HELP - Having some trouble/issues - first broody hen, and my first time... :/

[Cari C]

Kelsey an WVduckchick,

What do you girls recommend as a good all-around book for care, breeding, raising and breeds? I have always LOVED the "____ For Dummies" books, they have never let me down, but I am wondering if there is another that stands out, especially for someone just doing this in their backyard? I am on Amazon looking for the poultry cups right now and I need to find the top piece to little, metal chicken feeder. I bought starter feed, but can only find the bottom part and mama keeps scratching all of the feed out of it!

p.s. (for the win, Enid is still setting on the remaining 4 eggs!!!)

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/harris-farms-4-gallon-watering-cup-drinker/E016663/ <---what do you think of this waterer?

 

[Cari C]

Yay, two fluffy butts!!


Yep, grew up in AZ with horses and dogs. Every time it gets hot here (these last couple weeks have been awful) I wonder how I managed, but I suppose growing up in the heat it wasn't as big of a deal... but now my heat tolerance is GONE!

Poultry cups (type that into Amazon) -- can be screwed into a bucket or PVC pipe- just drill 3/8" hole, put a little bit of white plumbing tape around the threads on the poultry cups and voila! The only 'training' I had to do was fill the cups once. When they go to drink, their beaks hit the trigger which moves all directions, filling the cup.

In the heat, a bucket setup is better because the water that sits in 3/4" PVC pipe will get very, very hot- and whatever's in the pipe is what comes out in the cup. Up here, hot water is a short lived problem, so I opted for pvc pipe set-up- those orange dots are the poultry cups.

If you start with something like a 5 gallon horse bucket which has thicker plastic sides- lots of plastic for the threads to take hold vs. a home depot type bucket (pictured above) which is thin where it may be prone to leak just because there's not enough plastic for it to grip. I put a 2 gallon version inside the coop and a 5 gallon version outside. They make something similar that you might see in feed stores like the hen hydrater or whatever, but those have poultry nipples, not poultry cups. The poultry nipples, especially with older birds that haven't learned to use them don't take to them well in some cases. I find poultry nipples are more prone to leak. So far I've only had one cup leak- I did have to replace it, but it's not any harder than replacing a light bulb.

Then in a shady spot, put the 5-gallon bucket on a couple of bricks or what have you so the cups are installed towards the bottom edge of the bucket, making use of the whole volume of water, and elevating it for your adults-- and for little birds, put a couple brick "steps" up to one so they can reach- even the tiny 2 week olds used them on their own- though ours stood on the pipe to access it.

I like the poultry cups because multiple hens can dip in, drink what they want -- without all that tapping and working to get the water. I hate to see any thirsty animal have to work at getting water-- I've done both and the cups are more peaceful.

You'd want to rig a way to cover the top of the bucket- can be as simple as a piece of plywood with 2x2's screwed in to match up with the bucket sides to hold it in place, easy to do, easy to remove to fill - so nobody jumps up and falls in, or jumps up and poops in the water- water stays clean, birds stay safe. Then you can freeze bottles and pop them in there in the AM for cooler water all day, refreeze the bottles overnight.... And still leave a shallow source of water they can dip their feet and wattles into to cool off, and as a backup. Always a backup!

Here's a closer picture of the cups. What can I say, I like cups! My favorite poultry discovery!

I haven't found the cups alone yet, just with a complete set-up, I pasted the link to Stateline Tack on a previous post.

 

[Shezadandy]

Kelsey an WVduckchick,

What do you girls recommend as a good all-around book for care, breeding, raising and breeds? I have always LOVED the "____ For Dummies" books, they have never let me down, but I am wondering if there is another that stands out, especially for someone just doing this in their backyard? I am on Amazon looking for the poultry cups right now and I need to find the top piece to little, metal chicken feeder. I bought starter feed, but can only find the bottom part and mama keeps scratching all of the feed out of it!

p.s. (for the win, Enid is still setting on the remaining 4 eggs!!!)

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/harris-farms-4-gallon-watering-cup-drinker/E016663/ <---what do you think of this waterer?

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow seems to be a good staple for all things chicken.


Maybe I'm wrong but something with opaque sides might help keep the water cooler. I sent you a private message (should show up in your email, otherwise go to "My Profile" and click "Private Messages" with the link to just the cup. The "Harris" kind are not as easy to move- those are the kind I first got for in the coop but the feed store didn't have the quantity I needed so I looked on Amazon and got those instead.

The kind I got on Amazon take a much lighter touch to operate- a good thing in my book. About the waterer, very much the idea. It's hard to know how well that one is made- definitely didn't get good reviews on that site. It will not automatically fill, and it's not supposed to- it's not on a float like an automatic horse water or similar device. Think of it like a miniature water cooler- the water comes out when you push the lever. What I've found is that the chickens learn to drink their fill, finsh what is in the cup and usually leave it dry.

Did you get one of the round metal space-ship looking chick-feeders (far left in picture below)? If so, you can just use a Ball or Kerr "regular mouth" pint or quart jar - it will screw right on. They're in the canning section which is usually in the baking aisle. There is also "wide mouth" but they WILL NOT FIT. Learned the hard way.. hahha Yes, grown up chickens love knocking it down and throwing it all over the place. Otherwise I'm not sure what kind you have.

 

[Cari C]

Storey's Guide to Raising Chickens by Gail Damerow seems to be a good staple for all things chicken.


Maybe I'm wrong but something with opaque sides might help keep the water cooler. I sent you a private message (should show up in your email, otherwise go to "My Profile" and click "Private Messages" with the link to just the cup. The "Harris" kind are not as easy to move- those are the kind I first got for in the coop but the feed store didn't have the quantity I needed so I looked on Amazon and got those instead.

The kind I got on Amazon take a much lighter touch to operate- a good thing in my book. About the waterer, very much the idea. It's hard to know how well that one is made- definitely didn't get good reviews on that site. It will not automatically fill, and it's not supposed to- it's not on a float like an automatic horse water or similar device. Think of it like a miniature water cooler- the water comes out when you push the lever. What I've found is that the chickens learn to drink their fill, finsh what is in the cup and usually leave it dry.

Did you get one of the round metal space-ship looking chick-feeders (far left in picture below)? If so, you can just use a Ball or Kerr "regular mouth" pint or quart jar - it will screw right on. They're in the canning section which is usually in the baking aisle. There is also "wide mouth" but they WILL NOT FIT. Learned the hard way.. hahha Yes, grown up chickens love knocking it down and throwing it all over the place. Otherwise I'm not sure what kind you have.

I am ordering the cups and book right now. I have the metal feeder, but the straight one, not the spaceship, ha! I can't find the top part of it though, I took it off to use the bottom half as a scoop one day and haven't seen the top since. Tomorrow I will buy another, I hate spending money unnecessarily, but mama is wasting the feed!! The baby waterer I have right now is made of plastic, but basically the same, screws in and all, so I am good there for a couple of weeks. You girls have been a God send for me, thank you!

 

[Shezadandy]

I am ordering the cups and book right now. I have the metal feeder, but the straight one, not the spaceship, ha! I can't find the top part of it though, I took it off to use the bottom half as a scoop one day and haven't seen the top since. Tomorrow I will buy another, I hate spending money unnecessarily, but mama is wasting the feed!! The baby waterer I have right now is made of plastic, but basically the same, screws in and all, so I am good there for a couple of weeks. You girls have been a God send for me, thank you!

Just checking in to see how things are going with the babies and momma! Hope all is well.

 

[WVduckchick]

Just checking in to see how things are going with the babies and momma!  Hope all is well.

X2

Oh I also love the Storeys Guide books! I have the one for all poultry, and the duck guide too. Ebay is good to get them cheaper than list price.

My favorite feeders for the least waste are the ones with a lip on the bottom that turns in, so they can't scoop it out as badly. I'll see if I can find a pic later. Im thinking of building a trough pvc feeder though, with holes instead of a big cutout.

 

[Cari C]

Just checking in to see how things are going with the babies and momma! Hope all is well.

X2

Oh I also love the Storeys Guide books! I have the one for all poultry, and the duck guide too. Ebay is good to get them cheaper than list price.

My favorite feeders for the least waste are the ones with a lip on the bottom that turns in, so they can't scoop it out as badly. I'll see if I can find a pic later. Im thinking of building a trough pvc feeder though, with holes instead of a big cutout.

Mama and the 2 chicks are doing well, thank God. My original coop, that friends gave me, has an upstairs that is closed in with 3 separate nesting boxes - that's where they were, I had taken the ramp down so the babies would stay and Enid would set on the remaining eggs. I think 2 of the eggs died, it seemed to me like liquid inside, but the other two could still have chicks. How do I know if the two are viable? So my scary story, I left for work yesterday and came home 12 hours later, my son fed for me, quickly. Mama and babies were on the 1st floor of the coop with no food or water (that was still on 2nd floor), which means they all flew/fell down from the loft. It was dark already when I went out there, so I turned on a light and moved their stuff, eggs and all, downstairs with them. Everyone came and had a drink and a snack, I left the light on for about an hour and this morning they are fine, thank God again!! So, how can I know for sure what's up with the eggs? 2 are past due and 2 should be due now. How are both of your girl's birds doing?? I love kicking through the pictures!

 

[WVduckchick]

Mama and the 2 chicks are doing well, thank God. My original coop, that friends gave me, has an upstairs that is closed in with 3 separate nesting boxes - that's where they were, I had taken the ramp down so the babies would stay and Enid would set on the remaining eggs. I think 2 of the eggs died, it seemed to me like liquid inside, but the other two could still have chicks. How do I know if the two are viable? So my scary story, I left for work yesterday and came home 12 hours later, my son fed for me, quickly. Mama and babies were on the 1st floor of the coop with no food or water (that was still on 2nd floor), which means they all flew/fell down from the loft. It was dark already when I went out there, so I turned on a light and moved their stuff, eggs and all, downstairs with them. Everyone came and had a drink and a snack, I left the light on for about an hour and this morning they are fine, thank God again!! So, how can I know for sure what's up with the eggs? 2 are past due and 2 should be due now. How are both of your girl's birds doing?? I love kicking through the pictures!

Sounds like you got lucky! My last broody of the season (Hopefully!) is due Sunday/Monday.

Have you tried candling the eggs to see what's going on inside them? I had a broody that I believe rolled her eggs wayyyy too much and they ended up all sloshy and nothing hatched. I opened a couple of them (BIG mistake) they were just juicy and rotten! Ugh. Talk about stench! So smell the eggs first!

Try candling, looking for red blood vessels up near the air cell (fat end). By now, it should be mostly dark, with maybe a little fluid and veins showing just below the air cell.

This is kinda what you should be seeing:

Also, once they get close to hatching, the air cell will draw down.
The blue line was the air cell on day 7, the black line was day 14. I think I took this picture on day 20 or 21.
Notice how the air cell draws down and curves into the fat end, as the chick gets into position to hatch. If they look like this, they are very close!

 

[Cari C]

Sounds like you got lucky! My last broody of the season (Hopefully!) is due Sunday/Monday.

Have you tried candling the eggs to see what's going on inside them? I had a broody that I believe rolled her eggs wayyyy too much and they ended up all sloshy and nothing hatched. I opened a couple of them (BIG mistake) they were just juicy and rotten! Ugh. Talk about stench! So smell the eggs first!

Try candling, looking for red blood vessels up near the air cell (fat end). By now, it should be mostly dark, with maybe a little fluid and veins showing just below the air cell.

This is kinda what you should be seeing:

Also, once they get close to hatching, the air cell will draw down.
The blue line was the air cell on day 7, the black line was day 14. I think I took this picture on day 20 or 21.
Notice how the air cell draws down and curves into the fat end, as the chick gets into position to hatch. If they look like this, they are very close!

I candled 2 nights ago and 2 seemed just full of liquid, and I judge that by gently rolling them and just watching what looks like the fluid line of dark liquid... The other 2 looked like day 19 of your chart (they looked day 15 when I checked them on Sun or Mon). How much time should I give them? Should I take away the ones I think are liquid, so that she only has to focus on the potentially viable other two?

 

[WVduckchick]

I candled 2 nights ago and 2 seemed just full of liquid, and I judge that by gently rolling them and just watching what looks like the fluid line of dark liquid... The other 2 looked like day 19 of your chart. How much time should I give them? Should I take away the ones I think are liquid, so that she only has to focus on the potentially viable other two?

Personally, yes, I would remove the 2 that look liquidy. She "could" abandon the other 2 because of it, but it could help her focus on the other 2, so its a toss-up! And I would give them as long as she still sits on them. If she gets up and leaves them (for an extended period of time), then candle again, and then figure out what to do.