Well, my Orp is not gonna make it. I am sick about this and feel like I am the blame. I took her chicks after only a couple days. I swear she is in mourning. Call me crazy...... but I have said that since I took them. She has a "look" to her. Now, mind you, I do not consider my stock "pets." I am not really especially soft hearted towards them. They are more like livestock to me, really. Yes, I love them, or I should say, I enjoy them so very much. I DO REALLY! BUT, I am not sentimental towards them, ya know what I mean. YET, I "feel" this girls pain. Or, I see it! I know.... I know..... I know ..... it sounds crazy. I feel horrible about this. If she is still alive tomorrow, I will cull her. She is bone thin and not eating at all. I know she is suffering.
That leads me to my decision. I am going to attempt to break all my broodies. Come hell or high water, there are gonna be no more "active" broodies here. I have had it! I have a couple plans. Plan #1 is to open up one of the breeder barn pens, and put in ALL the broodies. I will clean it out, down to the floor (cement pavers). There will be no nest, no bedding. If need be, I will close the pop door and leave them outside. It is shady, and forecast is less than 80* tomorrow. I am also gonna do the butt dunk. I will have a bucket of water and dunk them in before releasing them into the pen. I have heard that works for some.
If that doesn't work, I have rounded up 4 wire cages, and I will use those. It has just been crazy around here, and I am DONE dealing with it.