Colorado

[Pozees]

One of my adult hens is being very aggressive with the new 8/9 week olds that moved to the coop today.

I think the general advice is to remove the aggressive one for a few days, and hopefully the dynamics of the pecking order will shift sufficiently that she will calm down when she returns.

So I moved Old Meanie to the garage today. But I'm wondering if anyone has actually been successful with having the hen behave better when she returns to the flock?

She is also broody, so maybe that makes her more aggressive than she normally would be?

Yes, and yes. Broodies can be very mean to flockmates, especially new ones, and removing her and letting them settle into a pecking order and then reintroducing her should change her status - except that if she is still broody she will still be testy. You might try putting her in a small area within the coop that is all her own until she is done being broody.

 

[suncatcher]

Oh wow, Sandy, no Aspen leaves yet? You must be c-c-c-cold up there! Our Aspens have leaves, although one looks like someone touched it with a blow torch, not sure if that is from the last night of freezing temps almost two weeks ago, or the hot winds blowing the last two days, ugh.

Got beds and pots prepped for planting tomorrow morning, and going to town to get some Black Eyed Susans and a few other plants Bob has located on a list of plants bees and hummingbirds like (especially bees). We have an area we planted with Catmint and Poppies that has only 2 Poppies that survived but many Catmint that have begun to spread, that is where the only bees we've seen so far this year have been congregating, so we want to add more bee-friendly plants there and elsewhere. Feels like we just went from winter to summer here.

On a sad note, I've lost two SS pullets this past week, and no idea why, they just stopped thriving. The second I found today still alive and tried to save her, but she was too far gone and died within a few hours of when I brought her in and gave her liquid vitamins and some water with a dropper. All the others in the pen look fine, robust in fact, and all those I moved out to the Big Girl coop are doing well. I knew a couple of weeks ago these two seemed to be falling behind a bit in growth but attributed it to the natural growth variances among birds. In hindsight, had they been saved and beautiful I may have used them in a breeding program and passed along genes not built for living, and that would not have been beneficial for the flock or my breeding program. Still sad to lose them though.

Got side tracked on youtube! Nope, not one leaf out, is kinda scary, and now I see by Thursday we will get down to the low to mid 30's I am starting to wonder if summer will happen this year at all!!!! But, on a brighter note the flies are not here yet either!

Oh, so sad about the two not maiking it, glad the others are thriving!

Bees just LOVE Catmint, and it grows and spreads really, really well! Any of the mints really, a little water and they take off and reseed year after year.

 

[pichuris]

Speaking of Aspens ours look like someone took a blow torch to the leaves too. What the heck? Probably because it got warm, leaves came out, then frost and then blistering hot again. I'm really concerned about this weather.

Pozees so sorry about the pullets but I'm betting a lot of us agree with your rational.

As far as separating a mean hen I think it depends on the hen. My OEG (please go broody) that girl is top of the flock but she doesn't go all militia on everyone only when she wants them out of the way or they challenge her. I separated her from the flock for 2 weeks last year for this reason. Heck it was like nothing changed when she was introduced. No one challenged her they knew they would lose and they just moved out of her way.

Update on hatch: Lots of chirping last night. Woke up this morning to one completely hatched and 6 pipped. I'm thinking I had the temp up a little too high since day 21 is tomorrow. But only followed others recommendations for temp at 102 for still air.

 

[Pozees]

Speaking of Aspens ours look like someone took a blow torch to the leaves too. What the heck? Probably because it got warm, leaves came out, then frost and then blistering hot again. I'm really concerned about this weather.

Pozees so sorry about the pullets but I'm betting a lot of us agree with your rational.

As far as separating a mean hen I think it depends on the hen. My OEG (please go broody) that girl is top of the flock but she doesn't go all militia on everyone only when she wants them out of the way or they challenge her. I separated her from the flock for 2 weeks last year for this reason. Heck it was like nothing changed when she was introduced. No one challenged her they knew they would lose and they just moved out of her way.

Update on hatch: Lots of chirping last night. Woke up this morning to one completely hatched and 6 pipped. I'm thinking I had the temp up a little too high since day 21 is tomorrow. But only followed others recommendations for temp at 102 for still air.

My last hatch was a day early too. SO excited to hear how many you wind up with How neat that it's going to work as you wanted, having some hatch today!

 

[WendyGeisler]

speaking of bees.... we just made a bunch of pathways and "decorated" our apiary...
here are some photos

 

[suncatcher]

Speaking of Aspens ours look like someone took a blow torch to the leaves too. What the heck? Probably because it got warm, leaves came out, then frost and then blistering hot again. I'm really concerned about this weather.

Pozees so sorry about the pullets but I'm betting a lot of us agree with your rational.

As far as separating a mean hen I think it depends on the hen. My OEG (please go broody) that girl is top of the flock but she doesn't go all militia on everyone only when she wants them out of the way or they challenge her. I separated her from the flock for 2 weeks last year for this reason. Heck it was like nothing changed when she was introduced. No one challenged her they knew they would lose and they just moved out of her way.

Update on hatch: Lots of chirping last night. Woke up this morning to one completely hatched and 6 pipped. I'm thinking I had the temp up a little too high since day 21 is tomorrow. But only followed others recommendations for temp at 102 for still air.

Yep, is kinda scary..... makes me think of the book "Silent Spring"! Congats on your pips! That is what I have read for still air, but I have NO experience. I think when they are ready, they pip.

Wendy, VERY nice! Looks so cool, and inviting under the trees!

 

[ColoBecky]

Yes, and yes. Broodies can be very mean to flockmates, especially new ones, and removing her and letting them settle into a pecking order and then reintroducing her should change her status - except that if she is still broody she will still be testy. You might try putting her in a small area within the coop that is all her own until she is done being broody.

Thanks, I like your advice to put her in a confined area inside the coop until she's done being broody. It sort of keeps her in the mix, and I won't feel as bad as leaving her alone in the garage! I think I will do that in a couple of days when the little ones start looking more comfortable. The other hens are basically ignoring them. I have two other broodies right now, but they are both sweet silkies and don't seem too upset by anything.

I've never noticed this one to be particularly aggressive, and as far as I can tell she's not the top hen, so I'm really hoping she'll settle down once she's over being broody.

 

[saellis]

Anyone know when the El Paso county fair poultry judging is? The "schedule of events" link on their webpage is useless.

 

[suncatcher]

Found these free seedlings ad on CL. http://cosprings.craigslist.org/grd/3832682394.html

 

[maggiemo]

Hi everyone. I have a friend with a broody hen and she wants some guinea hen eggs to hatch out. I said I would ask here if anyone has any?
Also, I think I have a broody. I am hoping that the order from Duane Urch comes this week

. If not, Mayah, or anyone, do you have any olive egger eggs or chicks about to hatch?
If not, what does anyone have hatching in the next couple of weeks?
Inquiring minds!!