Michigan Thread - all are welcome!

[Sally PB]

My serial broody, Widget, is doing the same thing. Jubilee Orpington. She is "pinking up," but I don't think she's laying.

But she isn't broody either, so there's that.

 

[Chickin Fairy]

Congrats. All babies are adorable and hard to resist, but there is something about those little chipmunk stripes

Anyone had a 15 month old go broody to never lay again? My RIR (now 2 years old) who was broody last July hasn't laid since. It took over a week to break her broodiness, then she molted in August. I figured early-ish molt, and dropping daylight hours, fine no eggs. But it is now nearly April, everyone else has resumed egg laying, even my hen who molted through January, into February. I'm still hoping that given time she will, but her comb is very pale still.

Oye! So sorry to hear this! Have you given her a good once-over? Checked her vent, checked under her wings for mites? Is there someone bullying her out of the nest? Could she possibly be laying somewhere you don't know about?

 

[1muttsfan]

Yes I love them little chipmunks too

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Congrats. All babies are adorable and hard to resist, but there is something about those little chipmunk stripes

Anyone had a 15 month old go broody to never lay again? My RIR (now 2 years old) who was broody last July hasn't laid since. It took over a week to break her broodiness, then she molted in August. I figured early-ish molt, and dropping daylight hours, fine no eggs. But it is now nearly April, everyone else has resumed egg laying, even my hen who molted through January, into February. I'm still hoping that given time she will, but her comb is very pale still.

I hope your hen will be ok

 

[TheDandyLion]

Maybe there is hope then.

Oye! So sorry to hear this! Have you given her a good once-over? Checked her vent, checked under her wings for mites? Is there someone bullying her out of the nest? Could she possibly be laying somewhere you don't know about?

She actually looks in better condition than last year. Her tail feathers last year were more frizzled than this year. She looks fuller and has a very nice color and shiny. Her comb is pale and not plump. But I do need to grab her and check her vent again. Its been a couple of weeks.

There really isn't anywhere she can lay that I wouldn't find them. They only get free range time when I'm out to watch them. We have a nearby eagle's nest.

I don't see her looking at the nests, everyone else comes in and checks them out when I change or fluff the nesting material. She doesn't seem to care. It's like I broke her completely but putting her in broody jail last year for sitting.

 

[chickflick]

It's nice to see you back in chickens, Laura. I know you enjoyed having them before. Nice to see you back on BYC, too.

 

[Hillbilly Hen]

Thanks Rose. I have missed them and y'all. I can't believe it's been 13?? years since I've had chickens. I've had to re educate myself lol. I don't remember brooding chicks in the coop during " winter" so I've been worried about the chicks getting too cold. I went out at 2:30 this morning to lower the heat lamp. Was scared I would see a bear on my way out lol. I have a little camera in the brooder so I can better keep an eye out on the temperature.

 

[1muttsfan]

I don't think that breaking broodiness will cause any long-term laying issues.

 

[Sally PB]

^^I hope not. My broody was my best layer at one point. Nowhere close to that now.

 

[talkinboutchickens]

The new family farm and home store opened today in Fremont. I ended up coming home with 4 chicks. Two black Australorps and two welsummers. I have been waiting for the black Australorps to come in at the Newaygo store so I was happy to find them today. And so begins my adventure back to the chicken life.

ADORABLE!!!!