MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

It's been more than a month since her last egg, is that soon? I thought it was about right.

Phyllis was 4 weeks between eggs when she went broody and she laid many eggs once she started. It was like she had been backed up.

 

[BY Bob]

I'm sure she would have because that's normal. She was 1.7kg yesterday but I don't know what she weighed before. I asked about her weight and Mark wasn't concerned about it.

If a hen kept her weight while setting I'd be worried because that is not right.

It would be surprising for certain.

 

[MaryJanet]

It would be surprising for certain.

I think 1.7kg is about right for a hen of Ivy's size who's been setting, maybe 1.8 would be ideal and 1.9 would be generously proportioned.

She's not big like Mary nor stocky like Janet.

 

[MaryJanet]

Phyllis was 4 weeks between eggs when she went broody and she laid many eggs once she started. It was like she had been backed up.

Ivy usually lays lots of eggs in a blast too! Now she's started, I'm expecting around 5 this week. She might slow down to 4 the week after.

 

[Lexicon]

I have most often discouraged my hens, mostly because two of my broodies get in fights with their flockmates when they are broody and it seems to set them all on edge.
My last broody before winter I let sit the whole time and was particularly worried about how she would reintegrate because she was quite agitated when off the nest if anyone came near her. It was either a non-event or they took care of it when I wasn't watching because one night she was just calmly roosted with everyone like nothing had happened.

 

[MaryJanet]

I have most often discouraged my hens, mostly because two of my broodies get in fights with their flockmates when they are broody and it seems to set them all on edge.
My last broody before winter I let sit the whole time and was particularly worried about how she would reintegrate because she was quite agitated when off the nest if anyone came near her. It was either a non-event or they took care of it when I wasn't watching because one night she was just calmly roosted with everyone like nothing had happened.

Chicken behaviour is fascinating! Ivy got on the roost last night like nothing had happened. Janet wasn't so sure, but Ivy did her best to ignore her. It was a very funny "this isn't happening, tra la la" moment!

 

[micstrachan]

Little Ivy had to be lifted off the nest so I could confiscate her eggs.

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She sat there for maybe 15 minutes before grabbing a few snacks.

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And having a really thorough scratch!

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Now the eggs are gone, I'll check how long she's been sitting and think about encouraging her to spend more time on her feet on less on the nest.

MJ, I haven’t been able to keep up, as I have a lot going on in my life at the moment, but I’ve been trying to peek in to see if there was ever a successful hatch. I assume there was not. I’m sorry. Hugs.

 

[MaryJanet]

MJ, I haven’t been able to keep up, as I have a lot going on in my life at the moment, but I’ve been trying to peek in to see if there was ever a successful hatch. I assume there was not. I’m sorry. Hugs.

I know how hectic you are! I hope everything is going as well as it can.

Sadly, Peggy trod on a half-hatched chick and killed it. Maybe this was due to her and Ivy's inexperience and to the hatch being unnecessarily complicated by the two of them sitting together. I called the little one Magnus and buried him under an agapanthus (he had a very clear comb, so I decided he was a boy).

The other fertile egg never tried to hatch, so I assume the chick never fully developed.

I'll try again next summer with six eggs and only one hen allowed to sit on them.

 

[micstrachan]

I know how hectic you are! I hope everything is going as well as it can.

Sadly, Peggy trod on a half-hatched chick and killed it. Maybe this was due to her and Ivy's inexperience and to the hatch being unnecessarily complicated by the two of them sitting together. I called the little one Magnus and buried him under an agapanthus (he had a very clear comb, so I decided he was a boy).

The other fertile egg never tried to hatch, so I assume the chick never fully developed.

I'll try again next summer with six eggs and only one hen allowed to sit on them.

OK. I did keep up to speed on poor Magnus. I just never heard what happened with the second egg. Or I guess, what didn’t happen. Maybe next year!

 

[MaryJanet]

OK. I did keep up to speed on poor Magnus. I just never heard what happened with the second egg. Or I guess, what didn’t happen. Maybe next year!

That's right! You did too! I had forgotten you knew about the squashed chick.