Current news from my end of the coop.
The sixth and hopefully last of my broody hens finally hatched a single chick after being on and off a nest for the past four weeks. It also appears that she is molting. She is doing okay, just appears to be stressed.
She is still sitting on the eggs. who know if another will hatch out or not. After a hen sits for so long. I tend to root for at least one chick to hatch so that the hen will be rewarded for her effort. I am really happy to see this chick.
Currently I am only getting about four eggs a day out of sixteen hens. not a good average, but if you consider the 6 hens of about 3 years of age and the 5 current hens tending chicks, I guess that is about right. Tends to suck with the same amout of feed as when I was getting four to five dozen eggs a week.
With the new chicks comming along, I guess it is time to remove the "dumpling girls" sometime this winter. I need to clean out the freezer first.
I bought some new wood chips to go into the litter for this winter. Just waiting for a good time to clean out some of the old an put in the new. I think I will include a second dusting of DE at that time as well. I did the DE dusting about the middle of August to insure the reduction of flys and other potential pests in the litter.
I have an aquaintance who wants some chicken poop to fertalize his potted plants for this winter. I broke down and told him I would give him a feed bag full. I ought to sell it but there is potential for a further trade. Who knows, "cast your bread upon the waters" .
Nothing more from this end of the coop. Hope you'all have dry litter and a full feed bin.
