Our introduction to keeping chickens, the high's, the lows and pics of our journey.

[scottcaddy]

And Ben gets the Big Grandieo 1,000 post

Scott

 

[Bens-Hens]

Yeah check that out! I didn't even pay attention lol The pages just keep on ticking over.

Another milestone today, Curly our BV that layed a broken soft shell a couple of days ago delivered her first porperly formed egg today, with two weeks to spare before our hatch.

Is the darkest we get, and alos has some speckles which will make her's even easier to pick out. SO now we have 8 that have laid, but the most we have got on any one day is still 7. Had some pretty average weather though.


23 weeks + 1 by my count, not huge but pretty good effort for a first go!

 

[Wrightsx4]

Nice coloring on Curly's egg - I'd keep her lol. Guess what I have again...another broody australorp. Fancy this time. I am NOT going to hatch more chicks this year, I will not, she will not...

 

[Bens-Hens]

We will be holding onto her for sure.

I didn't think Australorp's went broody very often, but I have heard twice in two days that other do.

Doing well to stay strong on hatching more Pam. This next one will most certainly be my last for some time, it's really pushing things hahahaha.

Do you plan to 'break' her? What technique do you use?

 

[Wrightsx4]

Well, Betty (BA) was my first broody and I let her hatch the faverolles - she was amazing at it too. Fancy (also BA) is only my second hen to show broody behavior so I have no experience with the breaking process other than what I've read. She just began this behavior yesterday - by the way - once you've seen it, you'll recognize it no problem! Right now I'm just pulling her out of the nest whenever I go out there to see how persistent she's going to be. If so I'll put her in a cage off the ground so she can't get to her nest and has cool air under her. I hate to do it but I'd hate to see her go through the weeks of sitting and not eating right before winter, all for nothing. Betty got so skinny even though I kept a bowl of scratch within easy reach (that's all she'd eat). I definitely don't need more chicks right now - I'm maxed out for coop space at the time. And...sorry in advance...I am overrun with eggs right now! I sell quite a few but we're still having egg casseroles and devilled eggs for dinner to use them besides eggs for breakfast. I even fry up a dozen for the chickens once a week. I figure soon the older ones will slow down and molt plus the days are getting shorter so it won't be long and my fridge will have some free space again.

 

[CB and CG]

We will be holding onto her for sure.

I didn't think Australorp's went broody very often, but I have heard twice in two days that other do.

Doing well to stay strong on hatching more Pam. This next one will most certainly be my last for some time, it's really pushing things hahahaha.

Do you plan to 'break' her? What technique do you use?

Australorps definitely do go broody but it really does depend on the individual chicken. Some will go through their entire life without being broody and others live half their life as a broody lol.
In my yard I have Australorp hens that have never been broody and I also have hens that have been broody about 6-7 times within three years. They are good mothers although they can be quite clumsy with new borns (accidentally squished chicks).

 

[Wrightsx4]

We nicknamed ours "ugly Betty" because she use to get so much attention from the roosters that she had few feathers left on her head (she does wear an apron but no luck with creating a bonnet). When she was broody and went out for her brief daily walk around, the roosters didn't dare approach her with her crazy fluffed out appearance and loud screeching. She remembers that - she still does it to make the roosters run away haha.
I was surprised too that of all the breeds I have that the BA's have been the broodies - 2for2 now. We thought my daughter's silkie would eventually take that job. "Her" crow sounds so funny, like it's through a kazoo. Lol. We didn't know until it crowed a couple weeks ago. So Calypso became Sasquatch.

 

[NovaAman]

Shoot my one and only BA went broody at about 6 months old! Unfortunetly, she also developed wry neck... Didn't get better... Anyway! Nice egg Ben!

I set today. Set marans. 11. If I get another tomorrow, I will throw that one in too. I know.. BUT hey, its a dozen then!

 

[lindz8504]

Yay! I finally finished the whole thread! I found yours via Oz's thread! You have been amazing with everything that has gone on! I don't know that I could have done it! You also sound alot like my Hubby, who re-purposes everything! He is currently building a workshop building out of pallets ect, and that is what he built my coop out of. I am in North Carolina and currently have 7 Golden Comet girls who are 16 weeks old, a BA rooster who is about 12 weeks old, 2 unknown breeds that were hatched in July and then my broody bantam Buff Cochin who now has 7 chicks which are BBC, and BC Marans. I also just got 2 blue laced red Wyandottes who are 3 years old. I lost half my flock a few weeks ago to a dog attack. Anyway, I have now subscribed to the thread and look forward to chatting with all of you!

 

[Bens-Hens]

Well great to hear form you Lindz! Welcome to the list of readers and contributors.

I spent a bit of time in North Carolina on a work trip once, Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. The people there were really nice, but everyone always looked at me funny when I spoke hahahaha.

I am about to take off for work, with about 4 pullets 'egg songing' away. Might have to sneak down there and peek on those nest boxes!