Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[Ribh]

I need to do a bit of gardening.
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Where are your lawn mowers? Don't you have sheep or goats or something to take care of that for you? Granted they might also eat the roses but put it down to pruning.

 

[BY Bob]

@Shadrach. To be clear, I WANT you to interfere. I want and need your advice.

If she feels safe in the coop nest box then she at least is confident that she can defend her nest there. They are not often wrong ime.

At this point I figure she knows. I'm going to let her hatch in the big coop.

You need to mark the fertile eggs and the eggs she laid.

I removed the eggs she had been sitting on and replaced them with the fertile ones. 3 for 3. What I did not consider was others adding to her nest. How do you mark yours?

is worth making a wire mesh screen to cover her chosen nest box for the night.

I have not considered that. I am going to install a broody cam focused right on her nest box to help with keeping an eye on her. I will consider a wire mess. That is an interesting idea.

Provide water at the nest site Bob, but not food.

I am pulling food from the coop. I need to set up alternate feeding stations for Phyllis now. That will be fun tonight.

I would not move her once the chicks hatch

Understood.

Thanks again for your help. This is exactly what I need to know. I have no knowledge and/or experience with broodies.

 

[BY Bob]

Some final points.
The first three and last three days are critical in chick development.
Do not disturb the eggs!! Do not candle!! Leave her to get on with it.
If she decides to abandon the eggs then accept her decision. The hen is who is important here. Chicks, if you have a hen that will go broody are a dime a dozen so to speak.

Thanks. I understand that completely. Sydney is the priority. I was planning to candle after 5 complete days. Is that long enough in your opinion?

 

[BY Bob]

You got it!!!

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This is my layer flock, as I call them. Stanley is my Roo and the best barred rock around!

I have 1 Barred Rock Veronica, 1 RIR Livi, 3 California Whites Viki, Cotton, and Ghost, 2 EE's Gertrude and Blanche, 1 Olive Egger Ginger, 2 Buff Orps Goldie (lead hen) and Digger, plus 1 Blue Rock Blu.

Bob only wanted brown eggs, so possible mom's would be Goldie, Digger, Livi, Veronica, or Blu. Dad, of course, is Stanley!

They are beautiful! I love seeing handsome Stanley!

 

[BY Bob]

Maybe Mother Knows Best.I have a huge soft spot for Aurora. She is a beautiful looking girl. I think she is my favourite of your hens'

That is because she is a Campine at heart. I'm working hard to win her heart. She does not trust easily.

 

[LozzyR]

Between 18~22 months depending on whether Asian or African. Be grateful not to be an elephant.

Well there you go then!

 

[BY Bob]

I think baby elephants gestate for something like 10 months? Glad we don’t have to wait that long!

Sydney could not survive that.

 

[BY Bob]

I need to do a bit of gardening.
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There must be chcikens in there somewhere!

 

[Ribh]

@Shadrach. To be clear, I WANT you to interfere. I want and need your advice.


At this point I figure she knows. I'm going to let her hatch in the big coop.


I removed the eggs she had been sitting on and replaced them with the fertile ones. 3 for 3. What I did not consider was others adding to her nest. How do you mark yours?


I have not considered that. I am going to install a broody cam focused right on her nest box to help with keeping an eye on her. I will consider a wire mess. That is an interesting idea.


I am pulling food from the coop. I need to set up alternate feeding stations for Phyllis now. That will be fun tonight.


Understood.

Thanks again for your help. This is exactly what I need to know. I have no knowledge and/or experience with broodies.

I'm taking notes too though I may never be in this position.

 

[Ribh]

That is because she is a Campine at heart. I'm working hard to win her heart. She does not trust easily.

Then you have the best of all worlds!!! There's nothing quite like a Campine's trust.