MJ's little flock

[Perris]

I would leave them. Tragic yes, but the alternative is that you would have to raise any that hatched, and the whole point of this exercise is to give Mary the experience of being a broody, not you

 

[BDutch]

Maybe we didn't understand each other?

I was imagining a scenario in which Mary does well for most of the incubation but quits before the end. What would you do with the eggs in that situation?

Never happened in my flock with a single broody or two broodies on a single nest.

I had two broodies once on two nests next to each other and gave them both 5 eggs. Then one day halfway incubation one broody left her eggs to sit together with the other hen and left ‘her’ eggs . The eggs were ice-cold and I tossed them. If I had an incubator (and running) I might have given it a try.
The preferred nest with 2 broodies hatched 3 bantam RIR. 2 females. At the time I thought the outcome was okay. But unfortunately one young hen disappeared while she was free ranging. Katrientje is the one hen that’s still with us.

 

[MaryJanet]

Here's the lady herself. I put two false eggs under her chin an hour ago and she's taken them on.

I've put whole mini bale of straw in the roosting compartment, it's very thick on the floor. Next time I see her off the nest, I'll move her eggs across and give her time to adjust to the roosting area as a nest.

If she's ok with that, the nesting box section would serve very well as a water and eating section for very young chicks.

 

[Perris]

her plumage is stunning
Good luck with this!

 

[MaryJanet]

her plumage is stunning
Good luck with this!

Thank you. What will be, will be.

She is a very beautiful hen. Sometimes her iridescence is purple, sometimes green. She has enormous spurs and the sweetest disposition of all the hens.

 

[MaryJanet]

Just a short note to thank everyone for their advice, enthusiasm and support - I'm very grateful.

 

[MaryJanet]

Next weekend's list (in case I forget anything)

• Rake the run
• Sweep with the magnet
• Take the ramp from the old little coop and put it in Mary's Hatchery
• Clean up the chicken fencing panels and get more if needs be
• Start setting up the Peggy exclusion zone
• Place water and food for Mary in the Peggy exclusion zone
• Assuming Mary's nest is in the roosting compartment by then, place a sheet of ply in the nest box
• Prepare the feeding station in the nest box
• Get chick crumbles
• Set up some form of shade over the nesting area.

Can someone suggest the weight of chick crumbles required? Would 20kg be excessive?

 

[RoyalChick]

Next weekend's list (in case I forget anything)

• Rake the run
• Sweep with the magnet
• Take the ramp from the old little coop and put it in Mary's Hatchery
• Clean up the chicken fencing panels and get more if needs be
• Start setting up the Peggy exclusion zone
• Place water and food for Mary in the Peggy exclusion zone
• Assuming Mary's nest is in the roosting compartment by then, place a sheet of ply in the nest box
• Prepare the feeding station in the nest box
• Get chick crumbles
• Set up some form of shade over the nesting area.

Can someone suggest the weight of chick crumbles required? Would 20kg be excessive?

That is definitely way more than you will need. But of course the older girls will love left-over crumble if you make it into mash.

 

[MaryJanet]

That is definitely way more than you will need. But of course the older girls will love left-over crumble if you make it into mash.

Good idea!

 

[RoyalChick]

Good idea!

Personally I would get a smaller bag if it is available, but if not then you know you can use up the leftovers.