Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[Reyvaughn]

I came home to about 10 dead chicks and 8 more struggling to live. I can only blame myself. Obviously the essential oils were toxic to them and killed them. I can't imagine how. Whoever is still alive tomorrow will be going outside while I set up the other plastic tote brooder and I will be burning my new brooder. I am afraid to try cleaning it again for fear the illness will still be present adn I am going to keep losing chicks. Whatever the chicks had before didn't die during my bleaching. The new babies have the same crap and I killed my chicks trying to save them.

I am just so upset right now. I don't know what else to do. The babies in the other tote brooder are fine. OMG. What have I done?

 

[MButerbaugh]

Broody question...so our "snuggles" started sitting yesterday, was going strong at bedtime so we gave her a few more eggs. This morning she's up and outside with the ladies and green jeans... Go check the coop and a different chicken was on the nest! Now this little darling has all her feathers pulled from her chest so obviously she's the broody one... Was snuggles babysitting? Could they possibly be "sharing" the brood???

Obviously at some point she will need separated from the rest of the flock, how and when do I do this? What about snuggles?!? This is supposed to be easy..... Lol

 

[cskotek]

I just need to vent!! I am so mad at my son my head is spinning. Let me back up to the reason why. Three weeks ago week purchased 2 toulouse geese at an auction. Of course we had no idea of their age. For the past week I have been reading up on geese and wondering and wishing I knew their age. I've learned a lot here from here. So today I went into the pen to get out a board that I needed and for some reason remembered that I had read about geese covering their eggs. I remember seeing miss goose sitting in a certain spot the other day and though hmmmm. I go to that spot and found 5 eggs buried. We took 3 of them and set them outside on the table, marked the other 2 and left them. Later on we were making a new brooder and the hubby sends the kid to get the 3 eggs and put them in the house. Before we realize he got out the other 2 as well from the nest and washed them with soapy water. I know it probably wasn't the right thing to do but I put 2 back in the nest to see what she does. Why don't kids just listen!?!?!?!

I wouldnt worry toooo much about it. She will lay more

 

[fisherlady]

Broody question...so our "snuggles" started sitting yesterday, was going strong at bedtime so we gave her a few more eggs. This morning she's up and outside with the ladies and green jeans... Go check the coop and a different chicken was on the nest! Now this little darling has all her feathers pulled from her chest so obviously she's the broody one... Was snuggles babysitting? Could they possibly be "sharing" the brood???

Obviously at some point she will need separated from the rest of the flock, how and when do I do this? What about snuggles?!? This is supposed to be easy..... Lol

Hens are funny about things... and when they see a nest of eggs that is unattended they will frequently hop on it. The broody one will usually manage to reclaim. It may be that you are having a second one who is playing around with the mood but not dedicated yet. They could be sharing, though it would take a few days of observing behavior to know.
Ours get off of the nest at least once a day, but don't stay off long. If Snuggles is out and about with the rest this morning and doesn't go back in to sit within a half hour or so it may be that she just isn't totally dedicated yet, or just lack of experience because it's her first time. Keep an eye on the nest, see who spends time there and that it is covered most of the time. If it isn't being covered you may want to replace the real eggs with golf balls and give them a couple of days to get settled into the broody mood... then swap out the golf balls with eggs from favorite hens.
Seperating can be done whenever you feel it is needed to protect her and the nest. Usually done at night and then cover her new nest to keep her quiet for a while until you see that she hasn't given up sitting because of the move. It is best if her seperation still keeps her in view of the flock though.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I just need to vent!! I am so mad at my son my head is spinning. Let me back up to the reason why. Three weeks ago week purchased 2 toulouse geese at an auction. Of course we had no idea of their age. For the past week I have been reading up on geese and wondering and wishing I knew their age. I've learned a lot here from here. So today I went into the pen to get out a board that I needed and for some reason remembered that I had read about geese covering their eggs. I remember seeing miss goose sitting in a certain spot the other day and though hmmmm. I go to that spot and found 5 eggs buried. We took 3 of them and set them outside on the table, marked the other 2 and left them. Later on we were making a new brooder and the hubby sends the kid to get the 3 eggs and put them in the house. Before we realize he got out the other 2 as well from the nest and washed them with soapy water. I know it probably wasn't the right thing to do but I put 2 back in the nest to see what she does. Why don't kids just listen!?!?!?!

That question goes round in my head often, too often. Don't sweat it on the eggs, I have successfully hatched washed and refrigerated eggs, even eggs that have been soaked overnight in water. Weird, huh?

We have had the chickens in their coop for 2 weeks now. Here are some pics.

Front of the coop

Close up of front porch and pop door, it will eventually be painted.

View from people door. We have storage here and access to the nest boxes.

Poopboards, they will eventually have pdz.

We have 2 of these homemade feeders, they are awesome!

great job! Love the porch. And am needing a feeder like that, thanks for all the details.

Had a busy day, drove down to Auborn to the building supplies surplus store. Got some supplies to build a solar heater and solar water heater. On the way there brought my kittens I was bottle feeding to their new home. Went to Lowe's and got some supplies to fix up my 3rd run. I think I have 2 broodie hens, that will be awesome! Happy Mother's day to all the wonderful moms here.

It's awesome that you found homes for those kitties. And broodiness is like the plague, once one goes, they all go.

 

[Blarneyeggs]

I came home to about 10 dead chicks and 8 more struggling to live.  I can only blame myself.  Obviously the essential oils were toxic to them and killed them.  I can't imagine how.  Whoever is still alive tomorrow will be going outside while I set up the other plastic tote brooder and I will be burning my new brooder.  I am afraid to try cleaning it again for fear the illness will still be present adn I am going to keep losing chicks.  Whatever the chicks had before didn't die during my bleaching.  The new babies have the same crap and I killed my chicks trying to save them.

I am just so upset right now.  I don't know what else to do.  The babies in the other tote brooder are fine.  OMG.  What have I done?

Aww, crud, Bobbie. Hope things get better for you.

 

[mama2my4]

I came home to about 10 dead chicks and 8 more struggling to live.  I can only blame myself.  Obviously the essential oils were toxic to them and killed them.  I can't imagine how.  Whoever is still alive tomorrow will be going outside while I set up the other plastic tote brooder and I will be burning my new brooder.  I am afraid to try cleaning it again for fear the illness will still be present adn I am going to keep losing chicks.  Whatever the chicks had before didn't die during my bleaching.  The new babies have the same crap and I killed my chicks trying to save them.

I am just so upset right now.  I don't know what else to do.  The babies in the other tote brooder are fine.  OMG.  What have I done?

Ugh! I am so sorry!

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

My Mothers Day Wish.....

Good luck with that, my Mom still doesn't get that and her youngest is 22.....It's not me I'm 31 and in a different house.

Feed question ... what does everyone use, bought, made etc. Just interested to hear everyones thoughts before I start to get food in prep for the chickens arrival. Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

I buy Dumor crumbles and ferment them, and get free snacks from the local farmers market (stuff they won't sell, like bruised apples, loose lettuce leaves ect)

Just wanted to share my story of today...

I was cleaning out Patches (broken leg duck) cage... And I pulled her out of the cage and placed her on a traing pad so poo that was on her didn't get everywhere. She was at least 2 feet away from me.. I was reaching into the cage when I heard her scrambling about and then quacked... Next thing I know she hit my foot with her beak and VERY quickly started to bite my foot!!! That little ************ managed herself over to me JUST TO BITE ME...... Only I would have such an ungrateful duck!!! Left me a nice red hickey like mark on my foot....

Tell her hickies went out of style in the 90's....

.

I came home to about 10 dead chicks and 8 more struggling to live. I can only blame myself. Obviously the essential oils were toxic to them and killed them. I can't imagine how. Whoever is still alive tomorrow will be going outside while I set up the other plastic tote brooder and I will be burning my new brooder. I am afraid to try cleaning it again for fear the illness will still be present adn I am going to keep losing chicks. Whatever the chicks had before didn't die during my bleaching. The new babies have the same crap and I killed my chicks trying to save them.

I am just so upset right now. I don't know what else to do. The babies in the other tote brooder are fine. OMG. What have I done?

Oh no!!! I'm so sorry...

Hopefully things turn around for you with a new brooder.

 

[BirdbyGavin1103]

Happy Mother's day to all the Moms on here, even those without human children

.


(This is sappier than I normally am, but it IS Mother's day.)

 

[wingstone]

Feed question ... what does everyone use, bought, made etc. Just interested to hear everyones thoughts before I start to get food in prep for the chickens arrival. Any answers would be greatly appreciated!

Fermented feed from the local mill, with some wheat and barley resently added to see what they do with it.

I came home to about 10 dead chicks and 8 more struggling to live. I can only blame myself. Obviously the essential oils were toxic to them and killed them. I can't imagine how. Whoever is still alive tomorrow will be going outside while I set up the other plastic tote brooder and I will be burning my new brooder. I am afraid to try cleaning it again for fear the illness will still be present adn I am going to keep losing chicks. Whatever the chicks had before didn't die during my bleaching. The new babies have the same crap and I killed my chicks trying to save them.

I am just so upset right now. I don't know what else to do. The babies in the other tote brooder are fine. OMG. What have I done?

Broody question...so our "snuggles" started sitting yesterday, was going strong at bedtime so we gave her a few more eggs. This morning she's up and outside with the ladies and green jeans... Go check the coop and a different chicken was on the nest! Now this little darling has all her feathers pulled from her chest so obviously she's the broody one... Was snuggles babysitting? Could they possibly be "sharing" the brood???

Obviously at some point she will need separated from the rest of the flock, how and when do I do this? What about snuggles?!? This is supposed to be easy..... Lol

i have had a few share nest,,,but really sounds like you just had a babysitter for awhile.