Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[Leahs Mom]

They turn white for the winter, the one that i seen was white!!

Tricky critters, they be!

 

[Miss Lydia]

That fur would make a pretty hat for winter, i could use one today.

 

[stonykill]

That fur would make a pretty hat for winter, i could use one today.

They turn white for the winter, the one that i seen was white!!

if Stoats are like weasels some are white and some are brown and white. I offered my trapping buddy the most recent weasel my cat killed 2 weeks ago (that is 3 weasels William killed this year

) and once he found out it was brown and white he didn't want it. If it was all white he was going to drive right up for it

. The white hides are worth something. The brown and whites bring less than $3 here he said. I don't know about anyone else...but I found that interesting

 

[Johnn]

if Stoats are like weasels some are white and some are brown and white. I offered my trapping buddy the most recent weasel my cat killed 2 weeks ago (that is 3 weasels William killed this year

) and once he found out it was brown and white he didn't want it. If it was all white he was going to drive right up for it

. The white hides are worth something. The brown and whites bring less than $3 here he said. I don't know about anyone else...but I found that interesting

Haha, i was going to let my dog go get it but i remembered someone telling me it would rip the dogs face to pieces so i wasnt going to take the risk!!, i kind of feel bad because i was sat taking pics of the hens whilst they ran up the field and the whole time that one was getting attacked down there!

 

[Johnn]

This is the pic i took, as you can see Asparagus is leading the way! and you can see the mother orpington and Bella. If you look to the back you can see the sheds and thats were the feeding pen is, the hen got attacked in the field, ran around the big white shed still getting attcked by the amount of feathers, then managed to go in the wooden shed then got attacked in there then was dragged back out!, and the whole time my cockerel was sitting in the nest box watching!

 

[stonykill]

Haha, i was going to let my dog go get it but i remembered someone telling me it would rip the dogs face to pieces so i wasnt going to take the risk!!, i kind of feel bad because i was sat taking pics of the hens whilst they ran up the field and the whole time that one was getting attacked down there!

if your dog is as good a hunter as my 9 year old Maine coon cat mix then it would be fine

. I don't encourage William to kill them he takes it on himself. The 1st time he killed a weasel my father saw it all happen. A weasel stalking a Sumatra hen who was eating, and William stalking the weasel. My dad said the fight lasted about 5 seconds and the weasel was dead . William bit it in the throat and killed it

. He is quite the cat

 

[Johnn]

if your dog is as good a hunter as my 9 year old Maine coon cat mix then it would be fine

. I don't encourage William to kill them he takes it on himself. The 1st time he killed a weasel my father saw it all happen. A weasel stalking a Sumatra hen who was eating, and William stalking the weasel. My dad said the fight lasted about 5 seconds and the weasel was dead . William bit it in the throat and killed it

. He is quite the cat

aww hes a nice cat , and im not sure what he is like at hunting he is a 2 year old JRT and i have never seen him kill anything because i don't let him, im too nice!, i wonder if he could kill rats with out getting hurt...

 

[Haloclimb]

aww hes a nice cat , and im not sure what he is like at hunting he is a 2 year old JRT and i have never seen him kill anything because i don't let him, im too nice!, i wonder if he could kill rats with out getting hurt...

It depends on your dog! Terrier and dogs like that are really good for rats and other small things and don't mess around, but some dogs can be a bit dopey and bite the rat wrong or just play with it and get some nasty bites on their face from the panicking rat.
Jack Russels are usually amazing ratters, one of my friends has a Jack Russel that regularly brings down foxes with barely a scratch on him afterwards

 

[pysankigirl]

I am so excited! I think one of my chickens has gone broody. Should I be excited or should I break her out of it because it is winter and not a good time to raise chicks? how long do I have to decide? should I bring her into the basement and have her raise chicks there? oh, the quandry!

bump...I am needing some advice here. background info...I have never hatched any chicks before and this is her first time being broody and my first time having a broody hen. she is a SG dorking. I don't have any purebred eggs right now to give her to sit on because my dorking roo died. I have a BV roo but my BV girls aren't laying yet. but I COULD buy some eggs. We are in Virginia, so winters do get below freezing, but not usually fo too long. usually about 40 degrees during the day and below at night.

what do y'all think?

 

[Miss Lydia]

bump...I am needing some advice here. background info...I have never hatched any chicks before and this is her first time being broody and my first time having a broody hen. she is a SG dorking. I don't have any purebred eggs right now to give her to sit on because my dorking roo died. I have a BV roo but my BV girls aren't laying yet. but I COULD buy some eggs. We are in Virginia, so winters do get below freezing, but not usually fo too long. usually about 40 degrees during the day and below at night.

what do y'all think?

Maybe read this then decide, now mind ya Va is not NH but I think it will give you food for thought. http://simplethrift.wordpress.com/2012/10/24/lesson-637-broody-hens-in-the-winter-what-to-do/