California - Northern

[tommysgirl]

i don't know whether this is helpful at this point, but i had much better success just leaving my broodies alone & letting them nest in the laying boxes -- but i also provided some additional temporary laying boxes for the other girls, complete with fake eggs to give them the idea -- worked out pretty well.

That is helpful for sure.

Any thoughts on giving her a couple of chicks?

 

[ronott1]

That is helpful for sure.

Any thoughts on giving her a couple of chicks?

She sounds very "determined" so it would be a good idea to break her now. The Chicks will break her and the chicks do not need to stay with her too long.

 

[HighNDryFarm]

I need ideas on how to predator proof the top of a pen. I used wire livestock panels, the kind with 2x4 grid (like no climb horse fencing). The pen is 16 x 19. 5 feet high. I was planning on putting some lightweight poly or metal roofing on the top, but DH says that can't be done because of the size of the pen.
If I put bird netting on top, do you think that would keep night time predators out?

I'm using this as a grow out pen for my - way too many cockerels- who are running amok in my yard.

Thanks for any ideas!

My husband tells me that when he doesn't want to do it!

I would think that the plastic corrugated panels would be light enough for that fencing. You can drill holes in it to tie it onto the panels. Gives light inside but keeps predators, rain and sun out.

 

[lawatt]

That is helpful for sure.

Any thoughts on giving her a couple of chicks?

how long has she been broody? i have no direct experience with this, but have read that chickens need to be broody for at least a week-10 days or so before they'll accept chicks as their own?

this is only my first year of dealing with broodies, and haven't tried to break any (they're at the mercy of their hormones, after all! i have some sympathy for that) -- did successfully give one baby chicks, but that was after she'd been sitting on a nest for four weeks and none of the eggs had hatched...

 

[lawatt]

My husband tells me that when he doesn't want to do it!

I would think that the plastic corrugated panels would be light enough for that fencing. You can drill holes in it to tie it onto the panels. Gives light inside but keeps predators, rain and sun out.

i have plastic corrugated panels as the roof of my original coop (white, lets the light in but not the sun's heat) -- and while I think they only come in 14' lengths, they are easy to overlap, so could extend wide enough for your coop. they are screwed down & i've had no predator troubles in the year since we built the coop.

the only trouble is, they're a bit expensive, i think about $30/panel. when the guys built my second coop/pens last month, i opted for plain green corrugated plastic, which was cheaper -- but am now regretting it a bit, as it doesn't let the light in at all & their henhouses are quite dark. but they're mostly only in there at night, so perhaps it doesn't matter.

 

[ronott1]

i have plastic corrugated panels as the roof of my original coop (white, lets the light in but not the sun's heat) -- and while I think they only come in 14' lengths, they are easy to overlap, so could extend wide enough for your coop. they are screwed down & i've had no predator troubles in the year since we built the coop.

the only trouble is, they're a bit expensive, i think about $30/panel. when the guys built my second coop/pens last month, i opted for plain green corrugated plastic, which was cheaper -- but am now regretting it a bit, as it doesn't let the light in at all & their henhouses are quite dark. but they're mostly only in there at night, so perhaps it doesn't matter.

A clear panel and be added in a couple of spots to add some light. That would save some money.

I like the panel idea.

 

[tommysgirl]

She sounds very "determined" so it would be a good idea to break her now. The Chicks will break her and the chicks do not need to stay with her too long.

So, yes on the chicks?

how long has she been broody? i have no direct experience with this, but have read that chickens need to be broody for at least a week-10 days or so before they'll accept chicks as their own?

this is only my first year of dealing with broodies, and haven't tried to break any (they're at the mercy of their hormones, after all! i have some sympathy for that) -- did successfully give one baby chicks, but that was after she'd been sitting on a nest for four weeks and none of the eggs had hatched...

or I could stick some eggs under her where she is and provide alternative nesting boxes for my other girls.

Decisions Decisions

 

[lawatt]

So, yes on the chicks?
or I could stick some eggs under her where she is and provide alternative nesting boxes for my other girls.

Decisions Decisions

how long has she been broody? i'm afraid if it's under a week, she may not accept the chicks -- but i suppose it can't hurt to try, if you're willing to raise them yourself if it doesn't work?

 

[Miss Molly]

A kid modified the legal fire works here--They charged him with a felony and tried him as an adult.

I would have been in so much trouble if I was growing up now.....

Me too! As kids we were up to no good... In a good way !

 

[Miss Molly]

and a quick thanks to both Molly and Deb on this list -- i've arranged to get some silver campine eggs from Deb for my latest broody, and yesterday, after Molly mentioned that she needed to reduce her flock, i spontaneously drove up I-80 to collect four lovely isbar & isbar/marans crosses from her.  SO great to meet you in person, Molly, and thank you both for stoking my chicken addiction even further!

It was so nice meeting you. I wish you had stayed for some tea... Next time