BYC Café

[Meg-in-MT]

Happy birthday, @Meg-in-MT! Sorry I'm late.
What are your plans to celebrate?

Thank you, Tonya! We normally do dinner with the kids at home, but since this years birthday doesn't have the normal ring to it we're going to do a work party on the chicken run The kids are going to come and help, so that's really nice. Probably take the dogs swimming beforehand cuz she's a warm one today. There are five between us and two of them like to jump off of the dock after their toy ducks. Pretty fun to watch!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

Argh! Did I miss the cake... er … I mean the party? Happy belated Meg!

No worries at all! You're just in time and thank you

 

[Meg-in-MT]

X2!

Thanks, Ron!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

By the way, these little munchkins showed up this morning. Were supposed to be here tomorrow and my heat plate is waiting at the post office. Never used one before, pretty self explanatory I imagine? If someone has advice, feel free to share Just high enough so they can walk under?

 

[pennyJo1960]

Wet here I am bummed don't want to do allot in the mud

 

[Shadrach]

I've been thinking again. I know I should give it up and I'm not properly kitted out for the job but....
Mel is sitting in the nest box. Every hen that has sat here I've timed how often they turn an egg (sometimes more than one but I can't see how many). Roughly the hens here turn an egg every 20 minutes. As far as I can tell, this goes on all night and all day for 18 days.
With some I have to wear ear plugs at night because the noise is disturbing my sleep.
So, what does the hen do about sleep? If you wake a human up every 20 mins they get disorientated and apparently go a bit mad.
How does the hen manage? I've watched enough to see that the hens eyes are open when she turns the eggs so I assume she is properly awake.

 

[DobieLover]

Thank you, Tonya! We normally do dinner with the kids at home, but since this years birthday doesn't have the normal ring to it we're going to do a work party on the chicken run The kids are going to come and help, so that's really nice. Probably take the dogs swimming beforehand cuz she's a warm one today. There are five between us and two of them like to jump off of the dock after their toy ducks. Pretty fun to watch!

That sounds like my kind of celebration! Have fun!!

 

[DobieLover]

I've been thinking again. I know I should give it up and I'm not properly kitted out for the job but....
Mel is sitting in the nest box. Every hen that has sat here I've timed how often they turn an egg (sometimes more than one but I can't see how many). Roughly the hens here turn an egg every 20 minutes. As far as I can tell, this goes on all night and all day for 18 days.
With some I have to wear ear plugs at night because the noise is disturbing my sleep.
So, what does the hen do about sleep? If you wake a human up every 20 mins they get disorientated and apparently go a bit mad.
How does the hen manage? I've watched enough to see that the hens eyes are open when she turns the eggs so I assume she is properly awake.

Instinctive timer? I know when I was spying on Barb when she was sitting she would snooze.
I don't imagine a chicken brain and a human brain require the same amount of down time or REM sleep. I know that the chickens absolutely do not sleep throughout the entire night. They doze off and on but spend a fair amount of time preening and looking a lot like they are just waiting until the sun comes up. I've peeked in on them at any and all hours of the night and the majority of them are awake.

 

[igorsMistress]

By the way, these little munchkins showed up this morning. Were supposed to be here tomorrow and my heat plate is waiting at the post office. Never used one before, pretty self explanatory I imagine? If someone has advice, feel free to share Just high enough so they can walk under?View attachment 1884965

Just high enough they need to kind of squat when they go under. With that many little fuzzies they'll be cozy!

 

[Meg-in-MT]

That sounds like my kind of celebration! Have fun!!

Thanks, DL!

Just high enough they need to kind of squat when they go under. With that many little fuzzies they'll be cozy!

Thank you, IM. I don't figure they'll be under it an awful lot, since it's quite warm. Curious to see how long it will last them.