Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[fluffycrow]

Has anyone ever noticed a hen drinking twice to three times more water than usual the day before she turns broody? I have. Mary the Australorp drank loads of water Monday and was broody Tuesday. I'm wondering if she's an outlier or if that's a thing hens do. Can't say I've noticed it in the other hens, but I haven't been watching for it.

I cannot remember what Cruella did. Huh. Now I'll be on the lookout for that

 

[Perris]

Has anyone ever noticed a hen drinking twice to three times more water than usual the day before she turns broody?

no, I haven't; but now you've flagged it, I'll try to remember to look out for it next spring.

 

[MaryJanet]

I cannot remember what Cruella did. Huh. Now I'll be on the lookout for that

no, I haven't; but now you've flagged it, I'll try to remember to look out for it next spring.

Thanks both.

I'd be grateful for your observations and thoughts when the time comes.

 

[Shadrach]

Four hours today. Pissed down with rain this morning and again this afternoon.
We still got out in the dry spells.
Henry has only got one sickle feather left and is patch moulting in various places.
Fret tried to get the chicks on the roost bar in the coop again tonight. Carbon pecking at them is the main problem and now when they go into the coop and Fret gets on the roost bar they come straight back out again.

 

[MrsNorthie]

Has anyone ever noticed a hen drinking twice to three times more water than usual the day before she turns broody? I have. Mary the Australorp drank loads of water Monday and was broody Tuesday. I'm wondering if she's an outlier or if that's a thing hens do. Can't say I've noticed it in the other hens, but I haven't been watching for it.

I wonder if that is an instinct, to tank up on water incase she ends up sitting for a while?

 

[MaryJanet]

I wonder if that is an instinct, to tank up on water incase she ends up sitting for a while?

Precisely my thoughts. I'm interested to learn what other people observe.

 

[MaryJanet]

Four hours today. Pissed down with rain this morning and again this afternoon.
We still got out in the dry spells.
Henry has only got one sickle feather left and is patch moulting in various places.
Fret tried to get the chicks on the roost bar in the coop again tonight. Carbon pecking at them is the main problem and now when they go into the coop and Fret gets on the roost bar they come straight back out again.
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Henry is going to look fantastic soon! Can't wait to see him freshly feathered.

 

[ManueB]

I haven't noticed about drinking but I have with eating, which has already been mentioned a few times on this thread.
Maybe the next day will be dry and hot where you are ?

Four hours today. Pissed down with rain this morning and again this afternoon.
We still got out in the dry spells.
Henry has only got one sickle feather left and is patch moulting in various places.
Fret tried to get the chicks on the roost bar in the coop again tonight. Carbon pecking at them is the main problem and now when they go into the coop and Fret gets on the roost bar they come straight back out again.
View attachment 3646173View attachment 3646172View attachment 3646171View attachment 3646170View attachment 3646169View attachment 3646168View attachment 3646167

I suppose this is one of the disadvantage of a small coop where the settings can not be adjusted. If they don't roost before Fret weans them, they will likely stay on the floor. But I think I remember you saying you didn't think it was a problem if chickens chose not to roost.
She’s been with them six weeks now so she did not ditch them as early as she could like you once thought, or do you think she’s waiting for them to roost ?

Hope you're feeling less awful now !

 

[Perris]

Re roosting on the floor, I think you mean this one, it's a Nicol observation on commercial hens
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...rescued-chickens-thread.1502267/post-27166936

 

[Shadrach]

I haven't noticed about drinking but I have with eating, which has already been mentioned a few times on this thread.
Maybe the next day will be dry and hot where you are ?

I suppose this is one of the disadvantage of a small coop where the settings can not be adjusted. If they don't roost before Fret weans them, they will likely stay on the floor. But I think I remember you saying you didn't think it was a problem if chickens chose not to roost.
She’s been with them six weeks now so she did not ditch them as early as she could like you once thought, or do you think she’s waiting for them to roost ?

Hope you're feeling less awful now !

Waiting for them to use the roost bar before she ditches them (?) I don't think so. I don't think they'll stay on the floor either. They have both shown an instinct to roost in the tree and on the extension roost bar. Most of the the Ex Battery hens used a roost bar evenually. They're just not big enough to defend themselves from Carbon yet. If they stay on the floor for a while it's not a problem for me but Fret obviously wants them to use a roost bar. Maybe they'll use the other roost bar. Maybe they'll learn to get up on the other side of Henry where Carbon cant peck them. Maybe I'll be getting them out of the tree.