Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[cheeka]

TNchickmom, whacha feeding them?

so, I was going to write this long story... but forget it! I was feeding the flock their evening meal to lure them home and I was in the Foster Pen, Big Broody is in there brooding her eggs in the Dogloo... and I hear PEEPING! but when I look over, I see Peach, Gossamer and the kids nearby. so I wrote it off, then I crawled in the Dogloo to give BB some yummy meal - her chicks are due tomorrow y'know... and I hear PEEPING! I'm so excited I almost lifted the dang Dogloo off the ground! so I patted her hackles, kept her calm, felt around her wings... if it's a pipped egg, I don't even want to touch it. but I felt WIGGLING FLUFFINESS with FEET! so I gingerly extracted this!


Big Broody and I have a good bond - she didn't peck at me at all, but I didn't stick my hand where it doesn't belong either... she's so happy, so proud, she was derping for her little love and let me handle it, I only used my fingertips, kept them touching each other, but the baby was loving the attention, lifting it's little winglets and peeping softly... I'm so relieved that this time worked out so well! she needed this. such a good hen...

14 Eggs so far, and that is probably it for the day. I have lots of other pics to go through and may post a few later... but Hooray!!!!!

 

[mortie]

Ha, my husband would lay an egg himself if I spent another dime on this folly.  Maybe I can sneak one of those portable ones down there and he won't notice the extension cord running across the backyard and down the hill...

Well maybe that's the ticket then...an egg is an egg, right?

 

[mortie]

A baby picture of my big girl, Penny.

 

[mortie]

cheeka - Awwwww....BB looks so happy and proud! What a good mommy! Can't wait to see the rest of your chicks!

 

[TNchickmom]

Im feeding them layer crumble

 

[topdycke]

Val I think it's time to invest in coop air conditioning. It may not be cheap but if it gets you eggs sooner, it's TOTALLY worth it

I have had a fan running on mine. They are in an insulated shed row Florida style barn with shade from trees and they all still have their beaks open panting away. The humidity is like 60% you could drink the air or incubate without a hen I think. Could probably start a contest to see who could predict the closest to when they thought they would get their first egg from the hens. I will call mine at 22 weeks which would be the week of August 25th...

 

[topdycke]

TNchickmom, whacha feeding them?

so, I was going to write this long story... but forget it! I was feeding the flock their evening meal to lure them home and I was in the Foster Pen, Big Broody is in there brooding her eggs in the Dogloo... and I hear PEEPING! but when I look over, I see Peach, Gossamer and the kids nearby. so I wrote it off, then I crawled in the Dogloo to give BB some yummy meal - her chicks are due tomorrow y'know... and I hear PEEPING! I'm so excited I almost lifted the dang Dogloo off the ground! so I patted her hackles, kept her calm, felt around her wings... if it's a pipped egg, I don't even want to touch it. but I felt WIGGLING FLUFFINESS with FEET! so I gingerly extracted this!


Big Broody and I have a good bond - she didn't peck at me at all, but I didn't stick my hand where it doesn't belong either... she's so happy, so proud, she was derping for her little love and let me handle it, I only used my fingertips, kept them touching each other, but the baby was loving the attention, lifting it's little winglets and peeping softly... I'm so relieved that this time worked out so well! she needed this. such a good hen...

14 Eggs so far, and that is probably it for the day. I have lots of other pics to go through and may post a few later... but Hooray!!!!!

Sooo cute!

 

[cheeka]

mortie, I love Penny's markings - she's quite lovely!

TN, not much more you can do besides add some oyster shell on the side and wait it out... eggs will come!

I adore that Big Broody Mama! she does look so pleased doesn't she??? I am hopeful to find as many as 6 more chicks by tomorrow night - and I did get some great shots of the week old babies - just getting ready to start uploading them here and on FB...
for starters... I stashed a handful of raspberries right there for them to find...

I love raspberry beak, especially cuz it looks like blood! rawr!

our very first Guess What Lineup!

 

[Scrambles55]

mortie, I love Penny's markings - she's quite lovely!

TN, not much more you can do besides add some oyster shell on the side and wait it out... eggs will come!

I adore that Big Broody Mama! she does look so pleased doesn't she??? I am hopeful to find as many as 6 more chicks by tomorrow night - and I did get some great shots of the week old babies - just getting ready to start uploading them here and on FB...
for starters... I stashed a handful of raspberries right there for them to find...

I love raspberry beak, especially cuz it looks like blood! rawr!

our very first Guess What Lineup!

I would say that the raspberry beak is a cockerel.

 

[Scrambles55]

I just caught up on the thread. Whew!!

Mortie!! Congrats... when I saw the pictures... I could hear the angels singing.

All 3 of my layers laid and egg!! That includes Rumples. And she is still crippled. She just sits in the corner of her pen all day long, but she eats treats and seems in good spirits. She is my favorite hen right now.

Oh how I wish that she could walk.