .. normally it is only 10 or so.  It is going to be a long summer, lol 

Cilla is such an old hand at this now .. when I shut down the nest boxes, newbie broodys try all ways to break into them .. when I lock Cilla out, she just thinks ‘here we go again’ and patiently camps out on the roost until she can get to them    There is a good side to that, while she is sitting there, patiently waiting, she is not terrorizing the flock.

Deej211 I am so sorry to read you lost your little Maran boy 

RodneyRooster love the pics .. so so cute!  Mental note to self:  Do not show Cilla!

You gotta give her points for her determination.
.

 

[Fancychooklady]

Treating with baycox.
I also add chilli and sulpher to their food. I think I'll also start a once per week ration of greek yoghurt for the chicks.

Toltrazuril / baycox is supposed to treat all 11 strains of Eimeria . It is said to be a treatment only product , so unlike amprolium ( that has no withholding period ) it will not be helping your birds to build immunity. Yoghurt will not prevent Protozoa from multiplying in the birds gut. For sick birds , buttermilk will help to recoat the stomachs lining and give short term relief to the bird. Just my opinion , but if the baycox is not working I would consider changing products.

Baycox has a minimum 6 week witholding period on eggs, with some not recommending it for layers at all.

http://archive.apvma.gov.au/advice_summaries/51702.pdf