MJ's little flock

[BY Bob]

Was that spot next to the wall? The prime roosting spot in my coop is right snuggled up to the wall. I believe that is the case for the @RoyalChick Chicken Palace as well.

It was close to a wall but not next to one.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[MaryJanet]

Mary has been broody for a couple of days. She persists even though for two nights I've carried her to the coop and put her on the roost.

Normally I'm at ease letting broodies sit until time's up, but I had to be in Melbourne yesterday and didn't get home until near dark, so wasn't home for their dinner time. I was discouraging Mary in the hope she might snap out of it like she has in the past, and be a compliant chook at dinner time for my brother. In the end, no such luck.

Today I'm going to move her from the laundry basket nest to the little coop nest with lots of deep fresh straw and ask the neighbours for four eggs. The little coop nest can be enclosed at night and is safer from any foxes who might dig under and into the run (which doesn't have its paved apron yet).

So it's get eggs and cross fingers time, but with Mary instead of Ivy.

 

[BY Bob]

Mary has been broody for a couple of days. She persists even though for two nights I've carried her to the coop and put her on the roost.

Normally I'm at ease letting broodies sit until time's up, but I had to be in Melbourne yesterday and didn't get home until near dark, so wasn't home for their dinner time. I was discouraging Mary in the hope she might snap out of it like she has in the past, and be a compliant chook at dinner time for my brother. In the end, no such luck.

Today I'm going to move her from the laundry basket nest to the little coop nest with lots of deep fresh straw and ask the neighbours for four eggs. The little coop nest can be enclosed at night and is safer from any foxes who might dig under and into the run (which doesn't have its paved apron yet).

So it's get eggs and cross fingers time, but with Mary instead of Ivy.

Mary is a bit of a miracle girl. She deserves a chance to set. I am sad that my poor Ivy won't get a chance.

 

[MaryJanet]

Mary is a bit of a miracle girl. She deserves a chance to set. I am sad that my poor Ivy won't get a chance.

Ivy may yet have a turn if it doesn't work out for Mary.

There are a lot of things that could go wrong.

 

[MaryJanet]

I've taken the time to refresh all three nests with new straw and given the little coop a thorough clean out. I've also hung a piece of lattice above the wine barrel nest in the hope it might become attractive to the hens and provide a meaningful alternative to the other two nests.

I've blocked the entry to the laundry basket in the hope Mary will decide to sit in the little coop instead. If she does, I'll ask the folks up the street who keep Rocky the rooster for a few eggs. If Mary decides all the fresh straw is enough to put her off being broody then I'll just have to wait a little longer for Ivy.

ETA that was easier than expected, Mary moved to the little coop almost immediately.

 

[LozzyR]

I've taken the time to refresh all three nests with new straw and given the little coop a thorough clean out. I've also hung a piece of lattice above the wine barrel nest in the hope it might become attractive to the hens and provide a meaningful alternative to the other two nests.

I've blocked the entry to the laundry basket in the hope Mary will decide to sit in the little coop instead. If she does, I'll ask the folks up the street who keep Rocky the rooster for a few eggs. If Mary decides all the fresh straw is enough to put her off being broody then I'll just have to wait a little longer for Ivy.

ETA that was easier than expected, Mary moved to the little coop almost immediately.

Egg-citing!

 

[BY Bob]

Ivy may yet have a turn if it doesn't work out for Mary.

There are a lot of things that could go wrong.

Sadly that is true. I am rooting for Mary though. I hope it goes well.

 

[ManueB]

I've taken the time to refresh all three nests with new straw and given the little coop a thorough clean out. I've also hung a piece of lattice above the wine barrel nest in the hope it might become attractive to the hens and provide a meaningful alternative to the other two nests.

I've blocked the entry to the laundry basket in the hope Mary will decide to sit in the little coop instead. If she does, I'll ask the folks up the street who keep Rocky the rooster for a few eggs. If Mary decides all the fresh straw is enough to put her off being broody then I'll just have to wait a little longer for Ivy.

ETA that was easier than expected, Mary moved to the little coop almost immediately.

What a surprise! A lot of excitement ...and worry to come. Do you think it means she is completely back to health ?

 

[MaryJanet]

What a surprise! A lot of excitement ...and worry to come. Do you think it means she is completely back to health ?

I'm never sure about things like that. It's so hard to tell. Twice now the vet has had to open them up before he really knew what was going on, and he's a specialist.

Certainly she thinks she's well enough to set. I'll take her word for it. Whether she lasts the distance remains to be seen.

Last Summer, Ivy and Peggy sat on 4 eggs from Rocky and the hens, two were infertile, one half-hatched, the other didn't develop all the way through to hatching. Then the one that half-hatched was immediately squashed to death by Peggy.

If Mary makes it to the end and has one or two chicks, Peggy will not be allowed near them until they're running fast and they know the hiding places.