Hatching with 2 broodies

[lizgarf]

Waiting to hear how you went with the collar; I have everything crossed that it works out for you and him!
Is the idea of the collar that he can not breath in the additional air required to crow?
Or is the idea that he can not stretch his neck up? I read somewhere that if the rooster is in a low area and can't stretch his neck up he can't crow.

My understanding of the collars is that they keep the throat/air sacs from fully expanding as needed to make a loud crow. I also read the part about stretching the neck up, but I'm not sure if this kind of collar would affect that. I didn't hear any loud noises from Desi today, but I was also gone for most of the afternoon. Since he had just started crowing yesterday (other than the couple attempts a few weeks ago), I won't be able to claim success for a few more weeks. So far, it doesn't seem inordinately burdensome to him, but I'll keep an eye on it. I figure it's a bit like my wearing a bra - neither of us really want to wear it, but it's better than the alternative!

Now, Teila, remember how nicely the first hatch went when you just left them all alone? Try not to stress too much this time - you were so calm the first time around and you got 5 beautiful babies!! In any case, Frida waited a week for her fertile eggs, and now she's still mothering her babies, more than 4 months later! Everyone told me that waiting a week for eggs wouldn't break the broody, and it definitely didn't in my case. You also probably don't need to worry about exploding eggs. There needs to be some sort of bacterial situation like a crack and/or a dead developing chick to make that happen. The egg that exploded in my coop was at day 25 and had been dead for at least a week. I can't imagine your non-fertile eggs being in danger at any point within the first few weeks.

Cilla has proven she knows what she's doing (even if she's a big meanie).

 

[Teila]

So far, it doesn't seem inordinately burdensome to him, but I'll keep an eye on it. I figure it's a bit like my wearing a bra - neither of us really want to wear it, but it's better than the alternative!

Now, Teila, remember how nicely the first hatch went when you just left them all alone? Try not to stress too much this time - you were so calm the first time around and you got 5 beautiful babies!! In any case, Frida waited a week for her fertile eggs, and now she's still mothering her babies, more than 4 months later! Everyone told me that waiting a week for eggs wouldn't break the broody, and it definitely didn't in my case. You also probably don't need to worry about exploding eggs. There needs to be some sort of bacterial situation like a crack and/or a dead developing chick to make that happen. The egg that exploded in my coop was at day 25 and had been dead for at least a week. I can't imagine your non-fertile eggs being in danger at any point within the first few weeks.

Cilla has proven she knows what she's doing (even if she's a big meanie).

Gees Liz, I so hope the collar works! Good to know it is not overly burdensome also. Keep us posted

Did I appear calm? lol
Thank you, knowing that Frida waited a week is very comforting and good to know that I don't need to worry about the duds going bad.

Other than the above, I am not really worried, more excited I think
Cilla is going well and seems to be enjoying her more stress free environment; no one crashing in on her party. An added bonus, Dusty has taken the Silkies under her wing; motherhood suits her!

A little set-back when she couldn't get to her favourite nest box to lay her egg but again, 5 mins of gentle chit chat and coaxing and she laid in the Ranch

Definitely going with the same track as the first hatch, no interference from me at all. I will leave that side of it totally up to Cilla. I am going to give her the eggs and then IMpatiently wait! Can she be a Sweet Meanie?

 

[tommysgirl]

Hi team,
Well, the inevitable happened today: Desi started crowing. Luckily it was late in the day, but it was loud and obnoxious enough that I think people will definitely complain if it happens in the morning, or frequently throughout the day. Of course it started on the weekend, when people are around! I may be hyper sensitive because I know we can't have roosters in Oakland, but each time he did it, I was sure some one was going to march over and demand I get rid of him. I think my own stress about that is worse than the actual noise.
So, time to make a rooster collar! Wish me luck (and I'm going to need it getting it on him!)

Ohh,,,I hope the collar works for you!...or rather him

Sounds like he was gentleman when it came to putting it on.

Teila Your set up looks great. How tall are your coops and runs. It's hard to tell from the pics. Your girls live in luxe surroundings.I was in Nevada two weekends ago and did the tiniest bit of gambling. I mention it because Dealing with shopped eggs is like taking a gamble. You get the excitement of planning and dreaming about what might be. I lost 50.00 gambling. If I invest 50.00 in shipped eggs...even if none hatch...I still get all of the excitement of the hatch, when you compare it to something else you might spend 50.00 on for entertainment, it's a pretty good deal. Good luck with you shipped eggs.

Tonight I am going to candle my aunt's eggs. She hasn't been managing them so I know that there are a variety of eggs at a variety of stages of development I probably should fire up my incubator to take on any that are further behind.

I think Tom and I may be building a small coop this weekend...well Saturday since Sunday will be all football all the time but it will be for future broodies and others that may need to be isolated. We have a pen for that but it just has a dog crate in it. Tom added a roost to it and I have three flyers in there b/c it is covered.

I have 16 hens/pullets who have at least dabbled in laying but right now the majority of them are free loading. 4 eggs on Saturday, 5 yesterday...decided to seize the eggless moment and worm my pen of colored and white eggs layers. Hopefully they won't all resume laying in celebration. The only consistent layer 5-7 days a week in that pen is my CA Grey, Blanche. @Teila I don't know if you can get them but @lizgarf and everyone else in the US who wants a white egg layer who isn't sure you are going to twist off her head and will actually choose to hang out with you, I can't say enough about the CG.

This is my CG girl Blanche.

I am looking forward to my next broody (ies) I plan to have any first timers hatch our own eggs...Delawares, maybe New Hampshires and a variety of sex links then I am going for:

CA Greys
BBS Ameraucanas
Blue Isbars
Birchen Marans
Silver Penciled Wyandottes...getting eggs for shipping only from a byc SPW breeder.

Oh and to seal the broody deal I am adding a few bantams

I want to be able to focus on NHs and Dels and their crosses as well as a pretty little laying flock.

Good luck with your hatch @Teila

 

[lizgarf]

Just a quick update on the rooster collar:
At 8:30 this morning, I heard crowing. I tightened the collar a bit, and then heard crowing again at about 10. I tightened it some more, so I can just fit my finger between the collar and his neck. I don't know if I can make it much tighter without it being too restrictive. I have not heard a crow since then and it's about 2 now (though I was gone for about an hour). He is hanging out in the backyard now and seems comfortable enough. He can clean his tail feathers and scratch and all, and he still makes his regular talking noise (kind of a low honk).
I'll update again at the end of the day and post some pictures. Gah, I hope this works!! If it doesn't, then I probably need less forgiving material, which I assume would be even less comfortable for the Des.

PS, your egg to hen ratio is making me feel better, TG! Still just 2-3 eggs a day from my 7 hens/pullets. Lucy is probably another couple months away from starting, but Frida, Jan, and Marsha can start back up any day now, thank you very much.

 

[Teila]

I'll update again at the end of the day and post some pictures. Gah, I hope this works!! If it doesn't, then I probably need less forgiving material, which I assume would be even less comfortable for the Des.

Lunch time for me; was curious as to any news ... will check back again later.

 

[lizgarf]

Lunch time for me; was curious as to any news ... will check back again later.

Aw, thanks, T! I knew I could count on your support!

There was no more crowing today after I tightened the collar at about 10 this morning!! Even better, Desi seemed perfectly comfortable and able to do everything he normally does, including some vocalizing. Now, he hasn't been crowing long enough for this to be any sort of proof that the collar will keep working for him. Plus, this method appears that it will need some regular monitoring to make sure that it's tight enough to work, but not too tight, and he's likely to sneak in some crows now and then in between adjustments. Still, it won't be nearly as labor-intensive as setting him up inside every night (which wouldn't solve the crowing problem during the day, anyway). While no one has complained and at least one neighbor is supportive, I can tell that a regularly crowing rooster would not fly in this neighborhood, now that I've gotten a taste of what that might be like.

Here are the promised pics. You can see how low-profile the collar is and how gorgeous Desi is becoming (if I do say so myself):





Enough with the camera, Lady!


Still flexible:

 

[tommysgirl]

9 eggs under my aunts broody...my grandchicken... 7 are CA Grey eggs so white and easily seen inside, all clear.

There were two EE eggs under her too and I left those b/c I couldn't see a thing inside. My aunt is going to decide if she wants to break her or give her fertiles. She lost a hen yesterday so she is feeling emotional and not sure. I hope she decides to give her some fertile eggs.

Liz glad the collar seem to be working for him and you and your neighbors. well done! He sure is beautiful!

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks, TG! I got the eggs from Papa's Poultry, and it probably wasn't the breeder's fault that only 2 of 8 hatched, given all the craziness that went on here during the hatch. He's based outside of Redding and has a lot of interesting breeds, so he might be a good option for you for fertile eggs.

Why do you think the eggs were all clear? These were your girls' eggs?

 

[Teila]

Teila Your set up looks great. How tall are your coops and runs. It's hard to tell from the pics. Your girls live in luxe surroundings.

Thank you TG
The Ranch would probably be four and half to five foot tall and the Chateau maybe three and a half to four. The run is probably four foot high. I only have Bantams so it is plenty high enough for them. They have some perches and none of them are real big jumpers and don't fly. I can get in there, on hands and knees to clean it out. They seem very happy with it and have lots of little nooks and places to explore and have some time out
I sometimes wonder about something higher but the additional height would only benefit me, not them

Quote:
Always here for you Liz! I think Team Broody has lasted this long and going strong because it is a wonderful support base. No one has been judgmental, everyone has been supportive and advice is advice not an instruction.

I never feel like I have a silly question and love that we can share our highs and lows.

Chuckling at "Enough with the camera, Lady!". And yes, he is so handsome! How wonderful that the collar does not seem to be upsetting him at all and he can still get to those pesky itchy bits! If having a cheer squad is of any benefit, Desi is going to be a Team Broody member for a very long time!
Can't wait for the pictures of his first bubbies!! Love him!
Will be checking back for updates and good news!!

Well, I got a text message from my Egg-Lady (Chris) today, they are on their way via Express Post and a check on parcel tracker shows them as in transit; seeing I am in a next day delivery area, they may arrive tomorrow while I am at work. My son has instructions on where to put them (not the fridge! lol). Chris mentioned that she popped in a couple more eggs for good luck .. lol 14 or so eggs; not a chance Cilla is going to manage that!
Ordering eggs on-line; another first for me!

Cilla is going well .. I think she goes broody because Mum spoils her more than normal !!
After the big girls get their treats I take her some and I am frequently giving her her special little dish for drinks while she is on the nest.

It is so nice to see Dusty and the Silkies bonding; Dusty has never roosted and tonight when I checked everyone had gone to bed, she was cuddled up in the Ranch with a Silkie on either side .. aaaw!

 

[lizgarf]

Well, guess what got me up at 6:30 this morning? Desi can still crow. The volume may have been reduced a little bit, but he was definitely crowing and it was dark out. So, I ran down and tightened the collar some more, and 10 minutes later, more crows! I came down and tightened it some more (this must sound like torture, but there was still room), and could still get the tip of my finger in there (which is what the rooster collar lady says to do on her facebook page with her collars), and saw that he could still eat and drink and mutter to himself, and there hasn't been any more crows for the past hour. The garbage trucks had started up, so it's unlikely that his crowing woke anyone else up, but it was not good.

Sigh, this isn't going as well as I had hoped. I'm going to try to make another collar with one wide piece of velcro (as opposed to two smaller pieces and a gap in between), as I'm wondering if there's two much flexibility in the very middle region of the collar. I still think neoprene is the right base fabric, but mostly because I haven't thought of a good alternative yet that I have on hand. Leather or something else strong and less stretchy would probably be best. But, the sewed velcro should eliminate the stretch, so I don't really think that's the problem. The collars might not work - there must be some reason that no one seemed to do use them until recently.

Teila, those egg-shipping folks sure want to get rid of eggs! I had to tell my breeder not to send me extras a bunch of times. Cilla can probably handle up to 10 bantam eggs, but you are going to have to pick some out. And then, what if they all hatch? At this point, I am feeling pretty demoralized about hatching roosters, I have to say. I'm beginning to understand why backyard chickens went out of fashion. Male dogs and cats can usually find homes, but the vast majority of male chickens become dinner. Intellectually, that doesn't bother me; but, emotionally, it bothers me a lot. I don't want to separate some babies from the flock at all, let alone to send them from their doom. I don't want to go through this every time I have a hen go broody. I know this is all par for the course for chicken-keeping, but it's getting me down at the moment.

Happy to hear about Dusty and the Silkies! Mine are all buddies, now, and I'm not surprised Dusty has seen the light and is enjoying her extra-soft snuggle-bunnies.