North Carolina

[Matt A NC]

Quote:

Also was wondering what you all (ahem, y'alls) think. My one broody has been sitting on eggs now for 4 1/2 - 5 weeks (her original set of eggs "disappeared") and is not eating at all (she has food in front of her, I even bring her treats throughout the day like tomatoes, peas, bananas, even chicken!!). Do you think I should try and find someone with day old chicks and plop them under her or let her continue to sit? I am not sure when the eggs she is currently on were sat upon, because I know for a fact they were not there when we left (as she had marked eggs) but were there when we returned from our trip. That was about 2 weeks ago, so she would still have another week +/- a few days to go. If you think I should try to go the chick route, does anyone have any very young chicks that I could "hide" under her? What is your experience with this?!? Anyone?? Many Thanks!!

I have had hens set for MONTHS on NOTHING when they would not break. If you are worried about her then take her off the nest daily and make her go walking. Just set her out of the coop and fluff her up to snap her out of the trance. Most will not eat while on the nest, only when they go out for a little while. Eggs are fine without her on them for up to an hour each day.

If you want to give her chicks that works well too. Just make sure the chicks are just hatched, less then 2-3 days old. You will have to slide a couple chicks under her, best from the back, and wait. How she reacts will tell you if she will accept them. Most hens do. Be ready to raise the chicks yourself, just in case she rejects them. I do this all the time. Oh, the chicks being 'fresh' is not about the hen rejecting them. It is the chicks that also have to accept having a mother. Too old and they may not go to her for food, warmth, and protection.

Matt

 

[BHep]

I have the truck fixed to take birds to WCA, but someone told me to do open mesh fronted boxes, and another told me that I had to have wood crates. I have plastic mesh and boxes, but not wood crates. If this is the requirement... where can I get about 40?

WCA will not take birds in cardboard. Things have changed ! Plastic crate or wood crate. They sell crates at WCA $1 each. You can TRY the cardboard box with wire over top...worse they will do is repack them.
Chicks and baby rabbits can go in cardboard with wire over top.

40 crates ??? What in the world are you bringing?

 

[BHep]

DANG! I knew they were small but not that small!! They're adorable Know of anyone selling a pair or trio?

Everything is set up for Chickenstock and quarantine already so I can get em anytime

Check with Henthymes or get on the chickenstock thread and put out a request.

 

[TheRookie]

My list of things I am purchasing at Chickenstock is growing longer and longer... my wallet gets sadder and sadder...

 

[NewHomesteader2010]

Sigh...I have a deranged hawk!! This grey hawk literally flew and smacked into my window - I am assuming it was trying to attack either it's reflection or our kitten sitting in the window?!? Weird part - a few of the chicks were dust bathing in the shade beneath the window. Seriously, this bird NEEDS to go!! Our remaining chicks are too big for a quick get-a-way I am assuming, thus it isn't going for them (that or they are super smart and tend to crowd around our rooster!!)?? If I wasn't worried about feed, I would just keep them locked up for a few days, but I am waiting on my feed delivery (remember me with the moldy feed) thus I had to let them out to free range and feast in the garden!!

Stupid hawk - even though it's not it's fault. LOL Okay, I am done venting...thanks for "listening"!!

 

[LukesCityHens]

it was bath time when we brought them in the house for worming and all that good stuff

and this is the one we think is a roo....any guesses?

 

[BHep]

Luke...looking at the pointy hackle feathers...I'd say rooster.

 

[MaryRuthLangdon]

Here's my turkey hen and her babies... she hatched out 2 turkey eggs, 2 guinea eggs & 2 game chicken eggs.

 

[Chasity]

WCA will not take birds in cardboard. Things have changed ! Plastic crate or wood crate. They sell crates at WCA $1 each. You can TRY the cardboard box with wire over top...worse they will do is repack them.
Chicks and baby rabbits can go in cardboard with wire over top.

40 crates ??? What in the world are you bringing?

We had a coyote situation around here and we all lost no less than 20 birds each, so I fired up the incubator and loaded it every 3-4 weeks, until we were all restocked. Now I have extras, and they are ravaging the runs, and getting costly to feed. Time to spread them somewhere else, and help others get a backyard coop going. We sell free range eggs, so I will keep some, and sell some, or trade. No more chasing coyotes with broomsticks in the dark either! I got something else to deal with them if they come back this winter. They even killed the boys' pet goat (he was leash trained)!

Anyway from what I was reading earlier on here, it has been a day of losses, and I really do feel for all who have lost special little birds, or critters in the past two days.

I can load them in the truck without crates on Sunday as long as they have crates when we get there to put them in. The hubby has made me a way of loading birds in the back of the truck for the farmer's market that we take them to in Goldsboro.

I do have someone coming out to pick up some tomorrow, and maybe Thurs., then the market on Wed., so I will see what I still have by then. ...????????????? This did not happen over night! And my hubby can pick on me all he wants, but he is an enabler, after all.... I did not build all this.

 

[vfem]

Ahhh.... I'm sorry about the coyote issue. They are terrible and have been horrible this year. I'm happy to see you jumped right in and got some birds bad.... now they're taking over though! LOL