Official Squatch Watchers

[Suzi18]

Hi, my beautiful and wonderful Squatchers!

Just sitting on the couch chilling with my dogs (and you guys!), and playing catch-up as usual. I just had to throw Flower (my MFD) in solitary ("the Shoe" as they say in OITNB) because all of a sudden she turned into a bully!

I told you guys, my Silkie Big Bird has been acting weird. I'm starting to think she is broody, not sick. She wants to stay in her nest box all day. She sits there in a little fluffed up, flat, softly peeping ball of feathers. She has not laid an egg in 2 or 3 days. When I got home from work, I put her in the run and shut the pop door. And she was walking around eating and pecking and whatnot. And Flower would NOT stop bullying her!

I mean, like pecking at her head, and stalking her around the run. Like a Mean Girl! She was even doing this thing that was hilarious (but mean!) were she would line right up, beak to beak, make herself a bit taller, and glare at her right in the eye. Totally giving her the stank eye. I don't know what her deal is. They always got along fine, for the past 7 months since they've been a day old. Do other hens pick on a broody normally? Is that common?

She has been gaining weight, and eating the smelly canned salmon (thanks @rjohns39 for that!!!) and her regular food, and she has been drinking.

Broody? After a month of laying eggs?

One of my Bantam Cochins went broody after only laying for 3 weeks. So frustrating!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Those crazy bantams are like that. Lay a few eggs then broody as all get out.
It is one of the reasons I love my Bitty so much. Broody as heck and an awesome mama. Not to mention it is just plain hysterical to watch her run around the yard with those giant foot feathers.

 

[Smuvers Farm]

Hi, my beautiful and wonderful Squatchers!

Just sitting on the couch chilling with my dogs (and you guys!), and playing catch-up as usual. I just had to throw Flower (my MFD) in solitary ("the Shoe" as they say in OITNB) because all of a sudden she turned into a bully!

I told you guys, my Silkie Big Bird has been acting weird. I'm starting to think she is broody, not sick. She wants to stay in her nest box all day. She sits there in a little fluffed up, flat, softly peeping ball of feathers. She has not laid an egg in 2 or 3 days. When I got home from work, I put her in the run and shut the pop door. And she was walking around eating and pecking and whatnot. And Flower would NOT stop bullying her!

I mean, like pecking at her head, and stalking her around the run. Like a Mean Girl! She was even doing this thing that was hilarious (but mean!) were she would line right up, beak to beak, make herself a bit taller, and glare at her right in the eye. Totally giving her the stank eye. I don't know what her deal is. They always got along fine, for the past 7 months since they've been a day old. Do other hens pick on a broody normally? Is that common?

She has been gaining weight, and eating the smelly canned salmon (thanks @rjohns39 for that!!!) and her regular food, and she has been drinking.

Broody? After a month of laying eggs?

Credit due to @lazy gardener

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-chicken-person-is-she-broody.1200316/#post-19003408

 

[pitbullmomma]

One of my Bantam Cochins went broody after only laying for 3 weeks. So frustrating!

Was it her first laying cycle? How long has her broodiness lasted?

OMG, when I came home, my hubby was like, "I didn't want to tell you on the phone, but I think Big Bird is dead." He is phobic about dead animals--birds in particular, having had a traumatic dead bird experience when he was very little (which I tease him mercilessly about, for I am evil).

I almost started bawling, and then I asked him why. He said she was perfectly still in her nest, not moving and her head was down. When he went back a couple hours later, she was in the same position. He tried talking to her and "threw a rock at the wall of the coop" cuz he is terrified of touching a dead bird, lol! So then I thought, yeah, she's probably alive, she's just doing her catatonic broody thing. And she was. He would FREAK OUT if one of the birds died. Not from sadness, like me, but from terror.

LOL, he just came in here and said "what are you writing, you have that stupid look on your face" cuz I am all smirky making fun of him.

I am a very bad wife!

 

[pitbullmomma]

Credit due to @lazy gardener

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/new-chicken-person-is-she-broody.1200316/#post-19003408

Oh snap!!!! My good buddy!

Heading over to check out that thread....

 

[pitbullmomma]

Those crazy bantams are like that. Lay a few eggs then broody as all get out.
It is one of the reasons I love my Bitty so much. Broody as heck and an awesome mama. Not to mention it is just plain hysterical to watch her run around the yard with those giant foot feathers.

I know, those poopy, feathery feet crack me up! They look like little fluffy Sasquatches running around the pen! Half my chooks have featherfeet, and I love it. Prolly not gonna be so great once it snows...

 

[pitbullmomma]

Those crazy bantams are like that. Lay a few eggs then broody as all get out.
It is one of the reasons I love my Bitty so much. Broody as heck and an awesome mama. Not to mention it is just plain hysterical to watch her run around the yard with those giant foot feathers.

How long does that broody business usually last for? Do your girls get skinny too when they do that?

 

[21hens-incharge]

My Bitty would sit all summer on nothing in the nest. I have to either break her or give her chicks. Yes they lose condition fast when broody. I bring food to them in the nest and force them to take a morning break if I am waiting for chicks to arrive. If not giving chicks or eggs I have to break her.

Wire bottom cage ASAP if breaking them. The longer you wait the harder they are to break.

The longest Bitty sat on nothing was just shy of 2 months. YES WAY to long. Now I just wait 3 weeks and give her chicks.

My other bantam cochins never went broody. The only broody ones have been the black cochins. Mottled and Silver Laced never gave it a go.

I have had LF go broody, mostly my Buffs.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Hey All, I've been lurking today, but been too busy to talk. Stupid work has me doing 3 different builds today.

My son is being more clingy than usual and wants me if I'm in sight, but won't sit still on my lap and fusses if I put him down. I also complained to my hubby about not getting a single break (other than bathroom) all day and how I want a break so I could make myself hot chocolate. Well, he offered to take the little wiggler away and came back a little while later with a huge mug of hot chocolate.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Sounds good Rae! I am sitting down to a cup of tea. Nearly dark out already! Supposed to rain soon, which will be good for the seed and plants i put in.