Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[Sallysec]

We sit and watch
We watch and wait
Those silly chicks
Are very late
If all those chicks
Should happen to die
Then Roger will
Require pie
Pie in the morning
Pie at night
She'll want her pie
You better make it right!
And the next time
She decides to brood
Don't let her, man!
She is too rude!

 

[cheeka]

lazy day, all day... just animal chores, which I enjoy, even cleaning the poop is better than vacuuming or mopping... I still have time to throw a couple of loads of laundry around... and the house isn't bad, I've been doing a little something all week, so... so there.

it was kind of hot in the sun, but lovely in the shade, the boys spent most of the morning outside, the girls got the afternoon. 15 eggs by noon.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Hatch has begun. Took them their afternoon treats a few minutes ago. It has poured rain all day. I have never seen the run this muddy. The run is covered by a roof but water is running thru it. I was sinking in the mud. So Roger who would never miss out on treats ran out to the mud hole to eat scratch and wallow in the mud. Perfect chance for me to check her nest. Bad timing for her family. Roger has what looks like a lung in her nest. It is moving. At least half of the shell is gone. The white membrane is still completly intact. Looks like the struggle for the chick is not the shell but the white membrane. I wanted to help but didn't. I guarded the nest from the rest of the flock until Roger/goofy got finished getting muddy and climbed back in the box full of mud. Soooo glad she didn't miss out on a bottle cap full of scratch while her kid is being born. Can't tell about big broody she has not moved. Going back out to take her something to eat on the nest. I don't think she has been up at all today. Will take the camera with me just in case. Checking back soon. I have questions. When can I move them to the boxes I have on the floor? When do I have to give them a drink? They can't get to water the boxes are too high.

 

[BullChick]

Has anyone ever tried a cheese bath? It is really awesome! You start with a container of Parmesan (I used a 3 cheese blend) that is clumped up. Begin shaking gently, and tapping it on the counter and stove. When that doesn't work, shake more vigorously. Keep shaking until the top pops open, and covers your head, chest, shoulders, floor and maybe your back.
Allow the dog to clean it up to avoid having to get the vacuum or broom.

 

[cheeka]

OK, I'll comment in a sec...

MC! you are a freakin' riot! I bust a gut... at first I thought you were going to be talkin' about puttin' sprinkle cheese in the chickens dirt bath or somethin' Reminds me of ... old BH ... we spent all day making a tremendous batch of pork flavored tomato sauce and when it was time to put it in the fridge, his thumbs gave out on him and the pot dropped straight to the floor. the result was the sauce went straight UP, hit the ceiling and showered down upon him and the entire fridge door, inside and out. I put him in the tub, hosed him off with the shower thingy fully dressed, the floor was easy, squeegee and a dustpan... the fridge door was not terrible but still, all the food containers were covered and the ceiling had to be painted...

OK! so cool! figures Roger had to get up mid hatch, but all should be well, there is a time when you can step in to assist a hatch, but it can wait quite a while from now... let things happen naturally whenever possible... this is sooooo cool! Mama's will teach the chicks to drink and do all things chicken. you just need to make sure they can access water that they won't drown in... they are fine for today, full of yolk, but introduce water as soon as you safely can. I wouldn't move anyone til the Mamas are up and about with the chicks... but that's me... they aren't on ground level? don't want chicks to fall.... but you also don't want to disturb the unhatched eggs...

 

[okallthis4eggs]

OK, I'll comment in a sec...

MC! you are a freakin' riot! I bust a gut... at first I thought you were going to be talkin' about puttin' sprinkle cheese in the chickens dirt bath or somethin' Reminds me of ... old BH ... we spent all day making a tremendous batch of pork flavored tomato sauce and when it was time to put it in the fridge, his thumbs gave out on him and the pot dropped straight to the floor. the result was the sauce went straight UP, hit the ceiling and showered down upon him and the entire fridge door, inside and out. I put him in the tub, hosed him off with the shower thingy fully dressed, the floor was easy, squeegee and a dustpan... the fridge door was not terrible but still, all the food containers were covered and the ceiling had to be painted...

OK! so cool! figures Roger had to get up mid hatch, but all should be well, there is a time when you can step in to assist a hatch, but it can wait quite a while from now... let things happen naturally whenever possible... this is sooooo cool! Mama's will teach the chicks to drink and do all things chicken. you just need to make sure they can access water that they won't drown in... they are fine for today, full of yolk, but introduce water as soon as you safely can. I wouldn't move anyone til the Mamas are up and about with the chicks... but that's me... they aren't on ground level? don't want chicks to fall.... but you also don't want to disturb the unhatched eggs...

No both broodys are in elevated nest boxes. I have cardboard boxes to put on the floor. Also have the shallow water dish and chick starter. Just need to know when to move them. Big broody still has at least four unhatched eggs. I got a look at them when she changed her position in the box. Couldn't see the rest to tell if any of them has or is hatching. Really would like to move them as soon as possible because the other hens will be trying to climb in to lay in the morning. Might just put something over the boxes so they can't get in.

 

[Sallysec]

Hatch has begun. Took them their afternoon treats a few minutes ago. It has poured rain all day. I have never seen the run this muddy. The run is covered by a roof but water is running thru it. I was sinking in the mud. So Roger who would never miss out on treats ran out to the mud hole to eat scratch and wallow in the mud. Perfect chance for me to check her nest. Bad timing for her family. Roger has what looks like a lung in her nest. It is moving. At least half of the shell is gone. The white membrane is still completly intact. Looks like the struggle for the chick is not the shell but the white membrane. I wanted to help but didn't. I guarded the nest from the rest of the flock until Roger/goofy got finished getting muddy and climbed back in the box full of mud. Soooo glad she didn't miss out on a bottle cap full of scratch while her kid is being born. Can't tell about big broody she has not moved. Going back out to take her something to eat on the nest. I don't think she has been up at all today. Will take the camera with me just in case. Checking back soon. I have questions. When can I move them to the boxes I have on the floor? When do I have to give them a drink? They can't get to water the boxes are too high.

I have heard that people provide ramps for chicks born in higher nesting areas...and I believe that Cheeka is right, they will be brought out to get water when needed by mama. Now seeing as Roger isn't the best 'test case' I would be ready to slide a small saucer or lid (like a butter tub lid or something) with water in there ...something they can't drown in. I am so excited for you! I bet the Big Broody BO will be a great mommy since she doesn't even want to move for food.


MC....I was like what is a cheese bath? Sounds kind of gross...what spa service could that be...lol

I have an egg problem......I think they don't like nesting in the box since I moved the coop out of the shed....I left when Lucy was checking out the nest and I figured I would come home to an egg (10 minute trip to just pay a bill). Anyways I come back and can't find Lucy. My father was watching the kids so I asked him...he said nope no Lucy Egg but my OE decided to lay an egg in her spot next to the chimney behind a rose bush. So my son was sent to get the egg. I find Lucy behind the shed underneath my sons water table laying an egg....I take her egg and start locking them all up. I am not having any of this egg hunt nonsense. I am doing a head count and am missing one hen. I scour the backyard to find my hen Nicole under the water table too!
I just got home from Home Depot.....I am building new nesting boxes and changing them around. One of the new girls laid a yolkless egg today too!


9 eggs....who knows though I might have more hidden. Tomorrow I am moving everything from behind the shed to make sure they haven't been hiding more.

 

[cheeka]

OK

Pics??????????????????????????????

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Quote: I built big broody a ramp. That was before Roger decided to go broody. Didn't think Roger would stick with it. I might go see what I can find to build another ramp for Roger. Would be great if the rest of her eggs hatch tonight and I could move them all to the floor in the morning. I have two nice cardboard boxes with the ends cut out for the broodys and their chicks.

 

[okallthis4eggs]

OK

Pics??????????????????????????????

Nothing yet to pic. You mean the "lung"? I didn't have my camera or phone to get a picture of the lung. And couldn't leave because I was guarding the nest for the starving mudhen. Everybody else was inside wanting to see the "lung". I guess they could hear it.