chickenwuver
In the Brooder
Hello Everyone!
I have been a chicken lover for most of my life. My grandparents had them on their farm, and I kept them myself as a young girl, in the 4H program. My husband and I recently bought a 20 acre farm, and the first thing I wanted to do was create a chicken coop!
We started with two Rhode Island Red hens. They were given to us by a friend, who could no longer care for them herself, due to health issues. They were in molt when they arrived, and weren't laying any eggs. Even after molting, they did not resume egg laying, even though they had been good layers for the previous owner.
A couple months later, another friend was culling her flock of Rhode Island Reds, and offered us a rooster. We'd talked about the lack of eggs, and she thought the rooster would encourage my hens to start laying again. He joined us on a Saturday afternoon, and even though they were in separate areas, the hens could see and hear him. By Monday morning, they were both laying again!
Fast forward about a month. The rooster had successfully joined the hens in the coop, and we'd seen him attending to business several times. Then we noticed one of the hens started acting a bit broody, which is unusual for Rhode Island Red hens. She sat on five eggs for several days, and then suddenly abandoned them. I purchased an incubator, and put them in it, but they didn't make it.
From then on, I collect the eggs faithfully, and incubate them. I have had some issues with getting the humidity stabilized, but I have now successfully hatched five little cuties! And I have another seven eggs due to hatch in a few days! Plus, I have been collecting my eggs to start the Easter Egg hatch on the 25th! I've gotten the bug again!
I am excited to be here on Backyard Chickens, and I look forward to learning, sharing, and enjoying it!
I have been a chicken lover for most of my life. My grandparents had them on their farm, and I kept them myself as a young girl, in the 4H program. My husband and I recently bought a 20 acre farm, and the first thing I wanted to do was create a chicken coop!
We started with two Rhode Island Red hens. They were given to us by a friend, who could no longer care for them herself, due to health issues. They were in molt when they arrived, and weren't laying any eggs. Even after molting, they did not resume egg laying, even though they had been good layers for the previous owner.
A couple months later, another friend was culling her flock of Rhode Island Reds, and offered us a rooster. We'd talked about the lack of eggs, and she thought the rooster would encourage my hens to start laying again. He joined us on a Saturday afternoon, and even though they were in separate areas, the hens could see and hear him. By Monday morning, they were both laying again!
Fast forward about a month. The rooster had successfully joined the hens in the coop, and we'd seen him attending to business several times. Then we noticed one of the hens started acting a bit broody, which is unusual for Rhode Island Red hens. She sat on five eggs for several days, and then suddenly abandoned them. I purchased an incubator, and put them in it, but they didn't make it.
From then on, I collect the eggs faithfully, and incubate them. I have had some issues with getting the humidity stabilized, but I have now successfully hatched five little cuties! And I have another seven eggs due to hatch in a few days! Plus, I have been collecting my eggs to start the Easter Egg hatch on the 25th! I've gotten the bug again!
I am excited to be here on Backyard Chickens, and I look forward to learning, sharing, and enjoying it!
Wings of Wishes, 
