***OKIES in the BYC III ***

[Kassaundra]

We have our first broody hens

2 at 1 time. We stuck some of our porcelain and partridge silkie eggs under them. And Arlos new favorite thing??? Broody poop. Talk about cracking him up, he thinks it's hilarious, like falling over laughing hilarious. Because, underneath it all he's still an 8 year old boy and what's funnier than a giant chicken poo?
We're excited tho, I need to get a better set up for them so that's my plan for the week. I'm thinking a small coop with covered run they can share. Is sharing ok? Right now they're sharing a large nest box. Fingers crossed they make good mamas. I don't think arlo would take it well if the mamas hurt the chicks. Actually I think he'd be a complete wreck.

I have had co-broodies several times w/o incident.

 

[artsyrobin]

co mama's do well... they kept steal each others eggs- it was a riot to watch them

 

[BetsyOK]

Coral, DO take care of yourself. I think your doctor dropped the ball on this one!

Ashley, co-brooding depends on the birds themselves. Most of mine lay in groups of more than two hens, and they steal each other's eggs all the time, when one or another gets up to eat. They also sometimes steal the babies. On the other hand, sometimes they are both (all) intent on brooding the eggs and ignore the chicks. Some of them actually throw the hatching (noisy) eggs or newly-hatched babes out of the nest. I think they mistake those noisy, wet creatures for mice???

Also, mine are usually in "nooks" in the main pen with other birds, so the waterers are not suitable for tiny chicks, nor is the entire pen as clean as I like it for the babies. So, I put them in brooders as soon as I find them. Ideally, with two or more hens, at least one will focus on the babes and the other(s) on the eggs. That doesn't usually happen for me, but then, I take the chicks before they have a full chance, as in the scuffle of egg-taking and chick-stealing, the chicks sometimes get mashed.

 

[Poco Pollo]

Thanks for the information and kind words, everyone. My fever broke last night, and today I take the last dose of antibiotics. My deep breathing exercises were productive this morning (Eeeeyyyyeww), and I'm feeling better. My plan is to take as much broth and tea with Rinda's amazing honey as I can, and I'm going to stay in the recliner with two blankets covering me and watch old movies.

On the co-broody hen question: I had a Wheaten Maran hen and a Standard Cornish hen go broody on the same day. They were already in the same pen, so I moved both of them to an empty pen that had a larger nest box and no roost. I gave them as many eggs as I could gather that day and hoped for the best. Each hen was sitting on ten eggs, and this was the first time either had gone broody, so I didn't see any egg stealing. Each hen hatched five chicks, and when one chick went through the chicken wire, both hens were frantic to call the chick back to safety. When I was able to identify the boys, I removed them and let the two hens raise the girls. Mothers and daughters are still together, and the boys are now capons. Moms have begun laying again, so I'm going to leave the girls where they are to learn good nest habits. I've added a roost to encourage everyone to sleep away from the nest box.

 

[Kyzmette]

Last night I went to shut up my birdies and found one of my big, pretty gray girls dead between the nest boxes. No idea why. Her comb was still pink, there was no sign of trauma, she was a big, hefty weight. The only thing I can imagine is I'd just started seeing pullet eggs in the nestbox, about three over the last week and a half, each one with a slight blood tinge on the shell. The blood wouldn't normally bother me, since it can be normal, but I wonder if it was hers and she was having laying issues.

Poor girl, she was one of only a few in my flock that didn't have a name. She's always been distant. I just wish I knew why she died. I think that's the hardest part, when you just don't know.

It did, however, give me a 2+2 moment. I kind of wonder if maybe Junebug hit laying age and was jumped by one of the roosters. She's so tiny, and all my roos are big, especially Stratus. If Stratus had tried to mount her, he could have easily shattered her pelvis.

 

[NanaKat]

Coral...so glad to hear you are improving. Also for lunch at the Shawnee Show, we just all showed up about the same time at the restaurant and they accommodated us.
Kyzmette, sorry to hear about your hen...sounds like you have figured out the problem with your tiny hen.

 

[Yara]

Yaaaaaay! My hen laid her first egg today! Go Sally Greyfeathers! (Our son named her)

 

[Kassaundra]

Yaaaaaay! My hen laid her first egg today! Go Sally Greyfeathers! (Our son named her)

First eggs are always the coolest!

 

[kelielliott]

Suggestions?
We left ventilation holes at the top but covered with wire. The rain is really getting in and soaking the coop! I still need to paint and add a chicken door so we can keep the big door closed during the cold days. Also, looking for a way to fix the chicken wire on top so it doesn't look so tacky.

 

[kelielliott]

Also candled my 41 eggs I have in the incubator. Only a couple are questionable! The rest look great!