Maine

[superchemicalgirl]

Will she keep laying daily?? She keeps laying one in the clutch every morning.

A clutch is a group of eggs, she could still be laying an egg a day, but if she's sitting on the eggs all day and night then that's unlikely. Other chickens could be laying the eggs you're finding in there. Mark the eggs you want to hatch (I use a sharpee) and then remove all other eggs once daily.

 

[buckabucka]

Quote:


You might want to consider moving her so the others can't lay in the nest (a large cage or fenced off area), if she is still in with the others. I like to have the nest down on the ground, so the chicks can't fall out when they hatch. Have fun!

 

[casslarrabee225]

Will she still sit on them if I disturb them like that?

 

[buckabucka]

Will she still sit on them if I disturb them like that?

Well, mine did. There is a risk that she might quit on you, but I know other people have moved them successfully. I think each bird is individual. If you decide to move her, try to set up a relatively dark, quiet corner. I almost think I read that people who use a large cage cover it with a towel for a day or so, just to keep the hen calm and get her settled. Mine acted like she wanted nothing to do with the new location of the nest when I moved her, but I left her in the enclosure and she was back on the eggs when I returned not long after. Good luck with her!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Will she still sit on them if I disturb them like that?

The other thing you can do is lock her in the next box, if possible. You'll have to let her out at least once a day for 30 to 60 minutes before it gets dark so she can eat, drink and defecate. Once the chicks are 24 hours old you can take them out of the box and move them to a cage or something on the floor.

My next boxes are wooden, so I made a wooden piece with mesh wire in the middle that fit into the hole and stayed in via friction. It worked well. I have a picture of it on BYC but honestly I can't figure out where my pictures have gone off to now that we've switched to the new forum.

 

[hoppy]

your pictures can be found on the brown tab under "my profile"
if you scroll down near the bottom, you should find them

The other thing you can do is lock her in the next box, if possible. You'll have to let her out at least once a day for 30 to 60 minutes before it gets dark so she can eat, drink and defecate. Once the chicks are 24 hours old you can take them out of the box and move them to a cage or something on the floor.

My next boxes are wooden, so I made a wooden piece with mesh wire in the middle that fit into the hole and stayed in via friction. It worked well. I have a picture of it on BYC but honestly I can't figure out where my pictures have gone off to now that we've switched to the new forum.

 

[annabananaandfamily]

I am getting so excited for spring! this warmer weather must be doing something to my head.
of course in true Anna fashion I have scheduled far too many things for one day and wont be able to make the first march swap in Augusta like i hsd wanted. So save me some good LF pullets for the next one!
We picked up an order for from tractor supply in bridgton yesterday to order our first ever batch of meaties, which i find both exciting and intimidating. i am thinking of ordering a few pullets through them as well so i can have some definite egg layers. Right now we dont have any that still lay! but i also really like going to the swaps and picking out my birds and kmowing who/where they come from...anyone have any thoughts on that subject?
oh yes, i am also looking to by an incubator. not a huge one, but a decent little starter one. if you know of anyone looking to sell, let me know!

 

[hoppy]

there is a MARCH swap in augusta- where did you see this????

it's not scheduled until april but if it warms up, then i certainly am up for march swaps to start.

I am getting so excited for spring! this warmer weather must be doing something to my head.
of course in true Anna fashion I have scheduled far too many things for one day and wont be able to make the first march swap in Augusta like i hsd wanted. So save me some good LF pullets for the next one!
We picked up an order for from tractor supply in bridgton yesterday to order our first ever batch of meaties, which i find both exciting and intimidating. i am thinking of ordering a few pullets through them as well so i can have some definite egg layers. Right now we dont have any that still lay! but i also really like going to the swaps and picking out my birds and kmowing who/where they come from...anyone have any thoughts on that subject?
oh yes, i am also looking to by an incubator. not a huge one, but a decent little starter one. if you know of anyone looking to sell, let me know!

 

[annabananaandfamily]

i meant April, i promise!

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Ok, I'm confused about growing cabbage and celery and I need native Mainer's help.

Do you start these inside from seed? If so, when?

Any help is much appreciated. And buckabucka, I got my onions started today, thanks to you!