Remember Shadow? Pics of her & a couple others today

[speckledhen]

Wouldn't you know that I have not been collecting BBS Orp eggs because Suede was separated from the girls because they were injured. I just put him back in with Skye and Smoky (sporting new, better saddles), but Dusty is still healing. So, I have Skye's egg from today.

****Well, she left the nest and went to her special perch that my DH made for her so she wouldn't be picked on (she is the only banty and spoiled rotten by him). So, I'm thinking she's working up to it. After all, she is a Cochin bantam, so I expect she'll be broody soon. She's a year old now.

 

[speckledhen]

Shadow is right back on the nest this morning, so I'm pretty sure her hormones are kicking in. We're building a permanent broody pen inside the front storage area of the Delaware coop rather than having the dog crate in that spot, so it will be several inches wider. I felt Dusty was cramped with her little ones in there, especially when they couldn't go outside. This one will have a lift-up lid so it's easy to change out food and water and clean up, plus a regular door for them to leave by.
So, we'll see if Shadow stays on the nest all day and tonight. Then we'd better get going on that pen for her!

 

[Farmer Kitty]

I'd say good timing. She's wanting to set and your wanting eggs hatched. It's better than her going broody as winter sets in. I'd say get to work on the broody pen. Then it will be ready if she does stay put.

Good luck!

 

[speckledhen]

Thanks, Kitty!

I'm thrilled to be having several broodies this year. I fully expect my Delaware girl to go broody before the summer is over.

Here Shadow sits, in one of the three fav nests in the entire coop, amongst the big girls.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

She is pretty gutsy being so little compared to the rest and taking one of the three favorite nest boxes!

I'm envious! I keep telling my girls one of them could go broody. So far, no one has though. Oh well, hopefully this hatch in the bator will do better than the last and then it'll be okay.

 

[speckledhen]

I have been defending Shadow against the big girls most of this morning. They beat on her and she fights like a little tiger. Sometimes one will push her out and she just waits for them to get settled and gets back in. Oh, she is definitely broody. We're trying to get that little pen built today and will transfer her, hopefully by tonight.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Can you put a ring of chicken wire or something around her and put something a for a "roof" so they can't get at her? Then you won't have to worry about her getting hurt.

 

[speckledhen]

We worked on that pen but didn't finish; need some 2x2's and some wire. By the end of the day, she was sitting on 7 big eggs, LOL. I think she'll be fine till tomorrow since the egglaying is over for the day. She did get off the nest to dustbathe, eat and drink like a good girl all by herself, then hopped back on.

 

[Farmer Kitty]

Maybe you won't have to worry about her eating and drinking then when she's sitting on the eggs you want her to have.

I'm running out of supplies for my chick run too. I'll have to get more this week.

 

[speckledhen]

Have to go tomorrow to get the extra wood and some hardware cloth. I was going to put BLue Orps and BRs under her and wouldn't you know that today, only one blue Orp laid and one BR. Maybe there will be a couple more eggs by the time we move Miss Shadow tomorrow.