Chickens for 10-20 years or more? Pull up a rockin' chair and lay some wisdom on us!

[Beekissed]

Thanks, Al...I needed that chuckle!

 

[NikkiMiChickie]

Today is Day 18 that my frizzled Cochin hen has been sitting on a clutch of 3 eggs. Her hen friends laid 4 eggs 4 days later that I added to her original 3, giving her 7 eggs, but with different hatch dates. Im brand new to chickens (since Feb), so this is my first experience with hatching (bought all mine as chicks). I had hoped to have a broody hatch some eggs come spring, but this was a surprise. I'm a science teacher, so I'm considering this fall broody my little science experiment, but as we near hatch day I'm getting a bit nervous and thought I'd ask a few questions...

1) am I a complete idiot for allowing her to sit on eggs in October? I figured it couldn't hurt since this is my first broody and I was curious about how things would go naturally, without my interference...

2) will the different hatch dates be a problem? As in, will she abandon the 4 that are left once/if the first 3 hatch?

3). I have not changed a thing with my set up since she started sitting. She picked her nest box, and I left her there. My other 7 hens & 2 roosters are free to come and go as they please, I just lock the coop door up for them at night, but open it before daylight in the morning. They don't spend any time at all in the coop since they're busy foraging on 10 acres, but will they be a problem once the chicks hatch? (this is where the experiment comes in... I intend - with your permission lol - to keep it this way to see if anyone bullies or kills the chicks. That way, I'll know in the spring that I need to set up a separate broody pen. But, if this is a bad idea all around, I don't want to sentence these chicks to death either...

4). Food. Mine are on a layer feed but don't eat much of it since they forage for most of their diet. I might go through 8lbs a week. But the chicks can't handle the extra calcium, right? So do I switch everyone to starter, or just add an extra feeder for the chicks (which I'm thinking the big ones will eat too...)

I appreciate any feedback you have to offer. I'd like to avoid a brooder and a heat lamp since I have a broody, but being October, I'm not sure if this will work? I'm tempted to just let it be and see what happens, but again, I'm not much for a death sentence if I could do a few minor things to save them... Thanks!!!
-Nikki

 

[bruceh]

well this is for walt, al, fred, bee and all others who want to read this. the birds were examined today. no lice , mites, fleas. then i cleaned the coop and pens from poop. now for the great part , my chickens got to know me up close and personal. thats right they got the finger up the butt. some moist and wet some not. next month they get it again.
all i know is some chickens must of liked it because they winked at me.

 

[galanie]

well this is for walt, al, fred, bee and all others who want to read this. the birds were examined today. no lice , mites, fleas. then i cleaned the coop and pens from poop. now for the great part , my chickens got to know me up close and personal. thats right they got the finger up the butt. some moist and wet some not. next month they get it again.
all i know is some chickens must of liked it because they winked at me.

 

[al6517]

well this is for walt, al, fred, bee and all others who want to read this. the birds were examined today. no lice , mites, fleas. then i cleaned the coop and pens from poop. now for the great part , my chickens got to know me up close and personal. thats right they got the finger up the butt. some moist and wet some not. next month they get it again.
all i know is some chickens must of liked it because they winked at me.

Poultry protology..................... and why did you do the exam LOL ??

Seriously though a dry pale vent often indicates decreased laying ability, excessive age or a spent layer. I do a visual but haven't tried the exam to your extent nor do I think I will have to............ er uh uh this is gettin wierd LOL you go dude.

 

[armorfirelady]

well this is for walt, al, fred, bee and all others who want to read this. the birds were examined today. no lice , mites, fleas. then i cleaned the coop and pens from poop. now for the great part , my chickens got to know me up close and personal. thats right they got the finger up the butt. some moist and wet some not. next month they get it again.
all i know is some chickens must of liked it because they winked at me.

Hmmm I inspected my chickens this week as well to make sure I didnt find any mites, fleas, etc but the thought never crossed my mind to do anything but a visual inspection of their vent. You are a better person than I am bruce

 

[bruceh]

well i did the exam because i just felt i wanted to molest the chickens.

however on a serious note the chickens are only 6 months old. i switched from regular feed to fermented feed and went from 11 eggs a day to 5 eggs with 16 chickens. i can excuse 4 because they are held over freedom rangers nearing 20 weeks. just don't know why they would stop laying like that. i search for an egg eater and no evidence. so

.

i just started adding alfalfa to the mix of layer mash. the layer mash is 16% and they free range. i may have to add calf manna to up the protein to about 18% . i just don't know.. with this flock it usually is a protein issue. however day light hours may play in effect. as i don't supplement light.

these birds are hatchery birds made up of rhode island reds ( cherry eggers ), black sex link columbian rock cross, easter eggers and freedom rangers.

any ideas i will listen to.

 

[FuzzyButtsFarm]

I am also having laying issues. Pale yolks, less eggs ect. I am beginning to suspect IMO that the feed mills have changed the formula of the feeds due to the drought. I have not changed anything in their diet. Although I did start giving the shredded carrots and it did improve the yolk color. I let the breeders free range again since haven't had much demand for hatching eggs. Has anyone had this problem. I feed Nutrena Flock Raiser which is made by Cargil who also mills Purena brand feeds.

 

[al6517]

Any minor change in feed will throw a hen off the nest for a bit, and it is getting into fall where some will taper off on their laying. For me once fall starts in earnest I don't care if I get an egg till spring from my good birds. but I keep a few eating egg birds around that supply me through the winter.

 

[Beekissed]

Same here...I don't expect much this time of year. The swing of the seasons are a natural thing for chickens and I like them to live it as they should. No abnormal lighting, good winter time slow down like the rest of us folks.

Bruce, what were you looking for up there?