BYC Café

[aart]

Enjoying a 2nd mild day after that really hot one and before 2 hot ones.
Another broody, a 'new' one, SMH.
I had to band her, I have been negligent in keeping bands up to date.
Good thing I set up a second crate and figured out how to juggle them during hot days.

 

[Sally PB]

Got the new fence up and attached. I had been holding up fence pieces with wooden stakes. I probably have half of the anti-dig apron installed. Taking a break for lunch.

Later today, I want to chip up a pile of brush. I'm waiting for that area to be in the shade first.

I think one of my 2 yo hens has stopped laying. Her eggs are distinctive, and I have seen one in about a week now. Anyone have a hen stop so early in the season? I was thinking they'd lay until August.

 

[bruceha2000]

If a good layer stops suddenly I start looking for the nest they decided is WAY better than what I provide. The other option is going broody but that would have been really obvious before now.

 

[pennyJo1960]

Good morning Cafe .. Think like dobi we came out the other side still medicating

 

[Sally PB]

If a good layer stops suddenly I start looking for the nest they decided is WAY better than what I provide. The other option is going broody but that would have been really obvious before now.

I'll look for a hidden next, but they don't leave the coop/run, so her options are limited. She isn't broody either. She lays the smallest eggs of all of them (fitting, since I named her Little, but it was because she was the smallest chick), so unless her eggs are 10% bigger than usual, she's on hiatus. Her comb is still red though.

 

[DobieLover]

I finally caved. I can't take this ear being plugged anymore.
I went to the walk-in. The Dr. said I have A LOT of fluid behind the ear drum and she prescribed an antihistamine to take with the decongestant I've been taking along with a better cough suppressant to take at bed time to try to stop the violent attacks. She did say it will take a few days to get the inflammation to subside enough in my eustachian tube to allow it to drain. I expect it to be empty by morning!!!!

Because Tink was such a stubborn little broody monster last year, I decided if she kicked off again this year that I would let her set. I broke her once before vacation because her timing was bad. I put a towel over the end of the ward a few days ago to encourage layers to visit. Tink has been laying down there.

Last night, she had gathered the ceramic eggs that had been kicked all over in there and was sitting on them along with her contribution.

Tonight when I started head count, there she was up on the edge of a poop board. I looked at her on her level and pointed at her and said "Hey! I thought you said you wanted to be a momma. What are you doing here?" I kept moving around the flock doing some quick fanny checks and when I turned back around, Tink was gone. She went down to the ward and got on the eggs. So I set up the wet nest and when I shoved it in there, she took off. After making the well and putting the ceramic eggs in it I retrieved her and set her on the edge of the nest, closed the door and dropped the towel. She immediately got on the nest and settled in.

I have 4 Barnie eggs waiting for her once she grafts. I need something happy and fun to do with all this sadness and sickness I've been dealing with. A little brood of peepers is just the ticket.

 

[DobieLover]

Good morning Cafe. Coffee is ready.
The ear is still plugged but NO violent cough attacks last night and I slept really well.
Tink was off the nest this morning and not acting very broody. Her mother on the other hand...

 

[Sally PB]

Wonderfully cool right now. I have a fan in a window upstairs, blowing out, and lots of windows open downstairs to admit the cool, refreshing air. Ahhhhh!

Hoping, hoping, hoping for rain Saturday night, like they say we might get. Haven't had any rain in a week, at least. I need to water the gardens today. That should tell Mother Nature to send some water down from the sky. It's just that it's about 2 hours to water everything. No sprinkler, I haul the hose/bucket around and give each plant a drink.

 

[sourland]

Good morning, and thanks for the coffee. To brood or not to brood. Need a little spell cast?

 

[aart]

Need a little spell cast?

Is that why I've had so many broodies this year?