NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

I have golf balls in all the nest boxes except hers. I haven't been too sucessful in finding wooden eggs. I hate to shop, so I don't go into too many stores. She goes broody on NOTHING, in the sand. I don't think I'll have too hard a time getting her to set, if I just leave a day's eggs under her for a few days. Then I'll just replace them with the eggs I really want her to hatch.

AC Moores carry's them and also Michaels. You could also use plastic easter eggs. Just anything they egg shaped that they can't eat or peck apart.

 

[Framac]

What breed are these hens? Are these your birds? You know I've got some CR's and I swear they are the worst and my Lav orps are the same. I've put a light in the coop but even in the summer the Lavs didn't lay all that well. I'm really disappointed in them.

Now I'm putting this out there for everyone. What could be the problem. This is a coop with 3 Ee's which lay often, 4 CR's which just started to lay, 1 RIR , 4 Lav orp.

Funny about your lavs, I have 3 lav hens, and average 15 eggs a week from them. Pullets yes, but a 5 a week average is good to me. I do supplement light.

 

[rancher hicks]

So when are people going to start setting eggs?

I will be doing my first set for a Feb 15th hatch. It will coincide with my 25 chicks arriving. Setting Jersey Giants, Amers, Orps.

On a crappy note, hit a deer last night. I am fine, the car is not.

I'm sorry for your car trouble. I do hope you ate the deer, not that I eat venison, but some do.

I plan to set eggs asap. At least two dozen maybe more. I won't keep them all of course but I can't see taking the time to set a half dozen eggs with no guarantee they will all hatch. I set a lot and then sell or give away some. I'm always surprised at the folks who want them for free and then want them sexed. I always think "Oh yeah folks are always giving away pure chicks already sexed". Not!

My turner is missing a row which is fine since I can do enough damage with what I've got.

Now as soon as I can get this bed out of my office, I can set up the incubator.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: I've been hatching since September.

 

[Tough Old Bird]

So much talk of broody hens, and I am wondering what you do if you've got a broody gal that you do NOT want to set on eggs -- but would prefer she get back on track with just the business of laying. So far, I haven't read any tips on this. Since I'm planning on just starting up with a few birds and no rooster, I will not be able to fulfill any broody hen's desire to be a mom. At least not for the first year or so, until I figure out how I'm doing at the whole chicken endeavor!

Thx!

TOB

 

[rancher hicks]

I've been hatching since September.

How big are your Birchen Marans eggs? How dark. Since you don't seem up to a trade in eggs, I may be interested and a couple of chicks , or half dozen eggs if that's possible. I am hatching these of course but not happy with the hens markings. I'm hoping to improve them in this area.

 

[marquisella]

Quote: My Birchens haven't started laying yet. Do you have photos of yours? My pullets hardly have any hackle color at all, have to look with a magnifying glass...

 

[marquisella]

So much talk of broody hens, and I am wondering what you do if you've got a broody gal that you do NOT want to set on eggs -- but would prefer she get back on track with just the business of laying. So far, I haven't read any tips on this. Since I'm planning on just starting up with a few birds and no rooster, I will not be able to fulfill any broody hen's desire to be a mom. At least not for the first year or so, until I figure out how I'm doing at the whole chicken endeavor!

Thx!

TOB

You have to put the hen in a wire cage that is suspended so her "bottom" cools off. As long has she can sit on something solid to keep her bottom warm she will continue to sit.
She still needs food & water while you are doing this.

 

[stonykill]

So when are people going to start setting eggs?

I will be doing my first set for a Feb 15th hatch. It will coincide with my 25 chicks arriving. Setting Jersey Giants, Amers, Orps.

On a crappy note, hit a deer last night. I am fine, the car is not.

when the girls decide to go broody. I don't think I'm turning on an incubator this year. Last year I stopped counting broody hens at 25.... so I'll just use natures incubator

 

[Tough Old Bird]

You have to put the hen in a wire cage that is suspended so her "bottom" cools off. As long has she can sit on something solid to keep her bottom warm she will continue to sit.
She still needs food & water while you are doing this.

Thank you, marquisella. How interesting! I was just reading how a cage is something recommended to have on hand to act as an infirmary of sorts for birds that must be removed temporarily from the flock. I would guess every hen is different, but generally how long do they usually spend "de-brooding" ??

TOB