Inconvenient egg laying

[JedJackson]

We've actually had 3 different Golden Comets hatch out this year. I've always read they are seldom broody, but that's not been my experience. The other two hens hatched 6 chicks each back in the spring?

Interesting. Golden Comets are a cross between production Rhode Island Reds and white Leghorns, neither of which goes broody often, especially not the Leghorns. So I'm a little surprised but hey, it's always nice to get free chicks.

 

[luvmigirls]

Those hens sure are tricky to trick them into accepting a new 'nest' location. I always wait till DARK. move a couple of the eggs first, then put a blanket over the hen, and transfer her onto the eggs. and then move the rest of the eggs under her in new location. When its dark she has no choice but to hunker down. sometimes I keep the towel over her till morning because of her desire to stand up after being moved. but make sure you are out there at daybreak to remove the towel, wait any longer and shell 'see' it and may try and move away. Ive successfully done this 3 times.

 

[aart]

The new brooder is just the old "amferro103" design on a little larger scale.

This one?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/amferro103s-homemade-chicken-brooder.47990/

It's a nice design.....would like to see a mesh front tho.

 

[Dmontgomery]

Interesting. Golden Comets are a cross between production Rhode Island Reds and white Leghorns, neither of which goes broody often, especially not the Leghorns. So I'm a little surprised but hey, it's always nice to get free chicks.

I also had 3 out of 5 RIR hens go broody and hatch out this spring. Like I've said before, I think all of my chickens are defective.

 

[Dmontgomery]

Those hens sure are tricky to trick them into accepting a new 'nest' location. I always wait till DARK. move a couple of the eggs first, then put a blanket over the hen, and transfer her onto the eggs. and then move the rest of the eggs under her in new location. When its dark she has no choice but to hunker down. sometimes I keep the towel over her till morning because of her desire to stand up after being moved. but make sure you are out there at daybreak to remove the towel, wait any longer and shell 'see' it and may try and move away. Ive successfully done this 3 times.

That's how we moved her to the coop the other night. We put the lid on the plastic container late after dark. We've done it before and the hens usually use the container for a couple weeks until the chicks are big enough to hop up to a nesting box before being weaned.

 

[Dmontgomery]

This one?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/amferro103s-homemade-chicken-brooder.47990/

It's a nice design.....would like to see a mesh front tho.

Yep, that's the one. I'm making it with 19ga 1/2" HC on all sides. Only the bottom will be plywood. I ripped some plywood to place over the front and sides for protection from cold winds if needed though. I'll be posting pics soon. Everybody locally is out of 36" HC so I had to order from Amazon yesterday.

 

[User395221]

You make me feel better. I thought I was indulgent, but I'm laid back and neglectful compared to you.

 

[Priscilla's mom]

I loved your story. Living in a rural area, where my husbands family of farmers goes back 3 generations in this tiny town, homesteaded by his ancsestors 200 years ago, the culture here is pretty much set in stone. Chickens here are considered to be "poultry"...period. I, however am a city girl transplant, and I LOVE my chickens. It's fun to see my big burly husband soften his heart towards my girls. After a way too close for comfort run in with a hawk last August, he spent his Sep. building a very safe chicken "palace". So now we both are the recipients of amused and bemused smirks and chuckles from the locals, most of whom are family. So it was nice to hear of your experience. These girls mean so much more to me than providing breakfast Thanks for sharing!

 

[Dmontgomery]

I loved your story. Living in a rural area, where my husbands family of farmers goes back 3 generations in this tiny town, homesteaded by his ancsestors 200 years ago, the culture here is pretty much set in stone. Chickens here are considered to be "poultry"...period. I, however am a city girl transplant, and I LOVE my chickens. It's fun to see my big burly husband soften his heart towards my girls. After a way too close for comfort run in with a hawk last August, he spent his Sep. building a very safe chicken "palace". So now we both are the recipients of amused and bemused smirks and chuckles from the locals, most of whom are family. So it was nice to hear of your experience. These girls mean so much more to me than providing breakfast Thanks for sharing!

It's very similar here. We are 30 miles in any direction from an actual city. Some folks here don't even have coops, much less covered runs. The chickens roost in the trees or wherever. When I built our new coop last year my mother in law thought I was building her a place to come stay with us. People come to visit and just roll their eyes at what we've done for the chickens.

 

[Dmontgomery]

You make me feel better. I thought I was indulgent, but I'm laid back and neglectful compared to you.

Yeah, I'm usually comic relief everywhere I go. A shining example of what not to do!