Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Perris]

There does seem to be one problem. The older hens kicked her out of the nest box so they could lay, and so she went and sat in the other nest box, so I had to move her eggs. I hope this doesn't continue.

Congrats on your broody!

Fez had the same problem. I solved by closing off the coop after everyone else has left for breakfast, so the novice broody is undisturbed. Can you do something similar? I did this because I have in the past tried what you did, and my broodies didn't relocate reliably. It's often risky to move a nest, and you don't want to break her.

 

[Shadrach]

Those are some great family pictures. He is such a great Dad! It is beautiful to see pictures of him relaxed, hanging out with his offspring, imparting his wisdom.

I think Spud is going to be our super dad. He is the most attentive to the girls. It has been quite warm and sunny and the girls take turns wandering out in the open of their new surroundings and Spud is always out there keeping watch while the other boys are lazing in the shade. The only time the other boys venture out of their comfy positions is when Spud finds something to share with the girls, then they all come running trying to take credit. I have noticed that more of the girls are choosing to roost with Spud, too. He may be gently, quietly taking the role of top roo.

I've found the attentive ones tend to get the hens.

 

[Shadrach]

So, it finally happenedView attachment 3857426. Someone from the free rangers went broody. It's Big Red's (and Gogo's) daughter. I thought I heard some clucking from her on Thursday, so I left some eggs in the nest box Friday morning. Soon enough, she was sitting on them. I gave her more eggs from the mix breed bantams (which are infertile) to make sure she's sitting well. She spent Friday night in the nest box, and today she acted like a normal broody.



There does seem to be one problem. The older hens kicked her out of the nest box so they could lay, and so she went and sat in the other nest box, so I had to move her eggs. I hope this doesn't continue.



Kolovos' son's...artistry is also visible in the photo

It's finally happened.
If she's having problems with the senior hens you may find moving her to a maternity unit worthwhile. What do you mean you haven't got one!
Perris mentions shutting her in during the day which works if you're prepared to take her off the nest to bathe, eat, etc. I prefer they do this themselves but I did have to shut a few in overnight. The seniors bugged the junior broody as soon as they woke up it seems.

I found it can go from no broodies to lots of broodies pretty quickly. Lots of broody hens is great if you have a plan for the offspring and suitable accomodation.
I hope it all goes well for you. I know you've been wanting a broody hen for a while. Carefull what you wish for.

 

[fluffycrow]

Congrats on your broody!

Fez had the same problem. I solved by closing off the coop after everyone else has left for breakfast, so the novice broody is undisturbed. Can you do something similar? I did this because I have in the past tried what you did, and my broodies didn't relocate reliably. It's often risky to move a nest, and you don't want to break her.

Thank you!



I can do something similar, as in, making sure the other birds can't get to her. I was thinking of putting a large vegetable crate on top hers in the mornings while the birds are laying, so that they don't bother her. I can't limit access to the coop entirely, because all the other girls will hate me more than they already do

 

[Shadrach]

I found this when I got there this morning.
Looks like a rat tried to gnaw its way in. The inside of the coop was a mess so it may have got in but it wasn't there when I opened up. They didn't seem too put out about being kept in the coop for so long. I wedged the pop door open for the day.

Back to the flat to get some tools.
Took the auto unit back home to sort it out. Have some nylon line somewhere.
Got some mesh bolted on which is going to stay (I know, I'm a washer short and at this rate, two days short at least) Sorting out a way to mount the auto unit tomorrow I hope.

The spilt food...Mow pushed her luck and Fret went full battle order on her.
No blood spilt.

 

[fluffycrow]

It's finally happened.
If she's having problems with the senior hens you may find moving her to a maternity unit worthwhile. What do you mean you haven't got one!
Perris mentions shutting her in during the day which works if you're prepared to take her off the nest to bathe, eat, etc. I prefer they do this themselves but I did have to shut a few in overnight. The seniors bugged the junior broody as soon as they woke up it seems.

I found it can go from no broodies to lots of broodies pretty quickly. Lots of broody hens is great if you have a plan for the offspring and suitable accomodation.
I hope it all goes well for you. I know you've been wanting a broody hen for a while. Carefull what you wish for.

I'm very excited. I'm hoping her aseel side shines through, and she becomes a very protective mother. She's going to need it, being in the same pen with Miss Mayhem. Judging from the fact that she's gone broody at 10 months old while she was artificially brooded and incubated, I think it has so far.

I sort of do have broody living quarters, but they're being occupied by the brooder babies currently


Rehoming a couple of the oldies is not off the table. Along with keeping the broody secure during the morning hours while the birds are laying, it might be enough to give her a safe environment to sit, and eventually raise chicks


As I've said before, I'd rather be breaking birds constantly, rather than hoping for broodies for years, with no success!

 

[BDutch]

I found this when I got there this morning.
Looks like a rat tried to gnaw its way in. The inside of the coop was a mess so it may have got in but it wasn't there when I opened up. They didn't seem too put out about being kept in the coop for so long. I wedged the pop door open for the day.

This really sucks.
My experience is: The cord is the weakest part of the chicken guard. I could roll off the cord quite a bit after it got worn out. I could cut the bad piece off without any problem. After a reset it worked fine again.
You have to put it up in the coop to reset and check the functions. Can’t do that at home.

I bought another auto pop door a couple of weeks ago, a Chickencozy for my tiny coop. It opens sideways and was supereasy to install. But has less features than the chickenguard.

 

[MrsNorthie]

The inside of the coop was a mess so it may have got in but it wasn't there when I opened up.

That is a little scary, rats can be vicious! I hope that the rats around there are small enough that Henry and the ladies can dispatch them easily.

 

[Perris]

I was thinking of putting a large vegetable crate on top hers in the mornings while the birds are laying, so that they don't bother her.

That sounds great! I can't do that with my little coops.

shutting her in during the day which works if you're prepared to take her off the nest to bathe, eat, etc. I prefer they do this themselves

Yes I prefer to leave them to themselves too but this is working better with Fez. I open the door late afternoon (mine can go to lay as late as 6pm at this time of year) but have found I need to lift her off at teatime; she inflates and hisses but doesn't peck me, dashes straight to the feeding station, then rushes between it and the dustbath, water, and trampoline like a ball in a pinball machine A lot of vigorous shaking, stretching and screeching and 15 mins later she rushes back in the coop - and onto the right nest without fail now. I've never seen a broody in such a hurry!

The matriarch Maria doesn't need to worry about being disturbed when brooding of course, and has lots of experience; she also has me well trained. She just comes to the back door at whatever time she's decided to take her daily constitutional, and squawks until she gets a private dinner service.

The seniors bugged the junior broody as soon as they woke up it seems.

That doesn't seem to be happening, fortunately. What I am finding is that everybody wants in to that coop overnight. During this first week I have repeatedly found, when going to close up, 1 coop completely empty, 1 coop with 1 or 2 bottom ranking birds in it, and 1 coop with around 4 in it. Everyone else has pushed into the broody coop. I think it's quite sweet, but I do yank out those nearest the front or back door to relocate, if I don't get there early enough to close that coop door and prevent it.

moving her to a maternity unit worthwhile

but then there may be integration issues, as you said happened with the youngsters having no 'tribe' to slot into when the broody returned to hers. Maybe this has something to do with why your flock formed subgroups and mine stays as one whole.

 

[Perris]

I found this when I got there this morning.

what a PITA. Good luck with the fixes.