North Carolina

[NewHomesteader2010]

I know people do it, but I have never been able to relocate a broody hen. They chose where they wanted to brood, and that's where they want. It's not the eggs they care about so much as the place! I'd love to know the trick to relocating one.

Speaking of broodies...I took the last two chicks from that broody yesterday, and put them in the broody house with the other chicks. But last night, mama hen was sleeping against th ewall of the brood area, and the babies were sleeping against the other side, so they could talk to each other. It was going to be waaaayy too chilly for them not to use the heat, so I just grabbed Mama and tossed her in there, too. Since she wasn't protecting the chicks from anything outside, I didn't figure she'd be rough on the other brooder chicks. This morning, all are happy.

Oh! And I got a resident rat snake in the henhouse already this year! Yay! Look out mice, your nemisis has arrived! She did steal an egg, but I figure a few eggs to snakes are just a tithe to Mama Nature. Payment for the job of mice deterrent. It looks like a lovely grey rat snake, too. Hope she sticks around.

I need to go fill the snake water bowl. We keep one in there just for the snakes.

I had success moving our last broody (my first broody actually) but I think it was because she was "set" on sitting and was tired of getting kicked out of her nest by the other girls. This time we moved them early and they hadn't really had a chance to sit. Beth and Alex were able to offer the girls some eggs (since they were sitting on nothing) and they took them, puffed themselves up and are happy sitting!! We have them in the nesting boxes that are not as well favored by the others, but somehow I think now that there are 2 broodies, these boxes will all of a sudden become favorites!! LOL.
Congrats on the rat snake!!

Spent the morning enabling NH.

Doublea & I generously donated eggs to her 2 broody hen.

Dropped of 11 chicks...8 Guineas keets & 4 bantam Ameracaunas.... came home with 1 rooster for CSB and 15 bantam Cuckoo Marans eggs.

Had a super yummy lunch...came home to WONDERFUL Surprise !!! I got Mother's Day eggs.

THANK YOU MARY & BENNIE !!

Had a great time with Beth & Alex!! Love them enabling me today as well as offering up some much needed advice and DD#1 LOVED learning all about sharing with her first real play date!! Thank you SO much for coming by and giving this SAH mama something fun to do!! Thank you to Alex for a GREAT LUNCH!! DH was super jealous of us!! LOL I'm off to plant some tomatoes!!

Hoping these don't die!!

 

[greeneacre]

Hopefully looking for a goat or small pony in the near future. Mother is finally going to have a barn built and bring my Arnold home (my 17 year old Thoroughbred) and he will need a companion because otherwise he will end up jumping the fence and hangin out with my neighbors horses lol. So if anyone within an hour or two breeds large goats or ponies, let me know if you have anything relatively cheap available. It might be winter or even next summer before we are ready though so I am hesitant to post anything in BST. Craigslist has a lot listed but you just never know the background on some of those poor babies and I would hate to bring something home.

Don't buy, foster or adopt... check out USERL.org we have plenty of companions to visit and find a compatible friend.

So I have broodyitis here... 7 broodies and waiting for more.............
CSB & RF... 2 Marans broody

Got tired of breaking broodies and said what the heck, now I have 4 confirmed sitting on I don't know how many eggs need to do a count this weekend and 2 most likely if I leave them eggs.

Good morning, everyone!

Hope everyone is having a good week. Last night was eventful for me--Penelope had her kittens!! Total of 7 babies, unfortunately one passed away shortly after birth, so she still has 6 happily nursing kittens! She wanted to climb into my lap when her contractions first started, then she figured out her birthing box, and was comfortable to lay in there. I didn't have to move her there, she went on her own. Here's a picture of the new momma:



Not the best picture, but I'm trying to not disturb her too much. There will be more updates later on. All babies will find new homes when old enough.


Other news, I have a broody, too! She has a clutch of 5 eggs due around the 26th sometime. Lots of babies here!!

Too, too cute. My DH says I can't become the crazy cat lady until he dies.

Anyone interested in a Chicken Processing "Clinic" or have extra roosters they need put in the freezer? I'm planning out my processing day and I'm thinking about inviting those who want to learn how to come.

How do you dispatch your birds? I have only been happy with the hatch to the neck method, but can't do that by myself.

 

[Miss Lydia]

It's catching over here too, I have had and having 4 hens and 3 ducks so far brooding or hatching. Gotta share this story, Went to Chicken Stock and bought 4 EE chicks [pullets] from HT, I love my EEs after buying 4 pullets from KristanB feel in love. Well anyway they are in a house that has my mama duck and duckling and 2 newly adopted bantams are staying in. well to keep the little EEs from being picked on I put them in a dog crate of an evening with heat lamp close by I usually go in and pick up one and put it inside and the other 3 follow. Tonight i went in and sat down on the shavings while they ate and had their water before going to bed, Well here comes one of them over and jumps in my lap and before I know it all four are snuggles up inside my sweater talking baby talk and being so precious. I was so amazed i went and got my dh so he could see as soon as we got back on the floor here they come again jumping onto my lap and snuggling. As far as i know these chicks came straight from the egg to HT with out ever knowing a hen well I got the blessing of being mama hen tonight. They are 4 weeks old tomorrow. My own chickens that I have has for years don''t even do this. I just had to share this even if it never happens again it was sure nice it did tonight.

 

[Coop Scoop Boogie]

Awwwww ML.....how sweet and lucky you. I'm so happy that happened for you.

NH......glad you got the eggs and a visit.
Now I'm green with envy, hope I get a chance to meet you some day

jena.....beautiful kitties.....congrats

dlockey.......gorgeous hen.....glad she will be ok

Mary.....don't know where you find those wild pics but I love them

hope everyone's broodies hatches you lots of chicks

 

[jdeoliveira74]

I hope Kristan B sees this one... it's my favorite.. can these be copied? I'd love to make one for my dh to put in the building with his Harley his b'd is Monday.

right click the pic and save as to your desktop

 

[BHep]

One for each fox in my driveway...when I came home from Church tonight ! REALLY !!!!

Birds are all locked up and accounted for.

Tank was under the porch in the dog cage...he is now safely in the shed.

 

[scottcaddy]

One for each fox in my driveway...when I came home from Church tonight ! REALLY !!!!

Birds are all locked up and accounted for.

Tank was under the porch in the dog cage...he is now safely in the shed.

I would have been REAL tempted to floor the gas and go fox hunting in a van

, but that's just me, a little bit trigger happy once in awhile. Glad to hear all is safe for now!

Scott

 

[wildriverswolf90]

Ok got a question for the incubation gurus out there.….
I've had my new incubator running all day, the humidity is averaging 56% and the temp on the digital thermometer is reading 94-96 degres but the lil thermometer with the red line is reading 99-100 degrees! Which one do I trust? My incubator has thermostat wafer!

Ok temp on digital thermometer is reading 97.4 and humidity is staying at 54%.
But the glass thermometer with the red line is reading 101. So do I just assume between the two thermometer its around 98-99? And is 54% humidity good?

 

[anbsmom]

What breed are you setting? and congrats you are officially chicken crazed.

I got some mixed breed eggs cheap. There were a couple of green eggs in the batch. Maybe I'll get some EE! I just hope I don't kill them. I'm a nervous wreck.

 

[Hollowoakfarm]

what kind of eggs Beth??


Hollow you are lucky, I wish I could leave mine alone but the DH and neighbors love to make mince meat outta them. So I have to relocate them to the woods where no one is living for a few miles. Moved a black racer yesterday, first one of the year.

Great the new keyboard is messing up

I'll take any you want to donate. My neighbor and one of the girls at work both call me to collect them from their places.

I'll come get them!