Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

Question- I have a broody BCM. I take her off the nest many, many times a day. She insists she has a duty to set in that box. I do not have a rooster and no eggs in that nest. Should I build a broody box or go to TSC and get her some babies?? All advice is welcome!!
If she isn't being bothered by other hens you could leave her where she is at, but plan to have a secure cubby area fenced from the rest of the flock for the first few days after she hatches so the chicks get used to her vocalizations and learn to listen to her. Once you have raised a clutch or two you should have a good idea if any of the others in the flock cause problems and maybe the separation by fencing won't be needed, but for first time I would do it for peace of mind.
Watch her general body condition and give her high protein type snacks to keep her boosted since she is not out foraging or eating as much as normal. we do scrambled eggs, sunflower seeds and peanuts, tuna or other cooked fish, oatmeal with raisins or chopped canned peaches or pears in it, boiled liver chopped fine (I have an electric chopper that does wonders for making this stuff easier!), cat food, canned corn (rinse it first), fine chopped or shredded lettuce or cabbage and I usually switch my broodies over to chick starter also while they are setting.

Quote: This would be my first choice also! However.... if you aren't allowed to have roosters, and don't know anyone who could either butcher them for you or rehome them for you then TSC day olds are an option, though I would wait till she has been on fake eggs for about 10 days or more before doing them. For a first time broody 6 may be too many also (the minimum TSC will sell)

Ideally, go with 6 or 8 eggs and let her enjoy the whole process, if you aren't sure about roosters try to start making arrangements for them now, because you won't have to worry about them for 3 or 4 months yet, so you have plenty of time to plan.
 
On the topic of mites and even other chicken parasites, since it's coming that time of year...

This may seem like overkill, but this is what I do when I find my bird/s has/have a bug... or many.
1) Bath in flea and tick shampoo for cats. I use Sergeant's Gold. Make sure to rinse with vinegar and water mix to remove all the soap (I use a quart per 10 gallons of water).
2) After the bird is mostly dry, I sprinkle them with Sevin.
3) I strip their bedding and spray all cracks and surfaces well with Permethrin (mix as label suggests).
4) I replace the bedding and sprinkle Poultry Dust in their bedding.
5) Just to make sure nothing lives, once the birds are totally dry, I apply Ivermectin pour-on (1/2mL for bantams and 1mL for large fowl).

I had a bad case of lice 2yrs ago and after 2x of cleaning the pens and powdering with Sevin they kept coming back. I went nuclear on them and haven't seen any bugs since!
 
I think that a good dust bath area helps the chickens fight the lice and mites themselves. They still might need help once the critters are established, but I haven't had any problems yet with free ranging chickens, I think because the dust bathe with great enthusiasm (giant holes dug under some bushes, I think a basketball might disappear in some those).
 
hello all---------------I just sent wingstone a PM about quail...............just thought I would post a general thing too

since my chicks have been nixed..............darn it!

I am thinking its time for coturnix quail raising.

first off-------------I want a quieter quail with decorative eggshell

with eggs that taste good

and meat that might be processed and tasty.

second
I want to get male and female quail so that there are fertile eggs
and hope the birds will incubate their eggs

some people say they don't do this

but lastly
if they don't incubate their own.............I might have to look into an cheapo incubator to try this


anyone out their got coturnix............maybe even jumbo coturnix?

or what type of quail would you recommend and why?

I am also gonna look into a good raising quail book!

I am in Chester county and can drive to get these ------------------a reasonable distance.............

thanks in advance!
 
I think that a good dust bath area helps the chickens fight the lice and mites themselves. They still might need help once the critters are established, but I haven't had any problems yet with free ranging chickens, I think because the dust bathe with great enthusiasm (giant holes dug under some bushes, I think a basketball might disappear in some those).

Yep, every time the ground thaws, they are fighting over the prime spots....
 
Well, we broke down and drove to punxy because they had EEs. Got 4 EEs and left the kids each pick their own Bantam chick. Life just doesn't feel right without chicks in it. Pictures when There's a good signal.
 
Well, we broke down and drove to punxy because they had EEs. Got 4 EEs and left the kids each pick their own Bantam chick. Life just doesn't feel right without chicks in it. Pictures when There's a good signal.
Congrats on the new chicks
jumpy.gif
 

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