California - Northern

[ronott1]

So, DH and I were cleaning out the coop and nest boxes this afternoon. My broody was taking her twice daily constitutional so I seized the opportunity to check on her eggs. 14 days ago, I gave her 4 hopefully fertile eggs from the farm (all brown, 2 Langshan eggs & 2 Langshan/SPPR mix eggs). Last Tuesday, Monet and I candled them. I pulled out the 4 eggs and 3 showed signs of development while 1 Langshan/SPPR egg was clear and I threw it away. Based on Tuesday's candling, I assumed that I would find 3 eggs when I checked today. Low and behold, she had 10+ multi-colored eggs in her nest box! Either my other hens have been laying in her box while she is out of it or she is gathering their eggs from the other 5 nest boxes. I found 4 of them with smiley faces drawn on them so the 1 that I threw away on Tuesday was an infertile one from my layer flock! Crazy birds! So, now we are back to 4 hopefully fertile eggs that are due to hatch next Sat, I redrew the smiley faces on both sides since they were almost worn off. I had to encourage her to get back on them. She must have not liked that I messed with them. When she came back into the coop, she went into a different nest box and sat on a newly laid SS egg. I'm not sure that hatching under a broody is any less stressful!

Silly chickens!

If she really wants to lay on 10 eggs, give her some fake ones?

 

[ronott1]

easter eggers , crele empordanesa ans white empordanesa teens

Whitey such a handsome boy

a few pics I got. I will see if my wife will take better ones tomorrow.




Black penedesenca

They are all very nice!

Do I see some Black Pene roosters in there?

 

[Miss Molly]

The finish line is in sight on my coop build. I vow to never again build another coop after this. ever. seriously. It's prefab for me from now on. Primed and ready to paint tomorrow! Interior caulked and primed The chicken exit. The Girls, waiting patiently for me to get my act together....

It looks great. Looks like the girls are Eager to use there new coop.

 

[Hangtown Farms]

They are all very nice!

Do I see some Black Pene roosters in there?

I think so. The ones with more white seem bigger. You also see 3 crele penedesenca roosters as well. same age but 1/3rd larger which makes me wonder about Sand Hill.
the chicks all seem healthy and active though. back to the roosters Ron you know my luck they are probably all roosters

 

[Miss Molly]

a few pics I got. I will see if my wife will take better ones tomorrow. Black penedesenca

Is that the new coop you built? Congrats on your babies <3

 

[Hangtown Farms]

Is that the new coop you built? Congrats on your babies <3

this is the brooder I built out of spare shelving lol.
the coop is the one the easter eggers are in

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
I was teasing.

I see pullets with the Blacke Penes, so you will be fine!

 

[Wishing4Wings]

So, DH and I were cleaning out the coop and nest boxes this afternoon. My broody was taking her twice daily constitutional so I seized the opportunity to check on her eggs. 14 days ago, I gave her 4 hopefully fertile eggs from the farm (all brown, 2 Langshan eggs & 2 Langshan/SPPR mix eggs). Last Tuesday, Monet and I candled them. I pulled out the 4 eggs and 3 showed signs of development while 1 Langshan/SPPR egg was clear and I threw it away. Based on Tuesday's candling, I assumed that I would find 3 eggs when I checked today. Low and behold, she had 10+ multi-colored eggs in her nest box! Either my other hens have been laying in her box while she is out of it or she is gathering their eggs from the other 5 nest boxes. I found 4 of them with smiley faces drawn on them so the 1 that I threw away on Tuesday was an infertile one from my layer flock! Crazy birds! So, now we are back to 4 hopefully fertile eggs that are due to hatch next Sat, I redrew the smiley faces on both sides since they were almost worn off. I had to encourage her to get back on them. She must have not liked that I messed with them. When she came back into the coop, she went into a different nest box and sat on a newly laid SS egg. I'm not sure that hatching under a broody is any less stressful!

I have to ask, always wanted to know how does a hen move eggs from one nest box to another?

People talk about them 'stealing' eggs from others, but how do they do it? Pockets?

 

[ronott1]

Quote:
They tuck them under the wing or use their beak and wing to pick them up. Today they moved all the eggs from one nest to another in my big coop. There are three nest boxes. One had 2, one had none and the other one had 10 in it.

It is something to watch!

 

[BCollie]

Hey guys, I'm back with more questions!!

How do I hang my heat lamp over the brooder? We're using a cardboard box that's almost 4x4, with sand as the bedding. Inside is about 1.5 - 2' from the sand, I don't remember the exact height. Something like that. Chicken wire is being used to cover the brooder to keep any chicks from trying to escape!
My ceiling is REALLY tall, it would be a huge pain to hang it form the ceiling. I don't even know if we could reach it with a ladder...
So how do I hang the heat lamp?