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

[appps]

How old are they ?

2 1/2,weeks. It worked in that it's a lovely cozy cave, it didn't work in that the big wide world of the broody cage is much more exciting sigh. It's only 15 degrees at the moment so I'm just going to give them 15 minutes then bring them back in.

Has set off a chain reaction though, penny who I thought would adopt them originally took one look and hasn't shut up clucking and running back and forwards to the nesting box since. Of course her yelling has set the rest off so now I've got everyone up there yelling and honking. Good grief!

 

[Teila]

Wow devinandfeather I got tired just reading about everything going on at your place, let alone living it

Oh dear appps .. your place sounds like fun at the moment also

GodCilla is no more! She has not been anywhere near the nest boxes all morning and is still mooching around in the run.

Countess KiKula was puffing and panting on the nest box earlier, probably because it is a tad on the warm side in there, especially with the covers on due to predicted storms, but she has laid an egg and is now in the run also.

Maybe, just maybe, the fact that it is hot in there has caused her to rethink being broody .. or, I just caught her during break time.

Not too worried about breaking her, as she was pretty easy last time, or any of the others as they have not proved to be as difficult as GodCilla.

Okey doke … anyone want to take guesses on eggs or days before GodCilla returns? I will make a note of guesses on my egg spreadsheet and let you know who gets close.

 

[locknest4]

Wow devinandfeather I got tired just reading about everything going on at your place, let alone living it 

Oh dear appps .. your place sounds like fun at the moment also 

  GodCilla is no more!  She has not been anywhere near the nest boxes all morning and is still mooching around in the run.

Countess KiKula was puffing and panting on the nest box earlier, probably because it is a tad on the warm side in there, especially with the covers on due to predicted storms, but she has laid an egg and is now in the run also. 

Maybe, just maybe, the fact that it is hot in there has caused her to rethink being broody .. or, I just caught her during break time.

Not too worried about breaking her, as she was pretty easy last time, or any of the others as they have not proved to be as difficult as GodCilla.

Okey doke … anyone want to take guesses on eggs or days before GodCilla returns?  I will make a note of guesses on my egg spreadsheet and let you know who gets close.

Going on what she's been like the last week or so.... I'd guess maybe one day before Godzilla is back

 

[locknest4]

How old are they ?

2 1/2,weeks. It worked in that it's a lovely cozy cave, it didn't work in that the big wide world of the broody cage is much more exciting sigh. It's only 15 degrees at the moment so I'm just going to give them 15 minutes then bring them back in.

Has set off a chain reaction though, penny who I thought would adopt them originally took one look and hasn't shut up clucking and running back and forwards to the nesting box since. Of course her yelling has set the rest off so now I've got everyone up there yelling and honking. Good grief!

LOL ....Sounds like my house once I've picked the kids up from school

 

[Teila]

Going on what she's been like the last week or so.... I'd guess maybe one day before Godzilla is back

lolz! Nooooo! Do not do that to me!

 

[RodneyRooster]

I'm going to give it a try, I was reading about a sort of cave you can build with hay and an electric heating bad. They can huddle inside same as they would under mum when they need to warm up. I'm going to try it but with the heat pack as the heat source and just go and rezap it every hour. Has to be better than listening to this din! I've already got one cranky kid who didn't appreciate being woken by them lol

Roll on warmer weather so they can move outside at night too!

Sounds great! No chance of heat and hay creating a fire tho?

Good morning Friends 

RodneyRooster aaaaw, that is wonderful news! Congrats to you and also to Snow, she deserves it for all her determination.  Beautiful pictures … those bubbies are so cute and look very confident .. “We are all grow’d up and out in the garden!  Bring it on!”

Thank you locknest4 for the suggestion.  Except for the few minutes she was on Crystal’s egg yesterday, Cilla has not been able to get near a nest box since Friday morning.  She spent the majority of Friday in solitary, all of Saturday and Sunday were either in solitary or free ranging and same yesterday, except for the bad start, solitary all day, free range and then on the roost for the evening.

Again, this morning, she is not showing the slightest interest in the nest box but that will probably change when an egg arrives on the scene. 

I am a big softie and I do not like to leave her in the broody breaker overnight and figure the roost is just as good and she has no access to nests .

She has never really been one who is easily broken and that is OK, as long as she is eating, drinking and getting some exercise, we can play this game until she decides for herself that she has had enough.

appps, sorry I cannot help with the heat pad question, only ever having broody hatches, mumma looked after keeping them warm etc.

Really Mother Nature? For me? Another broody? You shouldn’t have .. Seriously, You Shouldn’t Have!! 

Allow me to introduce Countess KiKula [I’ve come to draw some blood].

KiKi last went broody on the 25[SUP]th[/SUP] of September, returned to laying on the 7[SUP]th[/SUP] of October, has laid 16 eggs and is broody again 

I knew things were not looking good when I had to peel KiKi off the nest at 03:30 yesterday afternoon when she laid, what is probably going to be her last egg for a while, at 10ish in the morning. 

I blocked off the nest boxes, sent everyone outside for a free range and popped her on the roost for the night.

This morning she was going all ninja chicken on the dustpan and brush that were cleaning the coop and also on the arm they were attached to, drawing blood. 

With the possibility of storms, hail, strong winds and 20mm of rain etc today, I figure everyone is safer in the coop and covered run and broody breaking will have to take a back seat for a while.  Also, I only have one broody breaker .. might have to toss a coin to see who gets to go in it .. either that or pop GodCilla and Countess KiKula in the broody breaker together and watch feathers fly … literally 

Actually, if this keeps going, I can leave the broody's in the coop and run and for their own protection, put the non broody(s) in the broody breaker 

Thanjs! Yes they are very confident!

Wowsa u never catch a break do u! Im guessing 8 goodluck with them all!

So my hen that was sitting on Orpington eggs failed something attacked her best and all the eggs broke

So I put wire around her nest cleaned the best and out 15 old English bantam eggs under her today is day 7 and I candles them last night and all 15 are forming yay anyway on Saturday my oeg hen went clucky sitting on 9 eggs and I already see forming so yeah then one of my hens in the main pen she is a older oeg had only laid 2 eggs and has gone clucky so I am confused and my Plymouth Rock hen that was the mum of 11 is laying eggs already and the chicks are only 3 weeks old so confused with these chooks

Sorry to hear about the nest attack, ur hen is fine tho? Yes wow that is a lot going on!

2 1/2,weeks. It worked in that it's a lovely cozy cave, it didn't work in that the big wide world of the broody cage is much more exciting sigh. It's only 15 degrees at the moment so I'm just going to give them 15 minutes then bring them back in.

Has set off a chain reaction though, penny who I thought would adopt them originally took one look and hasn't shut up clucking and running back and forwards to the nesting box since. Of course her yelling has set the rest off so now I've got everyone up there yelling and honking. Good grief!

Haha thats hilaarious!


Well its still light enough that snow was iutside and i got to suss everything out when i got home! she has 7 hatched! So good for her!

8 left in the nesting box, 2 have pipped! Yay. God she is just as aggressive a mum of chicks as she is eggs! Will be giving her a wide berth..

Kore pics of them!

Also realised today that she went broody after miss vonte so there wont be any RIRs in her flock. All little yellow fluff balls

 

[Anniebee]

rodney Gr8 to hear snow has hatch some babies!

Teila can I suggest that God Cilla might need a few continuous days in confinement with no free pass till at least 3 days have passed? Maybe you've tried it in the past, but "Be strong" that's one chook that keeps on pushing the boundaries!

I went to check on the girls 2nite and there were 9 feathery butts all squished onto the top perch (which cld probably fit about 4 adult hens) and one poor girl all on her lonesome on the second top perch. There are 4 perches to choose from. When I looked in at them they all nearly dislodged each other from the perch (that's how precariously perched they were). LOL

Agree with locknest4 .... have found with locking madam Mindy Araucana out of her comfy coop - into the wilds of the outdoors ( WITH food and water ) for 3 days, has broken her broodiness in the past. She has been broody 4 times over her 3 years of life. So try that with GodCilla - whether inside or wherever you decide. Weather can sometimes muck up the programme, but it has worked for me, and me chook.

3 days ( maybe 4 to be sure ) ... seems to do it.

( would so like to meet GodCilla --- she sounds like one helluva feisty chook ).

As for roosting --- sure I have mentioned this before, but my two big girls ( with plenty of room ) roost ONLY in the summer - NEVER in the winter. Winter, they hunker down together to keep warm in what was supposed to be a nesting box, and is never used as such. Weird chooks. !!

Cheers .....

 

[Anniebee]

No idea appps sorry ill leave it to the more experienced. Mine are always outside but of course mum is always nearby to sit under.

Some pics!




And a little peaking chick face :-D


The others are one week old now and i know im jumping the gun a bit but some sure stand like cocks lol

Gorgeous chick pics. .... they all look so healthy and happy and in super condition.

Well done.....

AB

 

[Anniebee]

I'm going to give it a try, I was reading about a sort of cave you can build with hay and an electric heating bad. They can huddle inside same as they would under mum when they need to warm up. I'm going to try it but with the heat pack as the heat source and just go and rezap it every hour. Has to be better than listening to this din! I've already got one cranky kid who didn't appreciate being woken by them lol

Roll on warmer weather so they can move outside at night too!

This might sound dumb, but I have to ask appps ....

Do you allow your chickens to roam or have free access to the great outdoors at night ? as per your statement " Roll on warmer weather so they can move outside at night too !"


Not that they would roam a lot - they tend to get dopey and sleepy in the dark hours.

But first peak of dawn they'd be up and about doing their thing. ( as you know only too well ) ....

What I am really asking is, do you - or any body else here, allow their chickens free access to outdoors, during dusk, night and early morning ? ??

I shut my girls up early evening, in their coops, with the most elaborate ( and gross looking ) gadgetry attached to the doors etc. --- to prevent rats from climbing and squeezing in overnight, and to prevent wind-storms dislodging the partial tarpaulin I have on their coop door. That is there for a) warmth in the winter, and b) protection from bad weather - all seasons.

I always thought that all chickens no matter their age, must be locked up securely at night --- ( safe from foxes, marauding cats, owls, feral dogs, thieving rats etc. )

Just asking ....

Cheers .......

 

[Bethan]

Im loving the baby chick pics guys ... life & joy.. Beats Halloween!