Having been a chicken addict for just under a year, I did not think I would experience a broody hen so soon. Boy, was I wrong!
Renamed "The Velociraptor", my Ameraucana broody has so far taught me:
1. Ameraucanas DO go broody, unlike some chicken charts imply.
2. When you're trying to handle your rooster and your normally quiet hen attacks you, she might be broody.
3. When you try to reach under your hen and she pecks you so hard it hurts through your leather gloves, she might be broody.
4. When your hen won't get off the nest, even though she's not sitting on any eggs, she might be broody.
5. When your formerly sweet, quiet hen puffs up like a tom turkey, screeches like a tomcat, and looks like she's going to have you for dinner, she might be broody.
So, I finally figure out that I have a hen that really wants to be a broody. I set her up in her own little mini-coop, with a nice nest box, her own feed and water, and 10 donor eggs from the other girls. What do I learn next?
6. Broody poop is NASTY STUFF!!
The egg-sized ball of poop was not bad, but the two large piles of cow-pie looking stuff I have removed the last two days has been the worst smelling poop I've ever scooped! I think I'd better cut back on the BOSS I've been feeding her...
Would anyone be so kind as to let me know what other surprises I have in store? I've already decided that candling her eggs is out of the question -- I'm pretty fond of my fingers and I'd really like to keep all 10 of them.
Renamed "The Velociraptor", my Ameraucana broody has so far taught me:
1. Ameraucanas DO go broody, unlike some chicken charts imply.
2. When you're trying to handle your rooster and your normally quiet hen attacks you, she might be broody.
3. When you try to reach under your hen and she pecks you so hard it hurts through your leather gloves, she might be broody.
4. When your hen won't get off the nest, even though she's not sitting on any eggs, she might be broody.
5. When your formerly sweet, quiet hen puffs up like a tom turkey, screeches like a tomcat, and looks like she's going to have you for dinner, she might be broody.
So, I finally figure out that I have a hen that really wants to be a broody. I set her up in her own little mini-coop, with a nice nest box, her own feed and water, and 10 donor eggs from the other girls. What do I learn next?
6. Broody poop is NASTY STUFF!!
The egg-sized ball of poop was not bad, but the two large piles of cow-pie looking stuff I have removed the last two days has been the worst smelling poop I've ever scooped! I think I'd better cut back on the BOSS I've been feeding her...
Would anyone be so kind as to let me know what other surprises I have in store? I've already decided that candling her eggs is out of the question -- I'm pretty fond of my fingers and I'd really like to keep all 10 of them.