Sdwd

[NellaBean]

Ugh, I think I jinxed myself......went outside and my RIR/Cochin hen was in one of the garage nestboxes too. Pecked at my hand and squawked at me. I'm not sure if she is just a really late layer tonight or if she is going broody as well. She screamed bloody murder when I stuck her in the coop instead. This weekend, I am going to do some rearranging so I can get all the broodies in the garage brooders. Shredded rooster is definitely going out into the big yard. The 4 cranky boys left in the rooster pen will move to the now covered 8x8 "baby pen" and that frees up the big rooster pen. Not sure who will go in there. I have trouble getting up and down that pen in bad weather, so may leave it empty until I can get a "path" added.

I have ZERO plans this weekend. Which means I can do some rearranging for winter. I slipped and fell TWICE in the same spot in the yard this week. I need to do some safety landscaping before weather gets bad, I think. Steep hill plus bare spots plus chicken poop plus dorkus maximus equals Nelly goes BOOM.

Forgot to mention, my broody cochin girl has been in that garage brooder a couple days now....at least 2 full days....and she hasn't touched food or done a poop. I tried to force her off the nest tonight and she would NOT stay off of it. I even stuck a bowl of scratch under her beak while she was sitting. I ended up just sprinkling it all in front of the nestbox and a little while later, caught her eating it. Hopefully there will be a big rank broody poop waiting for me tomorrow.

 

[X2Farm]

Whats the deal with broodies?

The one I suspected has GOT to be broody. She does the fluff (even when forced outta the nesting box, thus she's been named Turkey), she screams if anyone, human or animal gets near her in the next box, she hasn't been outta the nesting box in a couple days cept to eat/drink and harass a few hens and right back into the box she goes.

This is COMPLETELY new to me... ugh! I don't have a brooding area right now, grrrrr!!!!! Thankfully, though, I have fertile eggs I can give her.. she got one today, and I'll give her a few more tomorrow (and they are/will be labeled) I hope this goes well.... I feel SO inadequate

Oh and she hasn't laid in a few weeks.. so I'm guessing her part timeness I suspected has turned into full blowness...?

I've GOT to get my camera charged up so I can get some pictures.. she's absolutely AWFUL

 

[Cetawin]

<---is a broody killer. Put a broody hen near me and they are suddenly not broody anymore.

Ducks are the exception or so it seems.


NellaBean - do I need to send you some child support for my two kids staying with you?

I will gladly send some food monies as you are conveniently hiding them my "mo more chickens" husband.

However I am not taking the grandkids when they hatch...just the kids. How did you let this happen Janelle?

 

[NellaBean]

LOL, no child support needed. I think I can afford to feed two extra bantams

That boy does not get along with my blue wheaten ameracuana boy at all. They don't fight each other but they constantly fight over girls. One jumps on a girl and the other runs up SCREECHING. Then they chase each other around a little......then the other one jumps on a girl and the first boy comes running over SCREECHING. Then they chase each other. ETC ETC.

I have a bunch of boys out in the yard and they all squabble over who gets which girl. Surprisingly, other than a couple very small bantam ladies with receding hairlines, the other girls are actually growing feathers back. The blue cochin father and son and the evil Mr Mottled keep the others in line. They rule the top of the yard with iron feather covered fists. The blue wheaten ameracauna and some of the other boys rule the bottom of the yard.

You're gonna love the little hen. She is very petite. Decent type also......I think she is technically a buff columbian x mille fleur. I bet if you crossed her over a mottled rooster, you would get some mille fleur type markings. Hey, did I mention I have an extra mottled rooster?

 

[kathyinmo]

I am here to report ........ I have NO broodies!

On the other hand, I do have 2 mamas with babies! Serrin's are now about 9 weeks old. And little Silkie mama with her babies ...... hmmm, I forgot how old they are.

Leggs is still living in the garage (until tomorrow) ....

Today he had a visitor ..... Barney....

A trio of Coronation Sussex (with NO leg feathering!) visited also ....

Did I ever show you my rumpless BCMarans?

 

[X2Farm]

ohhh!! Fuzzy butts!

Kathy, you have a very motley crew up there

Terrific lookin birds!!

Leggs has perfected the Stink Eye

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
We all know she LOVES those roosters! She is a rooster magnet!

other than a couple very small bantam ladies with receding hairlines, the other girls are actually growing feathers back.

Would this be a receding hairline?
I was actually trying to get a picture to compare combs. The one in front correctly follows the line of the head, and the one in the back (roosters' favorite is apparent, huh) has a comb that goes up instead of following the line of the head.

Nella,
Tomorrow (I hope) I am gonna start working on one of those brooders like yours. My question is .... Do I need to use 2x4s or would the smaller 2x2 work, so it wouldn't be as heavy?

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
YES you do, Nicole! We need pictures! I am sure everyone gets tired of mine!

 

[NellaBean]

Yep, nice receding hairline there. My smallest bantams are these two TINY cochins. They are teeny tiny. I guess that makes them easy targets.

I used 2x4s on my big one. I would use 2x2 for framing on any future ones because it is SO. HEAVY. I would still use something "heavier" for the legs. My broody hutch uses 2x2 for all framing. As does my double rabbit hutch. The only thing i might add, using 2x2 framing is additional support on any long stretches.

 

[Cetawin]

Quote:
We all know she LOVES those roosters! She is a rooster magnet!

Zip it you! LMAO I have no clue what you did to those 3 but when they left here there were 2 boys and 3 girls. So HA!

BTW that Leggs is adorable...



Janelle...I know you have all sorts of extra roos however *ahem* I am taking one buff columbian boy and one miss broody pants.

I have no adverse feelings towards paying support for the children, even knowing they are not huge eaters, I feel it is my obligation as a good chicken mama to offer.