Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[bigmrg74]

Also, I've got a question as well. How long would a broody hen need to sit before she would accept some chicks that you popped in under her as her babies? also noticed that both stores had chicks in on Sunday, and I'm kinda thinking about getting some more. And I also think that another one of my buffs is going broody on me. I'm kinda tempted to isolate her in a separate coop that I have, maybe put a dog house in that to be the nest area, and then popping some chicks in under her to let her be a momma. I'm just wondering what would I need to do to make that all work??

 

[RaZ]

I've been finding quite a few soft shelled eggs in the poo boxes below the roost. I have 6 new layers. Is that pretty common to find?

Don't forget to have a calcium supplement available for them. Oyster shell or crushed clean egg shells.

 

[RaZ]

Also, I've got a question as well. How long would a broody hen need to sit before she would accept some chicks that you popped in under her as her babies? also noticed that both stores had chicks in on Sunday, and I'm kinda thinking about getting some more. And I also think that another one of my buffs is going broody on me. I'm kinda tempted to isolate her in a separate coop that I have, maybe put a dog house in that to be the nest area, and then popping some chicks in under her to let her be a momma. I'm just wondering what would I need to do to make that all work??

I've done it a few times last year and this year. Most recent was 2 weeks ago when 2 were broody for 4-6 days. Slid 4 day-olds under each hen. Next morning the chicks were alone in a corner. I kept putting them back under each hen during the day. Next day all of the chicks were with one hen and the other was outside. So the BO is raising the octet and the EE is broken.
I did this earlier in the summer with a hen that was broody for nearly 2 weeks. I gave her turkey poults and she took them right away.

The moral of my story is to wait for a week or more before giving a broody live chicks.

PS This was in no way a scientific experiment. Opinions are not necessarily those of management or the advertisers. Your results may vary.

 

[1muttsfan]

I agree, I would not risk chicks under a hen that was "kinda" broody. If she is sitting tight and obviously obsessed, you could give it a shot.

 

[MIchickenlady]

Good Morning Michigander Chicken Peeps
New question...and thank you for the replies to my question about humidity.
Yes, I make sure they have shade. They seem to ignore the ice cubes, but I keep trying lol.
Today it is rainy, my girls are 5 weeks old, and I wonder if it is bad for them to be in their outdoor fenced area with it being so wet out?? They are in a big brooder box indoors at night still for protection because their coop wont be ready until this weekend.
Is is bad for chickens to be out in rainy weather? If I put a box in the outdoor area for them to get out of the rain, think that would be ok?
I hate to leave them cooped up all day, they're getting big so fast!!
Have a great day everyone.

 

[aart]

Is is bad for chickens to be out in rainy weather? If I put a box in the outdoor area for them to get out of the rain, think that would be ok?

As long as they are sheltered from wind, rain, and predators they should be fine.
Providing shelter is one thing, sometimes they are not adept at using it tho,
so keep an eye on them.

 

[RaZ]

I have quite a few that seem to enjoy being in the rain. I have lots of shelter for them but they are busy hunting for worms that the rain brings up.

 

[aart]

I have quite a few that seem to enjoy being in the rain. I have lots of shelter for them but they are busy hunting for worms that the rain brings up.

Mine too...once they get past about 6 weeks. Younger than tho not so much.

 

[1muttsfan]

My good broody mom makes sure her babies come in out of the rain. Except the first night, when she got confused, and had to be relocated in a monsoon downpour into the coop. Young birds may literally not know how to get out of the rain, so if you can't watch them to make sure they do, leave them in if rain is expected.

 

[bigmrg74]

I've done it a few times last year and this year. Most recent was 2 weeks ago when 2 were broody for 4-6 days. Slid 4 day-olds under each hen. Next morning the chicks were alone in a corner. I kept putting them back under each hen during the day. Next day all of the chicks were with one hen and the other was outside. So the BO is raising the octet and the EE is broken.
I did this earlier in the summer with a hen that was broody for nearly 2 weeks. I gave her turkey poults and she took them right away.

The moral of my story is to wait for a week or more before giving a broody live chicks.

PS This was in no way a scientific experiment. Opinions are not necessarily those of management or the advertisers. Your results may vary.

I've done it a few times last year and this year. Most recent was 2 weeks ago when 2 were broody for 4-6 days. Slid 4 day-olds under each hen. Next morning the chicks were alone in a corner. I kept putting them back under each hen during the day. Next day all of the chicks were with one hen and the other was outside. So the BO is raising the octet and the EE is broken.
I did this earlier in the summer with a hen that was broody for nearly 2 weeks. I gave her turkey poults and she took them right away.

The moral of my story is to wait for a week or more before giving a broody live chicks.

PS This was in no way a scientific experiment. Opinions are not necessarily those of management or the advertisers. Your results may vary.

Thanks! Yeah, I should be able to make that work. Sunday was probably going to be a good day to go do that. I could meet Amy at the Saline TSC and pick some up then. Then it's just a matter of putting them under the hen. That would be best to do that at night right??