Esther and Winnie~ Emerald ~ Momma Time~ UH-OH Egg Overload P46

[LoneCowboy]

My pullets are 18 weeks old tomorrow. Some have bright red combs and others of the same breed do not. But I noticed today how much bigger their combs have gotten in just a short time. I'm hoping that mean eggs in my very near future.

 

[Smoky73]

Going back to look at the calendar, She had to have hatched in April, POSSIBLY May, but I doubt May. So, she is either just now 6 or 7 months old.
I have decided to call her Lacey.

I just moved her tonight in with the standard fowl. She has been living with the bantams for months, but can see the standards thru the fence. I moved her tonight, after dark, and with two other Black Ameraucana pullets who also, should be ready to start laying soon as one is squatting.

Oh and I finally got to see the pics, It looks like Hazel would be laying by now, Ester not yet. My ameraucanas seems like they started laying about 6 months old.

 

[barg]

A New Concern
It looks like Emerald has commited to the broody thing, and were going to look more seriously into getting her an egg , however,
the new concern is that she hasn't left the box for 2 days now, not even to eat or drink? should I be concerned?

Doimineak laid in the lower box today, so it looks like Emerald has the upper box all to herself.
Colleen is thinking about looking into *True Ameraucana Eggs, if there is anyone in western Washington that has them. Let me know.

Thanks for the info on the ee's and wyandottes;

Smoky73, it sounds like yours is a couple months older then mine and running a bit late, but with that comb, I would think it would be pretty soon, unless she is like my Hazel.

3peeps, from what I'm getting from your info, it sounds like Winnie is a bit behind on her comb development

I guess I can expect that to happen anytime then.
Very informative post

rosyposyosy, Jill and LoneCowboy,
It seems as though Esther is behind in development as well, Maybe it's the time of year? Maybe its the stress?
Not sure why they would both be behind in matureing.

*I am aware of the difference between EE's, Ameraucana and Araucanas, and discussion of the difference between them will only take the thread off topic, and as such, need not take place in this thread at this time... thanks

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[thndrdancr]

Good heavens YES, BE CONCERNED!
You need to make sure she gets off the nest to at least eat, drink and poop for a while each day. Otherwise she can starve herself to death or get seriously dehydrated and sick. Or you might want to make sure she has food and water right next to her, some hens won't even get up I guess, but she WILL need to poo. Poor thing. Two days! I have read folks having to have water and food right next to their hens becuz of this. You might ask in a separate thread but I think its URGENT she get some water in her right away, and then food.
You might need to physically remove her for a while each day and not let her return for about 30 minutes or so I do believe.
Speckledhen had a hen so committed to being broody when she first started brooding that almost died. Sometimes when they first start, I guess they dont know they should get up and go eat and drink and poo. Probably dont have sense of whats happening to them, just like with laying.
As far as Esther, not sure why her comb wouldnt be developing more. No, my Fussy's comb developed BEFORE she laid her eggs, but it was funny, cuz it didnt do anything for a long time, then in the last few weeks, it grew by leaps and bounds.
Good luck with Emerald, she is a pretty thing.

Jill

 

[barg]

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I have never read anything much about broody's and hatching eggs cause I never intended to do any.
12:30 A.M. and now you have me worried, im gonna need to brainstorm ideas on getting water and food where she can reach it.

 

[barg]

I just went and checked on her and discovered that all of the chickens have shifted their roosting spots so that they are closer to the nesting box, I guess they miss her.

 

[barg]

Tha's going to make it even harder to get food and water near her

 

[SpottedCrow]

You can either move her physically to the food and water OR you could always put the food and water in the box with her. I've done both with Penny.

 

[barg]

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There is no room in her box and I was going to try and set up something that attached between her box and the roosts but, my daughter was out there earlier and saw her leave the box.
I don't know how long she was out of the box or what she did while she was out.
I assume she ate and drank.
I'm also assumeing this means I'm in the clear as far as worrying about that?
How long do they typically spend outside the box when they are brooding?

 

[3peeps]

This may be totally dumb, but what about one of those pet-carrier divided dishes...the kind that attach to the metal door on dog crates. Or some other small containers, attached right to the nest wall. Not exactly conventional, but it might keep her fed and watered while you are gone.