Early in March we tried really hard to break our Americana of her broodiness. We thought we were successful. Then we went on vacation for 3.5 weeks leaving them in the care of a neighbor who did a really fantastic job. But this hen decided not to give up that easy. She kept getting thrown off the nest and still insisted.
When we got back she was thin but still determined. We couldn't leave her in the coup that way, so we brought her inside and put her in a kennel with hay. The kennel is sitting here in the dining room. she says very little and gets taken outside twice a day. But she is loving the cuisine. We have been giving her eggs, mealworms, 20% protein chick feed and water and curdled milk.
DH was worried she would get out and wander the house, but she doesn't and her cage is always open. If the kids get a bit noisy around her, she tells them to pipe down! Even DH comes by and talks to her, and he doesn't really like my chickens, except when the arrive on the plate.
I'm not sure yet how I am going to reintegrate them into the flock...
When we got back she was thin but still determined. We couldn't leave her in the coup that way, so we brought her inside and put her in a kennel with hay. The kennel is sitting here in the dining room. she says very little and gets taken outside twice a day. But she is loving the cuisine. We have been giving her eggs, mealworms, 20% protein chick feed and water and curdled milk.
DH was worried she would get out and wander the house, but she doesn't and her cage is always open. If the kids get a bit noisy around her, she tells them to pipe down! Even DH comes by and talks to her, and he doesn't really like my chickens, except when the arrive on the plate.
I'm not sure yet how I am going to reintegrate them into the flock...
