Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

Congratulations on your increased egg count also .. besides Desi maybe being a little over enthusiastic in the amorous department, it sounds like life on your little farm has returned to one of cruising along nicely; good news!

Thanks, Teila! I actually am a little worried about Desi's bad mating technique, now that I've found those bald patches on poor Rousseau. I don't have any practical way to separate them to let her heal the way I should, other than sticking one of them in a crate, which does not sound appealing. I used a dremel on Desi's claws tonight, but I don't think that'll be enough to prevent further damage. I was only able to round them off a bit before one of them started bleeding. It'll probably help, but it won't take much to really injure Rousseau at this point. Frizzles may be more vulnerable and she is his main target.
Pooh! Darn roosters! He's lucky he's pretty, because he is way too high-maintenance for his own good!

 

[texgardengal]

The supports are up but the roof is not on, but with little yard in the big yard is working out so far. Molly has taken a few peeks out but chose to only take the cheeps out for a little stretch then back in they went. i surrounded their "yard" with hay so they wont have to deal with the cold wind too bad. I'm spoiling them! lol
I hope they will be ok when the next cold spell gets here....sigh....tired of these cold snaps. She is outside, not in the barn. I just hope the coop holds up. Ok If it worked for Teila it shold be fine...Only supervised outings for now...until the wire top is on. We have hawks every day....they are a real problem. .

Liz, At the feed store I saw a bottle of stuff used to put on hens that you want the rooster to "leave alone". It is a "keep away spray". the lady at the feed store swore by it. I've never used it but it might be worth a try. I agree, you cant have that kind of thing. I know desi is just learning but you still have to pretect your girls.

You had me laughing so hard at Freda thinking she was still on maternity leave..hahahahahahah.

 

[texgardengal]

Miss Molly taking a peek out.

 

[texgardengal]

Our new chickie/broody coop. in the new yard.

 

[lizgarf]

Quote: That set up looks great! Love the hay bale idea. I wish I had the space to set something up like that for times in need of segregation.

Could you ask the feed store lady about that spray for me? I just tried searching for it and came up with nothing!! I'm worried it'll put poor Rousseau even lower in the pecking order (she's always last on the roost, poor thing), but if it'll help protect her from Desi, that would be amazing!! It sounds like he should get better with age, and in general, he's a real sweet guy, but he's not even 5 months old yet! Rousseau and I can't wait for full maturity to set in!

Thanks for chuckling. I swear Lucy is going to start laying before Frida does. This isn't Scandinavia, lady! Or maybe she just doesn't want to hatch any more Desi's.

 

[texgardengal]

http://roosterboosterproducts.com/products.php Here is a link to the site. Went by the feedstore this morning on my way home from dropping off the boys to find the name of the product. I didnt pay attention the other day, so I didnt get the details....I spoke with the owner of the feedstore. (talked to her the other day) She said it is a multi use product. It will keep the other chickens from picking on a bald spot. However, if you spray a little on her back and it will act as a general divergent. She said she has used it many times in this way and it always works for her?

 

[lizgarf]

http://roosterboosterproducts.com/products.php Here is a link to the site. Went by the feedstore this morning on my way home from dropping off the boys to find the name of the product. I didnt pay attention the other day, so I didnt get the details....I spoke with the owner of the feedstore. (talked to her the other day) She said it is a multi use product. It will keep the other chickens from picking on a bald spot. However, if you spray a little on her back and it will act as a general divergent. She said she has used it many times in this way and it always works for her?

Thank you so much!!

 

[Teila]

Goood morning Team Broody! Wooo hooo for the weekend!

TGG your broody set up looks great; well done!
Miss Molly is so cute peeking out the door

Or maybe she just doesn't want to hatch any more Desi's. Lols Liz, that could be exactly what she is thinking!
While I was reading the posts I was thinking 'how wonderful that we are able to help each other out; we have a great thing going here!'
The 'Pick No More' sounds definitely worth a try.

Hubby's birthday today and Tina and Suzi officially hit the 5 months (20 weeks) today!

I seem to be drawn to dopey chickens; none of mine would be winning any chicken IQ awards in the near future but I still love them to bits.
As you know, I have pegged Blondie as a keeper, if she is a she, and already she is falling into the dopey category.
At bubby bed time Hubby and I have donned our chicken rustler hats and air lifted the little ones into bed because apparently the ramp is just for running up and jumping off.
Last evening, for the first time, 4 of 5 worked out that the ramp does, in fact, lead up to the bedroom and mumma who is snuggled into the straw calling them.
Guess who still had to be air lifted? lol She was cheeping up a storm by herself wondering where everyone had gone! Duh! lol

Hhhhm, the non-gardening neighbours were out all last weekend cleaning up their garden and yesterday an extremely large marquee was erected in the back garden .. me thinks we will not be getting much sleep tonight; I smell a party! *Sigh*

Chimee is not going to be a happy puddy cat today; she has a Dr's appointment for a check up, vaccination and worming and to add to her trauma, when she gets home Syba is probably going to bash her because she does not smell right! Poor little girl!

 

[lizgarf]

I bought the peck-no-more from the local farm store and put some on little Rousseau. I hope it helps! At least it matches her color perfectly.
They had 1-day-old Welsummer chicks at the store!!!!!!!! I wanted them so badly!! No broodies, though, and I can't take on house chicks right now. Between Desi, 7 hens, missing bees, and all the issues of my house pets (cat-bite abscess anyone?), it's hard enough to get any work done. (another big deadline coming up, can you tell?) So, I exercised rare restraint!
I finally let the hens out to range, just in time for it to start dumping outside! Oh well, if they're really miserable, maybe they'll figure out how to get back to the coop.
4-for-4 eggs again today! That's 3 in a row from Marsha.
Enjoy the party, Teila! Maybe mak some new friends?

 

[lizgarf]

Well, they didn't last long in the rain. They were all huddled under the edge of the roof, so I led them back to the coop. Bettina got escorted in my arm under the umbrella. Lucky girl!

Hmm, I'm a little worried about the peck-no-more. Everyone seemed to be checking it out on Rousseau with their beaks. Not violently, but the extra attention in that area can't be good. On the plus side, I haven't seen Desi jump on her since I put it on, but I also haven't been around them much, given the weather and workload.