Illinois...

[BReeder!]

Another sleepless night... I'm tempted to go by melatonin gummies. I just don't get tired until early hours of the morning anymore and then still have to get up ti work (even though I work from home right now).

Anyway, what drew me back onto BYC was actually one of our new chicks. I'm pretty certain she's the olive egger. She has muffs it looks like. I assume she'll grow a beard too then. She will be the only chicken we have with this characteristic. I find it very amusing.

 

[BReeder!]

Does A-hole look broody to anybody? She pulled 4 eggs (from other hens) under herself and was sitting like this. I know she actually moved the eggs under herself because I collected the eggs and placed them in the corner of this nesting box about a half hour prior to this photo while I did some garden work (compost bins...).

 

[jerryse]

I just found out my daughter and granddaughter were exposed to the virus . They will be tested . Kind of secondhand exposure . They are near St. Louis .

 

[homeschoolin momma]

A hole doesnt necessarily look broody to me, but does she do the broody growl if you get too close? Thats a definite sign then. I find my chickens like to collect whatever eggs are in the box under themselves while laying. She may be the same way.

 

[Molpet]

I just found out my daughter and granddaughter were exposed to the virus . They will be tested . Kind of secondhand exposure . They are near St. Louis .

So sorry to hear that.
Prayers they don't have it

 

[Faraday40]

Does A-hole look broody to anybody? She pulled 4 eggs (from other hens) under herself and was sitting like this. I know she actually moved the eggs under herself because I collected the eggs and placed them in the corner of this nesting box about a half hour prior to this photo while I did some garden work (compost bins...).
View attachment 2061327

When broody, the hens really flatten out. Many hens get "grumpy" when trying to lay ..... then a human comes along and messes with them. (Some of mine may even do a slight grumble to show they're annoyed by my interruption.) Some hens spend 2+ hours in the nest (before laying and a little relaxation time after laying); others pop out the egg and move on to scratch for treats.

My guess is she's not broody. BUT If her nest time increases and she becomes more grumbly - even peck-y - she may be thinking about going broody. When she starts sleeping in the nest at night & spends 8+ hours during the day in there, you better start collecting some duck eggs or chicken eggs. I keep the eggs until a hen is all-out broody (never leaving the nest & screaming like a banshee).

Of course with a name like A-hole, you may not want her to go broody. She'd be a good protective mama, but you may lose a finger in the process.

 

[BReeder!]

When broody, the hens really flatten out. Many hens get "grumpy" when trying to lay ..... then a human comes along and messes with them. (Some of mine may even do a slight grumble to show they're annoyed by my interruption.) Some hens spend 2+ hours in the nest (before laying and a little relaxation time after laying); others pop out the egg and move on to scratch for treats.

My guess is she's not broody. BUT If her nest time increases and she becomes more grumbly - even peck-y - she may be thinking about going broody. When she starts sleeping in the nest at night & spends 8+ hours during the day in there, you better start collecting some duck eggs or chicken eggs. I keep the eggs until a hen is all-out broody (never leaving the nest & screaming like a banshee).

Of course with a name like A-hole, you may not want her to go broody. She'd be a good protective mama, but you may lose a finger in the process.

I certainly could lose a chunk of my finger if she gets too grumpy. That's a scary thought. She lets us around, but I have always been cautious when connecting eggs from under here. She has pecked me more than once.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

So I grabbed a kitchen bag, threw the garden dust with permethrin inside and began grabbing chickens and wrapping their bodies with the head sticking out for my version of shake and dust. They were not impressed. I did it outside the coop this time. So in how many days should I repeat? 3-5? And for how long??

 

[Faraday40]

These days my 7 yr old EE spends more than half the day in the coop. She's always been the flock gossip. She walks back and forth along the nest boxes and pokes her head under the other hens to check on their progress. (Like a busy-body who has to know everyone else's business.) She also guards her fav nest and won't allow others to go in it if she's going to lay an egg that day.

 

[Faraday40]

So I grabbed a kitchen bag, threw the garden dust with permethrin inside and began grabbing chickens and wrapping their bodies with the head sticking out for my version of shake and dust. They were not impressed. I did it outside the coop this time. So in how many days should I repeat? 3-5? And for how long??

You should probably notice some results by tomorrow. If the infestation was bad then you'll probably have to repeat. My guess would be to do it again in a week if you see any signs of mites. Did you clean out and then spray the coop?