Ribh's D'Coopage

[drstratton]

I could weep.
Lavender spent last night in a nesting box.
I wasn't too fazed. She's moulting pretty badly & I just figured she's having a hard time roosting, as she does @ the peak of her moult. She's continued to lay & I've been keeping a proprietary eye on her but she's one of my older hens & knows what she's doing.
What she's done, the rotten girl! is gone broody on me!
View attachment 2407848
She didn't come out this morning. When I checked she raised her hackles, pancaked & gobbled @ me!!! She's never gone broody before!
What is this obsession my chickens have?! Even my supposedly non~broody breeds go broody on me! ​

My heart about stopped...I'm so glad that she's only broody! I know the reason, they love the home you provide for them so much, they know it would be a great place to raise some littles!

 

[Ribh]

Australia has a similar problem to the USA. It costs a lot of money and it's very difficult to import other animals; trying to get in as a human isn't easy!
There are black market imports; there is a thread here on BYC about BCM's which I suspect are such imports.
As you write, we do the best with what we've got. It doesn't later the facts though. The breeding stock isn't adequate in any form to cater for demand. A handful of a particular breed are probably being bred generation after generation without new blood. The outcome is inevitable if they are being bred to a standard and one assumes, to make a profit.
Fortunately here in Europe and in Asia, China and many other countries importing is a lot easier. It was possible before Covid to drive to say Egypt, check around the farms and bring back some chickens. I can go to France, or Germany for examples and bring up to five chickens without doing any paperwork, or paying any "duties".

Our quarantine is super strict due to the sensitive nature of our environment & the fact we've made some really stupid decisions over the generations so that will not change any time soon. The plus side is even our chickens are free of many diseases that plague places like the U.S.

 

[BY Bob]

I could weep.
Lavender spent last night in a nesting box.
I wasn't too fazed. She's moulting pretty badly & I just figured she's having a hard time roosting, as she does @ the peak of her moult. She's continued to lay & I've been keeping a proprietary eye on her but she's one of my older hens & knows what she's doing.
What she's done, the rotten girl! is gone broody on me!
View attachment 2407848
She didn't come out this morning. When I checked she raised her hackles, pancaked & gobbled @ me!!! She's never gone broody before!
What is this obsession my chickens have?! Even my supposedly non~broody breeds go broody on me! ​

I can't believe this has happened to you. Is there not any chicken upon whom you can rely!
I think others kept talking about it until she just had to try it too.

 

[BY Bob]

Our quarantine is super strict due to the sensitive nature of our environment & the fact we've made some really stupid decisions over the generations so that will not change any time soon. The plus side is even our chickens are free of many diseases that plague places like the U.S.

Yup. It just basically sucks to have chickens in America.

 

[Ribh]

My heart about stopped...I'm so glad that she's only broody! I know the reason, they love the home you provide for them so much, they know it would be a great place to raise some littles!

Sorry. Didnt mean to give anyone heart failure but broodies are the bane of my life!

 

[drstratton]

Sorry. Didnt mean to give anyone heart failure but broodies are the bane of my life!

I know they are, I'm sorry!
I'm pretty sure that I will have my share next year...I've learned that quite a few of the breeds I have make excellent mothers...meaning...broodies...

 

[Ribh]

I can't believe this has happened to you. Is there not any chicken upon whom you can rely!
I think others kept talking about it until she just had to try it too.

Its not looking like it. Luna is threatening. There were 3 eggs under Lavender when I went to collect, 2 under Wrold who is also broody again & 3 spare.

 

[Ribh]

I can't believe this has happened to you. Is there not any chicken upon whom you can rely!
I think others kept talking about it until she just had to try it too.

You have roosting issues. I get broodies. They are both a PITA.

 

[BY Bob]

You have roosting issues. I get broodies. They are both a PITA.

That is true!

 

[micstrachan]

RIP Mhari.
She was fine yesterday morning, dead by night.
I have no idea.
I am distraught & ready to give up. She was such a lovely little henny.

View attachment 2405445​

Oh, no, Ribh! I’m so sorry!