New Jersey

[llandry]

OMG these will surely do the trick! I'll start thinking of a name

The pictures worked!!!! Yeah me!

 

[kahlua]

I've read the "what is broody" thread a lot and even searched it on the intranet. Everything i read about it tends to use the word in the definition which really doesn't help. Is broody when a hen decides she wants to sit on eggs to hatch them? Why is this such a bad thing? Can't you just reach under her and get the egg? I'm blonde, am i asking a really dumb question?

Yes - the bad part is that she stops laying for as long as she's broody. And for a while after...I think...because she's in momma mode and not breeding mode. This is my first broody hen so I'm still learning! I only have the two marans hens, so if one is broody that really cuts down on my eggs If it was anyone else I wouldn't mind but I have plans for those marans girls this spring!!!
I've read about a few tricks to break broodiness in that thread so I'll give them a try.
I really would have expected one of my silkies to go broody first - go figure!!!

 

[NJchixs]

The pictures worked!!!! Yeah me!

 

[NJchixs]

Yes - the bad part is that she stops laying for as long as she's broody. And for a while after...I think...because she's in momma mode and not breeding mode. This is my first broody hen so I'm still learning! I only have the two marans hens, so if one is broody that really cuts down on my eggs If it was anyone else I wouldn't mind but I have plans for those marans girls this spring!!!
I've read about a few tricks to break broodiness in that thread so I'll give them a try.
I really would have expected one of my silkies to go broody first - go figure!!!

Yeah that's not going to be good for spring chicks.

 

[ben is a terror]

Congrats!!!!!

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Alright six chicks are out but I had to help three out of the six :-( They are doing well but this hatch has been so disappointing. I think something has just been very off with my humidity and/or temperature and I need a new thermometer and hygrometer. Usually I just add water the same way and don't have problems with hatches.

Anyone have any suggestions for a reliable thermometer/hygrometer? I don't want to break the bank but I'd like something fairly reliable. I checked tractor supply today and no luck!

 

[NJchixs]

Alright six chicks are out but I had to help three out of the six :-( They are doing well but this hatch has been so disappointing. I think something has just been very off with my humidity and/or temperature and I need a new thermometer and hygrometer. Usually I just add water the same way and don't have problems with hatches.

Anyone have any suggestions for a reliable thermometer/hygrometer? I don't want to break the bank but I'd like something fairly reliable. I checked tractor supply today and no luck!

Sorry hatch isn't going as planned. I was going to pick up an extra one from petsmart. They have some in the reptile section.

 

[kahlua]

I have two of these - I think they're pretty accurate, at least in that price range!
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-00325...64006133&sr=8-2&keywords=thermometer+humidity

I also have a water wiggler (one of those kids' toys). I have another thermometer with a probe and I put that in the middle of the water wiggler - that goes in the incubator to simulate the temperature inside an egg. Or I've heard of people filling plastic eggs with hair gel and using it that way.
This is the one I use for that...
http://www.amazon.com/Taylor-1522-I...006254&sr=8-4&keywords=thermometer+with+probe

 

[Chickerdoodle13]

Awesome kahla! I'm going to order the first one and try that out. I think it's more the humidity that's off, but my parents turn the heat on and off depending on whether they are in the basement, so I think that's a contributing factor to why it's been wonky.

I really hope the eggs you gave me do ok. I will order that thermometer tonight and hopefully will have it by sunday of next week to adjust my humidity. I plan to set another round of my eggs after these bunch finish up. I'm not giving up that easily!

 

[mame1616]

Quote:
Yes, that's generally what happens, and no, it's not a dumb question. As far as the hen is concerned, she's laid her clutch and is now settling down to incubate - even if there are no eggs under her. There are lots of tricks to "break" a broody. You can search for them here on BYC. My method is to separate the hen in the basement alone, no food, just water, in a wire-bottomed cage. She usually breaks in about 24 hours. The birds that go broody the most are the ones you don't want to go broody!




PS - Ginny - no naked necks that I saw, but lots of beautiful birds. Some great bantams in the sale area, which is a good size bigger than in previous years. A new person is in charge, and he wants the sale area to grow. Bring money! These are good quality birds, so expect to pay more. The bantams I looked at were $20 each. A bargain for their lineage, but not hatchery prices.