Illinois...

[Molpet]

I LOVE this video!!!


I like the pvc pipe one. If you could figure out how to add a door tonone end, that would be icing in the cake! But after last years hawk attack, im leary of chicken wire. I'd have to use hardware cloth on the side and then maybe chicken wire on top. Hawks not going to be able to reach that far down to grab. I'd probably add my tarp i got for the old one that was destroyed to the top for shade.

only thing I use chicken wire for is to contain chickens.... although I have it floppy around the garde... watching out the window one night, a coon tried to climb it and flopped the way he came from.. of course he just climbed up the chain link into the chicken yard... and then around back over the chainlink into the garden... chickens were locked in the coops

 

[Faraday40]

Guess who adopted the new chicks?

NO. Not the dog (although he really likes the "treats" they make and is always watching over them).

It's our little, broody OEG.
It was a little crazy at 1st b/c the chicks loved to peck at her big, shiny eyes. They were practically attacking her!

The heating pad is in place for the overflow chicks. I'm going to keep them inside, though.

Also.... Cookie is going broody! Looks like I'll have my master broody for all the school chicks!

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Also.... Cookie is going broody! Looks like I'll have my master broody for all the school chicks!

Going to have to take another one of those pics with her trying to contain them all!!

 

[Faraday40]

Going to have to take another one of those pics with her trying to contain them all!!

Digger is an inexperienced broody. The heating pad is needed as a back up. I did the same with Cookie, but she rarely needed the heating pad. She never allowed her chicks more than 6" away from her.

In a couple days, Cookie can go from this:
(non broody)

to this:
(broody = her more frequent state)

....and a week later this:

 

[Molpet]

I have another broody.. a white cx mix has been in the nest box for 2 days. Yesterday a hen ran her out and she went back right away. She did move in between to another box but as soon as hers was open she went in.. Fortunately it is in an aux pen so I can shut the others out.
So The turkey hen will get turkey eggs and this one will get some of the white laced red cornish I have in the incubator... if any hatch, they are shipped eggs

 

[Molpet]

Digger is an inexperienced broody. The heating pad is needed as a back up. I did the same with Cookie, but she rarely needed the heating pad. She never allowed her chicks more than 6" away from her.

In a couple days, Cookie can go from this:
(non broody)
View attachment 1743198

to this:
(broody = her more frequent state)
View attachment 1743199

....and a week later this:
View attachment 1743200 View attachment 1743201

those looks

 

[homeschoolin momma]

those looks

I know, I love cookie's non broody head cocked to the side as to say "what treats did you bring me?"

 

[Faraday40]

I have another broody.. a white cx mix has been in the nest box for 2 days. Yesterday a hen ran her out and she went back right away. She did move in between to another box but as soon as hers was open she went in.. Fortunately it is in an aux pen so I can shut the others out.
So The turkey hen will get turkey eggs and this one will get some of the white laced red cornish I have in the incubator... if any hatch, they are shipped eggs

Musical nest boxes is always a fun game!

 

[Faraday40]

those looks

I know, I love cookie's non broody head cocked to the side as to say "what treats did you bring me?"

Cookie's one of my favs and getting on in years. (5 1/2 yrs) I'm sad to say that she's been laying thin shelled eggs this spring. I'm very grateful she's broody now b/c I won't have to worry about eggs from her for a couple months. When this happened to DS's former leghorn, we put her down to prevent flock egg eating. Not sure if I could do it to Cookie. She's a great mama & I'd be fine if she stopped laying. I just wish for no more nasty egg mess in the nest boxes or the tragedy of a flock of egg eaters.

Has anyone else had this issue with an older hen? I'm thinking about giving her extra snacks laced with calcium supplements. It's possible she's eating mostly chicks feed (in the small, low to ground feeder) rather than than the layer feed in the big community feeder.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

Has anyone else had this issue with an older hen?

You know my oldest is only 3, so I dont yet have those issues yet, but I would go with your ideas of calcium laced treats. If you can pound those eggshells fine enough, or oyster shells, i would put them in a slice of bread just for her. She doesnt strike me as chubby or anything so I think she would be okay with the extra treats. The only other thing I could tell you is that if she's a fairly regular layer (which at 5 I don't think she is too regular) you could put her in one of the dog crates for egg laying time. I did that when all those rooster injured hens had their sides tore open this winter. Two at a time. I could tell when they got antsy and popped them in for an hour. Sure enough egg. Sometimes if i didnt seal the top of the cage well enough, little miss sportzington would hop out, lay her egg in the carrier and then hop back in for a snack! She was well trained once she healed!