Old Fashioned Broody Hen Hatch A Long and Informational Thread

[bobbieschicks]

Awh - so cute - are those the 7 week olds?

 

[bobbieschicks]

Thanks for posting a picture Bobbie! Nice roost set-up.

Thank you! I got the idea from another BYC member whose coop I copied almost nail for nail

 

[Johnn]

Quote:
yeah

 

[Johnn]

Quote:
yeah

 

[Johnn]

My roost is 3 horizontal 2x4 boards over a sweet PDZ filled manure board and it's about two feet off the coop floor. There's a ladder that goes up to it, but I have seen Topsy fly up to the manure board then hop up the extra few inches onto the roost boards.
She probably walked them up the ramp. They could have flown up, but I doubt it. I've watched them fly up into broody side of the coop from the ground outside and that's about 15" up.
It was pretty cute to see her standing there with the babies peeking out. I wish I could have gotten a better pic.
Smokey is wisely still on the ground level with her two babies.
Here's a pic of the area before I added the ladder.

Here's the area with the ladder.

It looks slightly different nowdays with painted ladder and 1 more roost 2x4.

I love your shed!, i wish my girls could keep theres that tidy!!

 

[bobbieschicks]

I love your shed!, i wish my girls could keep theres that tidy!!

Haha! My girls & boys are definitely not tidy.

That's actually the week I first built it last summer. Hence the reason it's so clean. It could definitely use a good painting again as it's covered in flecks of "I don't want to know" stuff. I didn't even have the nest boxes open in those pics because my only layer at the time was just 4 weeks old.

I'd go get a current pic but it's pouring down rain right now. Everyone is hunkered down 1/2 under the coop and 1/2 under the pool deck.

 

[myby]

My 8 chickens have found looks to me a way to survive possum attacks. In this week I have found the little side door opened, and of course the chickens out in the morning. I heard once like the little door was opened but I ignored it. This morning, around 4:30 I hear my chickens screaming in their scape out of the coop. I saw one of my hens running like I have never seen before. I had to go out. I saw 5 chickens spread around almost in a camouflage mode, and a possum leaving. A hen, a pullet and a roo was missing. The possum looked at me from the tree. I locked again the coop knowing that two little pullets were there and the possum may go back. I was afraid of what I was going to find, to my surprise all were alive.
I am buying some locks (with keys) to make hand proof until we built the bigger coop.

 

[Rachel'sFlock]

My 8 chickens have found looks to me a way to survive possum attacks. In this week I have found the little side door opened, and of course the chickens out in the morning. I heard once like the little door was opened but I ignored it. This morning, around 4:30 I hear my chickens screaming in their scape out of the coop. I saw one of my hens running like I have never seen before. I had to go out. I saw 5 chickens spread around almost in a camouflage mode, and a possum leaving. A hen, a pullet and a roo was missing. The possum looked at me from the tree. I locked again the coop knowing that two little pullets were there and the possum may go back. I was afraid of what I was going to find, to my surprise all were alive.
I am buying some locks (with keys) to make hand proof until we built the bigger coop.

Thank goodness everybody was ok!!!!

 

[perchie.girl]

I lightened the picture up a bit.... too cute.

Topsy on the roost with the 2 week olds.





You can almost make out the white and black blob of chicks under Topsy on the roost tonight - she bravely took her two week olds up there. When I left she was enduring pecks from the older pullets like a champion. Praying she is wise and can keep those babies safe up there.

 

[bobbieschicks]

Topsy on the roost again tonight - but in a less dangerous part. Wonder why the white chick has blue eyes.


Smokey still on the ground.