NY chicken lover!!!!

[rancher hicks]

Also check out the "Plymouth Rock Breeders" thread for more of what I've found in these papers.

 

[Cass]

I toss them in a wire cage for a few days with just food and water. No shavings or anything else that might be comfortable. I have a cochin that is notoriously broody, 3 days in the cage and she was back with the rest of them.

That does work with some birds. Doesn't work with My "Momma"....only hatching chicks worked with her. There are many ways people say work for breaking a broody....none of them work ALL the time...I was wondering if the whole unfertile eggs thing worked for anyone else. ( I mean, how easy can it get, using unviable eggs under a broody...don't even have to catch her....but I don't know if that was what broke her brood so was hoping someone would try it out and see if it works for them)

 

[Cass]

I found that article again....the one I spoke of a Looooooooooooong time ago regarding how long eggs can be stored and how to store them best for maximum freshness.

Here ya go: http://www.motherearthnews.com/real-food/how-to-store-fresh-eggs-zmaz77ndzgoe.aspx#axzz362npIh5K

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Yes it's normal for a broody to stop laying, which is why it's been bred out of commercial breeds.

The EE is no back in the nest box brooding nothing. I don't know what to do. I've no place to separate her out and even if she hatched I'd need a place to put her.

Thanks, Rancher. I figured as much, but was a little concerned. She is a much stronger broody than the other Columbian Rock "sister" I got from you with her.

So she is doing the same thing your EE is doing: brooding NOTHING. ** sigh **

Sorry about the lost chicks.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Even little girl was able to pick her up and carry her into the coop. Of course now that she is a favorite, she will probably die. TSC tetra tint, with a few grey speckles.

Oh, this is a cute photo! Although I hope you are wrong about the bird's fate now that she is a favorite, I had to chuckle because I so get what you mean! My older son only had 1 bird out of the small flock I originally set up, and she is the one that died.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

Mean Marge has been broody for a while....she was part of the pile on mothering of the duck eggs. I gave her 3 chicken eggs after I had snatched up all the ducklings from the nest she (and 2 others) was on. The eggs weren't fertile. She got off them in less than a week and isn't broody any more.

Have I discovered a way to break a broody hen in less than 10 days? With no effort on my part? Wouldn't THAT be wonderful?

Anyone got a broody they want to break and 2 - 3 eggs they don't care about? Shake the eggs well, so it can't develop, even if it is fertile and stuff them under that broody. See if she gets up and walks away in a week to 10 days. I would love to know if it works, cuz last year I had broodies out my ears and wound up GIVING chicks away.

Hi Cass - I don't know why I thought Mean Marge had passed on to terrorize the angels on the "other side..." Your post got me wondering if I stuck some golf balls or a wooden egg or two under her if that might work. We are having a huge battle of wills....although of course I realize it's not really a stubborn thing but a strong instinct on her part...but can't help but grit my teeth and get so frustrated!

She is using a heat pad and has meds but Lord have mercy she sleeps alot. When she's awake she's just hurting in the right leg and hip.

We won't know what the MRI shows til Monday. This is not what they told us would happen. In fact the doc made it sound like she would be able to work during the treatments. I will get some Camomile tea.

Sorry she's feeling so cruddy. That's really tough ... I'll keep her in my prayers, Rancher.

TOB

 

[Tough Old Bird]

I couldn't find Chris's original post about separating the broodies for a few days in a cage with food and water but little / no bedding. I thought about that -- wondered if it might stress mine out a little too much with the intense heat coming, but then she's already got to be stressing when I pick her up and bodily remove her from the nest box, lock her out of the coop and put her on the roosting pole at night. Ugh....plus we have some getaways planned this coming week. Really in a pickle, here!

Do all broodies actually know enough to come out of the box to eat and drink ??? I swear, she doesn't come out unless I make her...and I've waited her out a pretty long time to see if she would. The big heat wave we're starting has me worried.


TOB

 

[rancher hicks]

I couldn't find Chris's original post about separating the broodies for a few days in a cage with food and water but little / no bedding. I thought about that -- wondered if it might stress mine out a little too much with the intense heat coming, but then she's already got to be stressing when I pick her up and bodily remove her from the nest box, lock her out of the coop and put her on the roosting pole at night. Ugh....plus we have some getaways planned this coming week. Really in a pickle, here!

Do all broodies actually know enough to come out of the box to eat and drink ??? I swear, she doesn't come out unless I make her...and I've waited her out a pretty long time to see if she would. The big heat wave we're starting has me worried.


TOB

I have a Sussex who is settled in to the point she looks flat as a pancake. I've not opened the coop door cuz she comes out for what I think is too long. She in a half hoop with the front covered in hardware cloth and it's in the shade. She has food and water. I do check on her.

If you see big piles of poop that stink to high heavens you can bet it's her. I don't know of anyone who's had a bird die. They do lose weight though, so it's not good to let them brood many times in a row, cuz some will if left to.

This EE I have is still broody but I'm not giving her eggs. I'll just keep picking her up and moving her out. She can't out last me.

If one of the other birds hatches more than one, I may take a chick and give it to her.

 

[pharmchickrnmom]

Okay Im back. Got half the sweater sewn together. Taking a much needed break. Its heating up. Bugs are out too. Dh opened the nesting boxes to find one of the eggeaters yellow beaked. He threw her out. She will be dispatched. The randy boys were chasing her around but the hose seemed to work good at cooling their jets a bit. They are quickly reaching canning weight as well. Let the big silkies out to find a cool shady spot to hang out in. All my coops look like someone popped a chicken in them. Everyone is molting. Lots of quills. Been having a long discussion on the silkie site about the hatch failures. Seems Im not the only one. Got a few suggestions from long time breeders as to what to do for next time. AKA next year cause I am done. The two tiny chicks are so cute in that big brooder all by themselves. Cant resist going down to cuddle them. The older chicks were taking a nap in their pen outside.

Okay...back to sewing the other side together. Later!

 

[rancher hicks]

I have a Sussex who is settled in to the point she looks flat as a pancake. I've not opened the coop door cuz she comes out for what I think is too long. She in a half hoop with the front covered in hardware cloth and it's in the shade. She has food and water. I do check on her.

If you see big piles of poop that stink to high heavens you can bet it's her. I don't know of anyone who's had a bird die. They do lose weight though, so it's not good to let them brood many times in a row, cuz some will if left to.

This EE I have is still broody but I'm not giving her eggs. I'll just keep picking her up and moving her out. She can't out last me.

If one of the other birds hatches more than one, I may take a chick and give it to her.

Well one of the other birds DID hatch a chick and the mean hen was in the box with her. I took her and the chick to move to the coop with the broody that had 7 and the two hens went at each other. I pulled the mean one and left the chick. I'm not going to lose the chicks just cuz these stupid girls can't take care of them. The Blue EE seems fine with another chick to tend.

I've been carrying the EE that kept being broody out of the coop and walking her across the yard and putting her down. I can use the exercise so I'll keep doing it. She's rather thin and I don't want her going another month brooding.

I'm not sure how many Blue Bell can take care of but if it means setting up a brooder too save these chicks I will!!