Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[OneMountainAcres]

NE Pennsylvania , just got our first batch of chicks 5days ago, (6chicks). New chicken owner and loving it! I'm going to be looking for a couple of americauna's in a few weeks. I love this site, so helpful!!

Welcome, from Cambria county!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

I don't know why [@=/u/249441/dheltzel]@dheltzel[/@] gave me all of his defective chickens. Just kidding! I think I am keeping them too happy.

I have never had a broody Bielefelder, and broodies are rare in the other breeds too. I can break a broody hen easily by moving her to a quiet place with a nice nest and putting some fertile eggs in the nest for her to hatch. She immediately senses that I *want* her to be broody and stops.

I am getting some new breeds this year and some are notorious as broodies (Sumatras, Kraienkoppes, and buff Ameraucana bantams), so my experiences could change next year. For now, the only broody hens I can trust to actually sit for an entire hatch cycle are the silkies and cochin bantams.

I have a broody turkey now and if she wasn't such a ditz (but a lovable ditz) I would let her hatch something.

Haha! Like I said, I think my girls are treated too well and they are comfortable enough to try and raise a brood. I will keep you posted on the progress. I am figuring with 4, possibly 5 broodies, between the chicks they hatch and the incubator babies, they should all get a few.

You always get such interesting breeds! When are you getting rid of your Bieles permanently?

Hopefully this will break my turkey from being broody. We'll see if she's a good mama, but if not, I know I have some willing adopters.

My girls are playing musical chairs also. Some are sharing. Although last night, the turkey was in the smallest nest, with her tail feathers sticking out.

Do you guys notice any secondary behaviors before a girl goes broody? Besides being parked on a a nest and growling, I mean. My other BSL seemed to be making broody noises yesterday, and acting disturbed. She also ducked the rooster when he try to mate her.

Yep, 'Pre broody' behaviors can include... unusually talkative behavior, walks around quietly clucking as if talking to imaginary chicks and often will give the excited 'food found' chortle despite no one being there to respond to it.
Begins avoiding roosters and even other hens, sometimes taking extreme defensive mode including the 'head down/wings slightly out' and puffy appearance.
May speed scratch and dust before running back to coop and then act like 'what did I hurry back for'.... and then will resume the odd talking behavior again.
I tend to notice this 2-3 days ahead of our hens committing to a nest, some a bit longer, some shorter....but most do it to some extent.

Haha, I thought I had observed that behavior in the Wellbar who has now gone broody (and her eye is completely back to normal,). I think they are just playing follow the leader now... So thankful Dheltzel and Aurora gave me a bunch of eggs! Now what to do with all of those chicks...

 

[BullChick]

NE Pennsylvania , just got our first batch of chicks 5days ago, (6chicks). New chicken owner and loving it! I'm going to be looking for a couple of americauna's in a few weeks. I love this site, so helpful!!

 

[Susanhen]

Perfectly intact shell less egg.

My RSL pullet layed a few of those when she started laying, unfortunately hers didn't stay intact and I ended up with messy nest boxes!

 

[NickiePA]

What is the "chicken train" so many are talking about?

 

[BullChick]

What is the "chicken train" so many are talking about?

Someone plans a trip, and offers to transport; eggs, animals and supplies.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Haha! Like I said, I think my girls are treated too well and they are comfortable enough to try and raise a brood. I will keep you posted on the progress. I am figuring with 4, possibly 5 broodies, between the chicks they hatch and the incubator babies, they should all get a few.

You always get such interesting breeds! When are you getting rid of your Bieles permanently?

Hopefully this will break my turkey from being broody. We'll see if she's a good mama, but if not, I know I have some willing adopters.
Haha, I thought I had observed that behavior in the Wellbar who has now gone broody (and her eye is completely back to normal,). I think they are just playing follow the leader now... So thankful Dheltzel and Aurora gave me a bunch of eggs! Now what to do with all of those chicks...

How are the eggs in the bator looking? Have you candled yet?

What is the "chicken train" so many are talking about?

Every now and then, @emorems0 travels across the state to visit family and is kind enough to transport birds and eggs around to anyone who can meet along her route. She's our very own, Pennsylvania chicken train

 

[gonehencrazy]

Who has hatching eggs for sale? I'd like to give my broody a few that aren't from my hens. Looking for anything besides brown eggs layers.

 

[Werforpsu]

Hey all! First day with no chick escapees!!!! Woohoo!
Apparently I was right about how they were getting out. My early guess based on early tail feather growth was 3 BO pullets and 3 BO cockerels, 4 Amer. pullets and 2 Amer. cockerels. I am anxiously waiting to see if my guess was correct. I'm still feeling good about the BO guess watching the comb development begin. The Amer. are more skittish so it is harder to get them to come close for me to see.

I keep waiting for the day that my 1 year old hens will go back to laying 5 for 5...hopefully that will happen soon!

 

[Liven42day]

Northeastern PA