Fluffy Butt Acres: Stories of our flock

[LozzyR]

I'm sorry but the crate does work pretty quickly .

I’m going to put her in the quarantine tractor up against the run and shut off the nesting box. I take it I can’t just let her free-range all day and deny her access to a nest?

 

[BY Bob]

I’m going to put her in the quarantine tractor up against the run and shut off the nesting box. I take it I can’t just let her free-range all day and deny her access to a nest?

You can try blocking off access to the nest. Others have done that. I always wondered how you would do that and still let the other hens have access to lay. If you had a tractor just for her, that would work. I would watch and see if she tries to nest in the grass. If she can, she might just lay an egg and keep at it in the tractor. The crate has the advantage of elevating her off off the ground so she can't build a nest or keep anything warm. If this is what you have handy. I would try it.

 

[LozzyR]

You can try blocking off access to the nest. Others have done that. I always wondered how you would do that and still let the other hens have access to lay. If you had a tractor just for her, that would work. I would watch and see if she tries to nest in the grass. If she can, she might just lay an egg and keep at it in the tractor. The crate has the advantage of elevating her off off the ground so she can't build a nest or keep anything warm. If this is what you have handy. I would try it.

I put wire under the tractor, but it is on the ground. I’ll keep an eye on her and if she looks like she’s sitting on an egg, I’ll remove it. If it doesn’t work, we’ve got a crate and I’ll try that.

 

[BY Bob]

I put wire under the tractor, but it is on the ground. I’ll keep an eye on her and if she looks like she’s sitting on an egg, I’ll remove it. If it doesn’t work, we’ve got a crate and I’ll try that.

I expect it will work. I'd love to see a picture of the set up. It is important that everyone still sees her hanging around to keep the pecking order intact. Placing it by the run will do that just fine. Good thinking there.

 

[LozzyR]

I expect it will work. I'd love to see a picture of the set up. It is important that everyone still sees her hanging around to keep the pecking order intact. Placing it by the run will do that just fine. Good thinking there.

I’ll take a photo. It will be the same set-up as when I was integrating Charlie and Bessie, except that I’ll shut off the nesting box. Hopefully it will work. She stole Lucy’s egg yesterday and was sitting on it!

 

[Ribh]

f she can, she might just lay an egg and keep at it in the tractor. The crate has the advantage of elevating her off off the ground so she can't build a nest or keep anything warm. If this is what you have handy. I would try it.

@LozzyR : Don't know if this is helpful but I had sooo much trouble with one of my BRs last year [& my best layer to boot so very ropeable!] so I chatted with my supplier when I picked up my new lot of chickens & here's what she had to say.

Broodiness is tied to the hen's body heat. Bring that down & they will usually stop being broody ~ [frozen milk bottles of water in the coop & nesting boxes worked a treat] & that is why the cage of shame works so well ~ fresh air constantly circulating under them!

Denying them the nesting boxes [which is what I was doing as I still don't have a crate] just resets their body clock each day. Bad idea. I am guilty ~ but I didn't know.

Give them something to think about besides being broody ~ though some girls [like my BR] are particularly stubborn.

All the best. Oh, & my supplier simply offered to supply chicks next time my girl went broody!!!

 

[LozzyR]

@LozzyR : Don't know if this is helpful but I had sooo much trouble with one of my BRs last year [& my best layer to boot so very ropeable!] so I chatted with my supplier when I picked up my new lot of chickens & here's what she had to say.

Broodiness is tied to the hen's body heat. Bring that down & they will usually stop being broody ~ [frozen milk bottles of water in the coop & nesting boxes worked a treat] & that is why the cage of shame works so well ~ fresh air constantly circulating under them!

Denying them the nesting boxes [which is what I was doing as I still don't have a crate] just resets their body clock each day. Bad idea. I am guilty ~ but I didn't know.

Give them something to think about besides being broody ~ though some girls [like my BR] are particularly stubborn.

All the best. Oh, & my supplier simply offered to supply chicks next time my girl went broody!!!

Thanks @Ribh , I might chuck a frozen milk bottle in there with her. Not sure what else I can put in to keep her entertained though.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

Mal is on the roost extension actually facing camera in that picture. It is an odd place for her to roost. I don't remember anyone ever sleeping there before. Its part of the oddness. Also odd is anyone besides Hattie sleeping by Lilly. Lilly normally does not allow anyone to sleep by her. She is a mean pecker on the roost. I'm guessing Lilly might have been cold last night, molting and all.

Hi Bob, how did the sleeping arrangements go in the coop last night?

 

[Ribh]

Thanks @Ribh , I might chuck a frozen milk bottle in there with her. Not sure what else I can put in to keep her entertained though.

A mirror? I actually found this site one time & have it bookmarked for when I have time to actually consider some of these ideas!
http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/environmental-enrichment-for-poultry

 

[LozzyR]

A mirror? I actually found this site one time & have it bookmarked for when I have time to actually consider some of these ideas!
http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/environmental-enrichment-for-poultry

There is actually a mirror in the run but it’s tied on with wire. I’ll see if I can find a photo of it. There’s also a picture of a garden that they like to lick, but that’s secured with cable ties.