I'm a new member living in Monterey CA. I retired a few years ago from a 40 year career as a nurse. I have always wanted backyard chickens and took on the experience. I have 4 hens, two are 2 and half years old and 2 are 2 years old.
A black Australorp
An Easter egger
A Rhode Island red
and A Plymouth Rock
I have managed to solve most of my issues and obtain answers to my questions with books and internet searches but this one issue I cannot solve.
My black Australorp is a brooder (specifically chose chickens with low incidence of brooding). She goes into her brooding period EVERY 6 months. She just started another cycle.
I have a small dog metal crate (brooder breaker) that I put her in next to the pen during the day with plenty of rice straw, food and water and take her into the house at night and then repeat. She stays cool and can ruffle her feathers and act weird all she wants but cannot return to the nesting box.
This totally upsets the little flock. If I leave her on the nesting box (I have 2) to wait out the 21 days then the other hens peck at her. Due to her aggressive behavior during this time, I don't let her in with the other chickens as the senior chickens chase and peck at her.
Does anyone need a brooder? What do I do with her?
A black Australorp
An Easter egger
A Rhode Island red
and A Plymouth Rock
I have managed to solve most of my issues and obtain answers to my questions with books and internet searches but this one issue I cannot solve.
My black Australorp is a brooder (specifically chose chickens with low incidence of brooding). She goes into her brooding period EVERY 6 months. She just started another cycle.
I have a small dog metal crate (brooder breaker) that I put her in next to the pen during the day with plenty of rice straw, food and water and take her into the house at night and then repeat. She stays cool and can ruffle her feathers and act weird all she wants but cannot return to the nesting box.
This totally upsets the little flock. If I leave her on the nesting box (I have 2) to wait out the 21 days then the other hens peck at her. Due to her aggressive behavior during this time, I don't let her in with the other chickens as the senior chickens chase and peck at her.
Does anyone need a brooder? What do I do with her?