Ribh's D'Coopage

[MaryJanet]

Father and son work here. I tend to have problems with brothers.
I pretty much convinced that most hatch problems are to do with the type of nest they sit in. This will save me some typing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-make-a-sitting-hens-job-so-difficult.74389/
In the past, provided the nests are not discovered by predators the hens that sit and hatch in these have a good hatch rate; alarmingly so.

I read your nest artcle a long time ago @Shadrach. Even though there's no rooster with the hens I still think about their comfort while laying and I provide an abundance of straw in which the hens make a deep bowl for laying their eggs.

 

[MaryJanet]

Here it just means we don't go away together ~ though the cats pretty much look after the man as much as he looks after them. The chooks.... He's not so good with the chook stuff.

You're teaching me to be extra grateful for my quid pro quo pet care arrangement with my neighbours. Although looking after 3 hens and 1 cat is hardly a challenging task. It's been very reassuring on this trip because Emma has sent me photos of the little flock dust bathing out in the yard and Blossom sunning her tummy

 

[Ribh]

Father and son work here. I tend to have problems with brothers.
I pretty much convinced that most hatch problems are to do with the type of nest they sit in. This will save me some typing.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...e-make-a-sitting-hens-job-so-difficult.74389/
In the past, provided the nests are not discovered by predators the hens that sit and hatch in these have a good hatch rate; alarmingly so.

Just to be clear; the chooks will scrabble down to the bare boards no matter the depth of soil or litter? I've noticed some [not all] of mine do this in the nesting boxes no matter how much mulch I put in there. They'll even toss the excess out.

Optimally, given I'm only semi rural so have some serious restrictions to consider, would you let a broody have her own enclosed coop & run & let her choose her nesting site, or provide one you want her to use, just more suited to her nature.

If I ever get this extra land my soul covets I will be planning for this & would prefer something the chooks are happiest with.

 

[Ribh]

This may sound a bit brutal but once they're dead it doesn't really matter if you mess up the processing while you learn.

It's the getting them dead part that is the problem.

Mind you, if we ever get that extra land & expand the chicken business any broodies can go for it because the man is prepared to deal with the cockerels & as I don't eat meat it is all his.

 

[Ribh]

@CrazyChookChookLady: How you doing, darl?Hope your weather isn't affecting you too badly.

 

[drumstick diva]

So very sorry to hear of the devastating fires. Seems like Aussies and Californians share so much sorrow, loss of land, and loss of lives.

 

[Ribh]

So very sorry to hear of the devastating fires. Seems like Aussies and Californians share so much sorrow, loss of land, and loss of lives.

Yes, it's a bad season this year. We always get summer fires but we are very dry & they have started early. Looks like being a long summer. I feel for our firies. They're not getting a break @ all.

 

[Shadrach]

Just to be clear; the chooks will scrabble down to the bare boards no matter the depth of soil or litter? I've noticed some [not all] of mine do this in the nesting boxes no matter how much mulch I put in there. They'll even toss the excess out.

Optimally, given I'm only semi rural so have some serious restrictions to consider, would you let a broody have her own enclosed coop & run & let her choose her nesting site, or provide one you want her to use, just more suited to her nature.

If I ever get this extra land my soul covets I will be planning for this & would prefer something the chooks are happiest with.

They do here. A nest box with high sides helps. Chickens were designed to make nests in earth.

 

[Shadrach]

Yes, it's a bad season this year. We always get summer fires but we are very dry & they have started early. Looks like being a long summer. I feel for our firies. They're not getting a break @ all.

Are these fires unusual? I recall reading some year by year statistics on acreage burnt.
I don't know if it is the case here but because of the fast media these days lots of events that have been going on for years at similar levels just appear worse because of how they are portrayed by the media.

 

[Ribh]

They are particularly bad this year. They have started early. Most are still out of control & we have a very long fire front ~ a great deal of which will be inaccessible & just have to burn itself out. Loss of life is rare ~ people in danger areas are usually well prepared~ but we are up to 4 or 5 dead already because these fires are moving so fast.

I have 2 lots of family in different fire paths; both on property. One only has his breeding stock still on the place because of the drought but their dams have been dry for a while now. The other is on acreage with a variety of things including chickens, peacocks, camels & llamas & only 1 road in or out ~ & they were in all sorts of trouble last night Still waiting to hear how it went this morning. I expect they're fine. They had air coverage & the wind change was to their advantage ~ but that just means somebody else was dealing with the fire.