MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Co-brooding?

This video makes me curious. What would happen if you open the door of the broody-coop? Maybe you don’t need to lock Mary up the whole time? It’s certainly good for Mary’s health if she can stretch her legs, gets a little sunlight and can take a dustbath once a day.

But be sure the other hens don't lay more eggs in the nest or make a fuzz. The chance of a good outcome is better with a broody left in peace.

I was explaining in earlier posts that Peggy killed a chick a couple of years ago. It wasn't even out of its shell yet.

So Mary is segregated from Peggy (and the rest of the flock), but of course they can still see each other.

From 7am to 5pm Peggy and the other hens are not in the run at all. They are in the garden and the door of the run is closed so they can't get in. Therefore, from 7am-5pm Mary has the run to herself, with the door of the broody coop open. Of course, she mostly stays on the nest, but she uses the run for her self-care sessions. Her poops are always dropped right over the other side from the maternity coop and there's always a dust-bathing hole near the lavenders, which are also over the other side.

Peggy also gives the hens a lot of violence when they're broody. She was hanging onto Mary's neck last week while Mary ran around trying to shake her off. Peggy's feet weren't even on the ground. If Peggy were a human, I would characterise her as a violent, infant-murdering psychopath and call the cops. But she's a chicken, so instead I think maybe she wants to be a rooster? And I manage her environment to prevent her from doing harm.

That's a long way of saying I'm not allowing Peggy to have access to Mary at this time. So Mary is kept away from Peggy and the other hens. Ivy and Katie are laying their eggs in a nest box I placed in the garden (the one with the double berth). There is no option for them to lay eggs in Mary's nest.

All of this was learned over the last 6 years. While I need help with the hatching part of the process, I'm used to broody hens and their special needs.

 

[MaryJanet]

Come to think of it, I will be glad when Mary is on suprelorin because if she no longer goes broody, Peggy won't attack her.

 

[MaryJanet]

One minute...

Next minute...

So, that's the Orpington eggs underway!

 

[MaryJanet]

Doesn't she look happy with those new eggs beside her! Like a kid at Christmas.

 

[BDutch]

I was explaining in earlier posts that Peggy killed a chick a couple of years ago. It wasn't even out of its shell yet.

Thanks for the reminder.
Sorry I forgot.
Your solution for this problem is wonderful. Don’t pay attention to my dilly thoughts.

 

[MaryJanet]

Thanks for the reminder.
Sorry I forgot.
Your solution for this problem is wonderful. Don’t pay attention to my dilly thoughts.

I often find on byc that I forget which thread I'm on or whose post I'm reading, so I take no offence at all when people forget who said what

The other side of the problem is that maybe Peggy should be allowed to terrorise Mary and make mayhem if that's her instinct. But I just don't feel OK about it. Mary is so gentle and Peggy is so violent. Sometimes I wish Mary would use her spurs on Peggy just once. Maybe Mary will become more assertive if she has chicks to defend.

 

[BDutch]

Maybe Mary will become more assertive if she has chicks to defend.

If Mary’s instincts work as they should, she will.
If you hate Peggy’s guts, you could try to rehome her. ?

 

[MaryJanet]

If Mary’s instincts work as they should, she will.
If you hate Peggy’s guts, you could try to rehome her. ?

I don't actually hate her, I just find her behaviour is a problem. When she was a tiny little pullet, she came to my house with Ivy and back then she used to pull Ivy's feathers out and eat them because somehow she had learned it was food. How does that happen? Only through hunger. I had to spray Ivy's but with purple stinky spray to make Peggy change her habits. So I feel sorry for Peggy.

Also she and Ivy are very close. They snuggle together every night. If I pick up Peggy off the roost, Ivy becomes very restless and starts taking action.

I also think. if Peggy went to a new home, she would have a short life because she makes such bad choices. They wouldn't put up with her. But I can use the various chicken housing options to manage her and keep her from doing harm.

 

[BDutch]

When she was a tiny little pullet, she came to my house with Ivy and back then she used to pull Ivy's feathers out and eat them because somehow she had learned it was food. How does that happen? Only through hunger.

She probably had a very ugly chick-hood. Respect you are such a loving and caring person.

 

[LozzyR]

I really hope they hatch out ok Lozzy

Me too MJ.