NY chicken lover!!!!

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: I was like OH NO ....I thought you had dead birds ..
They were probably fed the day before ....
Any chicken I have always acts like they are starving when food comes ...esp the treat ...and they have food in the pen still
I have thought of being a chicken Sitter ...However ..not sure how it would work out ..and if the pay would be worth it ...?
This person wasnt a chicken person ?

How many broodies to 100 eggs ?
I would move them if you have the room
I would move them at night ....if you can ....any broody I ever moved wants to go back to the regular nest during the day .
I usually pick up the whole nest & move it to the new location

 

[rancher hicks]

Phores, I'm sorry for you trouble. Don't think I'm throwing stones at you.

Did you pay them? Are they near by?

I gave it a thought to come and house sit and chick sit for folks if the price is right. I have no kids and DW would be glad to be rid of me for some time alone.

I wonder if there is money to be got, house sitting and taking care of the animals?

Folks always say chicken are a lot of work but that has not been my experience. Unless of course you clean the coop daily. That would just be insane.

Anyhow I'm glad no one perished.

Making grape jelly. Any advice on how to strain out the crystals? Why did the pitcher with an open top form more crystals than the one covered with plastic wrap? I ladled out the juice avoiding the crystals but will be letting it sit another night as I'm busy today. Should I let it sit uncovered? Would that help with crystal formation and make a better jelly?

 

[PhoredaBurds]

So in the early morning hours, I moved 4 of the broodies to their own pen. Fortunately my bachelor pen only had 2 boys, one of whom hopped the fence into the project pen while I was gone and the other will hang out in a large dog crate until I figure something else out for him. All but one of the broodies are settling into their job nicely. The fourth has needed some coaxing. She wants to sit, just not in her nest which is the same nest she was in prior to her move. Under them are the 35-40 eggs which showed development. I didnt want to mess with the girls enough to get an exact count. Whatever hatches will come with me to chickenstock.

Pulled eggs from the other 2 broodies who seem happy going about their day relieved of any mothering responsibilities.

For the other 76 eggs... Candling showed these to be either not developing or barely started. I dug a hole for them, said a prayer for any that may have started developing, and buried them.

Everyone else seems to be doing alright. They all have lots of food now and some electrolytes in their water. I started to get worried when I didn't see any new eggs before 1:00, but they've since laid a few.

@akarubyThanks for confirming broody eggs do normally develop on one side to start. They look so different than bator eggs. France certainly would have been much easier if I spoke the language. Will sign myself up for a French class prior to our next venture there. So glad the merls are doing well. They seemed like really sweet chicks.

@rancher hicksI've read enough of your posts to know better than to take offense, lol. It was pretty rough sight to come home to though. I hadn't even considered what would've happened if authorities were called. And I do have a rotten neighbor that would call (the authorities) had she known. When I inquired with the pet sitter about the state of things she said she had a death in the family and had gotten that call on Wednesday when she was in the chicken house and that made things weird for her. Death I the family does turn our brains to mush sometimes. But it sure would've been nice if she'd have called one of the 5 different numbers for local contacts I left to help rather than neglecting my birds. I won't be calling her ever again. I think I might be too far for you (Watkins Glen) but do have a nice guest room with a chicken house view, lol.

@MetellaI was more worried about leaving my animals than traveling to an area that has had multiple terrorist attacks in the past 6 months. Paris is only a 3.5 hour drive from Brussels. The Paris airport is patrolled by camouflaged guys carrying very large machine guns and are quite intimidating even with their little red burretts. So happy you are sharing your spitz eggs. They are such fun birds. Fingers crossed for a good hatch for the 4H girl.

@cutipatootiThank you for the bator space offer! A couple of these broodies take their jobs very seriously and probably will hatch out many of these eggs.

@Chicken girl 15Congrats on ur incubation and candling! That first candling never gets old.

@Gramma ChickYou are right that is possible that my birds were fed the day prior. But the feed bag that I opened just before I left was still almost full when I got back a week later. And my geese are usually more interested at yelling at me when I bring them food than gulping down mouthfuls. But no one died. Everyone seems ok now. I know I should have waited till nighttime to move the broodies. Just wanted to get things back to relative normalcy as soon as possible. When I plan to go away, I factor in a substantial amount for animal care. I think for people who just have a few cats 1 visit/day that $10-20/day is normal. $30-40/day for more animals or multiple visits per day or if the sitter is staying there, etc. It certainly adds up on the paying end, but it's worth it if my animals are well taken care of. If you have the time and inclination, there are lots of people who would appreciate ur services. I'm certainly back in the market for a good house sitter.

 

[Lapeerian]

Anyone keep bees for honey? I'm just starting to get into it and I'm looking for a mentor.

Hubby started into bees last year. Best bet is a local bee group. Where are you located?

 

[Gramma Chick]

Quote: Shes near Cato

 

[2Fast2Curious]

So, we're securing the perimeters bit by bit and spending a lot more time with the chickens. If we're not out - they're not out. They seem to feel more secure for it, and even go to bed earlier now.

This kind of story is probably familiar to you guys. We have an older hen, and she's the only one of her age now. We talked about getting a couple hens her age if we could find them. Had a few stipulations, as I'd rather not get more birds until we can move to a bigger, more chicken-friendly place. My stipulations were thus: an egg color we didn't have, older, no more than three.

Partner found a place that met all those criteria, but it fell through.

Two days ago, I wake up to find out we're going to grab a couple of 8-to-12-month-old Easter Eggers.

Okay, sure, close enough.

There's major rooster marks on one of these new hens' backs. I go, "we can't really hatch eggs right now, there's a hole squirrels get into."

Next day, I wake up to hammering. Go out to check what's up, and guess what's up: someone sliding our broody barnyard mix blue and green eggs after patching the squirrel "door".

I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

 

[rancher hicks]

@rancher hicks I've read enough of your posts to know better than to take offense, lol. It was pretty rough sight to come home to though. I hadn't even considered what would've happened if authorities were called. And I do have a rotten neighbor that would call (the authorities) had she known. When I inquired with the pet sitter about the state of things she said she had a death in the family and had gotten that call on Wednesday when she was in the chicken house and that made things weird for her. Death I the family does turn our brains to mush sometimes. But it sure would've been nice if she'd have called one of the 5 different numbers for local contacts I left to help rather than neglecting my birds. I won't be calling her ever again. I think I might be too far for you (Watkins Glen) but do have a nice guest room with a chicken house view, lol.

Well now Watkins Glen is a very touristy place is it not? They've got the race track right? Parks and all. So it would make a nice vacation to stay and get paid or just stay with free (sort of ) lodging. My angst/ire was not with you. Lord have mercy how could you know what would happen?

You've heard of that Uber type thing but for lodging. Airbnb? That would be a nice trade. They get reduce cost lodging for taking care of the chickens while you're away.

These days it just seems folks are afraid to get upset and let others know it. Being angry for the right reasons isn't bad and you had every right to be upset. Even with a death in the family. Though I do understand some folks don't handle it well. Course I don't hold grudges so if I did get upset I wouldn't hold it forever. Such is life. I am glad no one died.

I did have a similar experience when I first got chickens. Came home to find the door between the two coops was open and the flocks were mixed. Seems the woman, a friend of mine, who I got to take care of them for the weekend let her two boys come down and do it. Neither was mature enough. Even today when they're in they're late teens. Couple of doofuses. Like you I never asked her again. Live and learn.

I won't be at chicken stock but I hope you get lots of chicks.

 

[rancher hicks]

So, we're securing the perimeters bit by bit and spending a lot more time with the chickens. If we're not out - they're not out. They seem to feel more secure for it, and even go to bed earlier now.

This kind of story is probably familiar to you guys. We have an older hen, and she's the only one of her age now. We talked about getting a couple hens her age if we could find them. Had a few stipulations, as I'd rather not get more birds until we can move to a bigger, more chicken-friendly place. My stipulations were thus: an egg color we didn't have, older, no more than three.

Partner found a place that met all those criteria, but it fell through.

Two days ago, I wake up to find out we're going to grab a couple of 8-to-12-month-old Easter Eggers.

Okay, sure, close enough.

There's major rooster marks on one of these new hens' backs. I go, "we can't really hatch eggs right now, there's a hole squirrels get into."

Next day, I wake up to hammering. Go out to check what's up, and guess what's up: someone sliding our broody barnyard mix blue and green eggs after patching the squirrel "door".

I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

When I first got chickens I had eight different breeds but only one rooster. 25 or so total. The GLW, SLW and Aussies had bare backs. I just figured it was from picking since some breeds just don't get along. Anyhow I had three of each and all had the bare backs. Rather than make them suffer I just gave them away.

Point being sometimes barebacks aren't a sign of neglect. I'm sure you did the girls a favor by taking them.

Too I had/have the squirrel problem. Those buggers can be a pain. Even stole the wooden eggs!

 

[Gramma Chick]

So, we're securing the perimeters bit by bit and spending a lot more time with the chickens. If we're not out - they're not out. They seem to feel more secure for it, and even go to bed earlier now.
...
Next day, I wake up to hammering. Go out to check what's up, and guess what's up: someone sliding our broody barnyard mix blue and green eggs after patching the squirrel "door".

I guess if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

Was it the Friendly Man- the one that helped us catch the rooster Icarus ?

 

[2Fast2Curious]

When I first got chickens I had eight different breeds but only one rooster. 25 or so total. The GLW, SLW and Aussies had bare backs. I just figured it was from picking since some breeds just don't get along. Anyhow I had three of each and all had the bare backs. Rather than make them suffer I just gave them away.

Point being sometimes barebacks aren't a sign of neglect. I'm sure you did the girls a favor by taking them.

Too I had/have the squirrel problem. Those buggers can be a pain. Even stole the wooden eggs!

Wow, nine bare backs. Was that a roo or a jackhammer!

Yeah, we are aware of the rooster/bareback connection. Pretty sure she was some rooster's favorite there! The space is smaller, but she seems ecstatic and she's gone from dull brownish-black to radiant green sheen in two days. And the other has been enjoying herself, too.



At first I saw rolling hills and thought, "man, are these guys getting a demotion?" and then I saw the marks. They've actually adjusted really rapidly, both to the flock and to us. They're also really, really loud when you pick them up - which we appreciate for security reasons.

We actually haven't had an egg stealing problem... yet. Knocking on wood.