Illinois...

[BReeder!]

good boy Jasp!


This was my black orp Lila. It literally took this hen over 2 mo to get her babies. She had only been my second broody so it took me a week or so to realize that's what she wanted. (I've gotten better now, thank goodness ) I kept putting eggs under her I though would be black or lav and she would sit for a few days and then completely change nests. so finally, I had to go out every two hours or so and make sure she was sitting on the right one and move her if she wasn't. For 3 weeks. Everyday. I dont know who was happier, her or me.

I wouldn't know how to tell if I have a broody either. I wish I had one 2 weeks ago when I set eggs though. That incubator is just pulling power when I could be using chicken power.

 

[BReeder!]

wow

I candled my 12 turkey and all seem to be developing.
The mama hen has been sitting a few days. I was running out every 15 to see if she was off the nest to swap eggs....so when she took a break Yesterday I swapped out the turkey eggs... of course she went back to a different spot where she had a nest last year .. so the eggs went back to the bator.... a half hour later the power went out. only for an hour
It was hot in the coop and she was in a solid metal dog cage, from a shelter. She moved to between it and the hoop coop wall where I had some bait eggs. Later she moved back to the cage and sat on nothing . I gave her one egg she had and she didn't attack , pulled it in under her. She will get another chance later.

So I figured I better get the shade cloth up while she is making up her mind. About all I got accomplished yesterday.

I wanted to get my old chicken coop and greenhouse taken down, move two raised beds, spread compost and till the garden yesterday evening. I certainly set the bar high, but we never seem to be able to get the work done on time... I only got the greenhouse and half the old coop down. I still need to move two beds, spread compost and till. Additionally I decided I need to construct a 3 bin compost setup with some of the repurposed wood. I totally understand what it's like to not get enough done in a day, and the list just gets longer.

 

[Molpet]

move her if she wasn't.

turkey hens are harder to move... a different one has been sitting late laying out in the poultry yard, she's not broody. So far she has destroyed an egg carton and a tee shirt I was trying to move her with. They turn into a snake LOL

 

[homeschoolin momma]

They turn into a snake LOL

I had a breeding pair of eastern wild turkeys. She was the sweetest thing. Followed me everywhere like a puppy to the point of annoyance sometimes. I'd be cleaning the pasture from the sheep, and I'd take a step back and step on her. I'd pick her up, set her on the feed through, go back to work, and then squish! Step on her again! Her mate would also follow me (or her I probably should say) but not get so close I'd step on him.

 

[BReeder!]

I had a breeding pair of eastern wild turkeys. She was the sweetest thing. Followed me everywhere like a puppy to the point of annoyance sometimes. I'd be cleaning the pasture from the sheep, and I'd take a step back and step on her. I'd pick her up, set her on the feed through, go back to work, and then squish! Step on her again! Her mate would also follow me (or her I probably should say) but not get so close I'd step on him.

Our chickens follow us all over the yard. All were just within a few feet of me yesterday trailing as I walked around doing yard work.

 

[Faraday40]

Our chickens follow us all over the yard. All were just within a few feet of me yesterday trailing as I walked around doing yard work.

We call it a "chicken train." They love to follow me back to the garden area.

 

[Molpet]

I had a breeding pair of eastern wild turkeys. She was the sweetest thing. Followed me everywhere like a puppy to the point of annoyance sometimes. I'd be cleaning the pasture from the sheep, and I'd take a step back and step on her. I'd pick her up, set her on the feed through, go back to work, and then squish! Step on her again! Her mate would also follow me (or her I probably should say) but not get so close I'd step on him.

cool on the wilds

I don't handle my birds because it is too hard when it comes time to process them. So they are all wild things LOL I have a couple chickens, from the brooder days, that jump up on me and are tame. But the last couple of years they are all raised by a broody hen.

Had a nice lady drive over an hour to get some of my almost year old black laying hens and three almost 2yr cinnamon queens I threw in. She got a good deal. I think that is the last that aren't part cx. Except for older ones. Still have 40 hens I think.
I liked her so gave her some turkey eggs too. No one seems to want to buy turkey eggs around here and I didn't want them to go to waste. People have them for sale for more and less but they aren't selling either. She just set some goose eggs so it's good timing to add the turkey. I have a buddy that wants the older ones for eating though. Seems like a waste to not hatch them.

 

[BReeder!]

We call it a "chicken train." They love to follow me back to the garden area.

Speaking of gardens, I got a 3 bin compost setup built today. The chickens were allowed into the garden to scavenge while I was working out there. They took full advantage of the freshly turned compost to find bugs and yummy (to the chickens at least) bits. The scratched all over the ground were my compost wad previously and also got on top of the 3ft pile after I moved or compost heap to the new bin. They were testing my patience as they kept getting in the way while I was using a pitchfork to turn and move the compost.

On another note, I had to add water to my incubator and decided to candle 1 turkey egg again and was questionable the other day. It is definitely a dud. The others are nearly completely blocking the light now. This particular one was glowing bright still. I cracked it before tossing it to be sure and it was an undeveloped yolk. That leaves 10 turkey eggs in the incubator still that are developing nicely from what I can see. 10 is plenty for me and that's still 10/12 fertile and developing. If I had the space I would fill the whole incubator with turkey eggs and grow them for meat. I am surprised nobody is interested in buying them from you @Molpet . Would people buy Turkey hatchlings? They sell for $10 I think through Farm and Fleet. You might be able to sell for that as organic, locally and humanely raised and skim a little profit.

 

[Molpet]

Speaking of gardens, I got a 3 bin compost setup built today. The chickens were allowed into the garden to scavenge while I was working out there. They took full advantage of the freshly turned compost to find bugs and yummy (to the chickens at least) bits. The scratched all over the ground were my compost wad previously and also got on top of the 3ft pile after I moved or compost heap to the new bin. They were testing my patience as they kept getting in the way while I was using a pitchfork to turn and move the compost.

On another note, I had to add water to my incubator and decided to candle 1 turkey egg again and was questionable the other day. It is definitely a dud. The others are nearly completely blocking the light now. This particular one was glowing bright still. I cracked it before tossing it to be sure and it was an undeveloped yolk. That leaves 10 turkey eggs in the incubator still that are developing nicely from what I can see. 10 is plenty for me and that's still 10/12 fertile and developing. If I had the space I would fill the whole incubator with turkey eggs and grow them for meat. I am surprised nobody is interested in buying them from you @Molpet . Would people buy Turkey hatchlings? They sell for $10 I think through Farm and Fleet. You might be able to sell for that as organic, locally and humanely raised and skim a little profit.

They might buy poults, I will be trying to sell some. F&F sell the BB . Usually heritage go for $12-15 but other people are having trouble selling this year.. I think the weather has something to do with it

 

[BReeder!]

I wanted to get my old chicken coop and greenhouse taken down, move two raised beds, spread compost and till the garden yesterday evening. I certainly set the bar high, but we never seem to be able to get the work done on time... I only got the greenhouse and half the old coop down. I still need to move two beds, spread compost and till. Additionally I decided I need to construct a 3 bin compost setup with some of the repurposed wood. I totally understand what it's like to not get enough done in a day, and the list just gets longer.

Old chicken coop is completely torn down and 3 bin compost setup is built. I still need to move the 2 raised beds, spread compost and till. Yhis is going to run into the weekend I think. So much for trying to due it all yesterday evening...