Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

[showbarnmom]

Normal for a broody to get off the best twice a day? My mutt came running off her nest after everyone left the coop. Was out for about 30 mins, stuck to her eggs all day, then came off again for about 30, maybe more I came inside, this evening. This is only day two, just wondering if it could be her normal? Or if I shouldn't encourage?

 

[okallthis4eggs]

Normal for a broody to get off the best twice a day? My mutt came running off her nest after everyone left the coop. Was out for about 30 mins, stuck to her eggs all day, then came off again for about 30, maybe more I came inside, this evening. This is only day two, just wondering if it could be her normal? Or if I shouldn't encourage?

I don't think you have a worry there as long as she keeps returning to those eggs and spends the night on the nest. Probably pretty hot there and she needs water often. I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

[cheeka]

SBMom, no worries... it's only day 2, her time away from the nest will become shorter as the time progresses. by the end she will probably only get up once and make it pretty quick... Peach tries to get a quick dust bath in just about everyday too, especially when it's warm. her earlier hatches, she beat it back faster.

 

[cheeka]

oh yes, water... very crucial, I put a waterer near Peach toward the end, just outside her kennel, and every day, just because... I hand fed her something special while on the nest. breads and fruits, sometimes meat, and whenever I make the kitten feed mash, I always put a blob at the doorway, she loves that... BOSS and millet are her favorite seeds... especially when fed by hand...

the regular waterer is only a couple of feet away, but the last few days I make it really easy for her to stay put, which is what she wants. she makes these mad dashes... I feed so bad, I have to spoil her

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

• uh oh, Roger has a pro bono attorney ~ he's already representing my Gang for the removal of the stump that is outside the dome door...

Opening salvo in Roger's civil suit:

• "We demand that our feed be increased by three scoops.
  The cost's more than covered by selling our poops!"
  "The defendant is short on compassion and wits
• If she denies us the goodies but shovels our sh*ts!"
  If our case goes against us, here's what we will say:
• "We'll demand a big slush fund from the Egg EPA!"
  
  my Dad is on a roll....

Love it!

 

[Chaneys Ranch]

I was out with the dogs and saw someone driving slowly up the road, looking left, right, left...the passenger spotted me up the road, and was waving and then the driver tooted the horn, waved some more and drove up...he said "someone down the road told me someone up here sells eggs, but I can't find a sign".

I don't have a sign... guess it's time to make one. they were going to take a dozen til I opened the carton to show them, they bought 3 dozen. they were amazed at the colors

, so I took them around the back to see the flock. Nice people. said they'd be back for more...

I was ready to squeeze one of the older girls to get just ONE more egg for the day.... of the older girls, only Rose laid today... I got 9 total...

Hehehe! Yes I need a sign too, whenever mine start to lay again. I did get 3 eggs today, Mama turkey, bunny and a BA egg.

This is since Sunday. I figure I have probably 6 layers that are each laying approximately every 2-3 days. There are at least that many unique egg types. Funny thing is, Sneaky Chimi hasn't laid since everyone else started, and apparently I have a weirder than usual NN...middle son caught Turk laying a skinny little green egg!



That's Turk up front.

Love all your colors, I am jealous!

I have a similar question:

Of the 3 hens I have, only one has been laying.... She's been laying about an egg per day for almost 2 weeks now, but the other two haven't lain any that I know of. I have 4 nesting boxes and the on layer has tried out 3 of the four, but has been consistent in the same box for the past 8 or so eggs. I wouldn't peg her as the most mature of the group, all were bought at the same time, at the same place and she is not the biggest or the first to explore things...

Do I just need to wait it out?
One of the non-layers is the same breed as the layer...

Welcome!

Yep, wait it out, their bodies just aren't ready yet.

We Thought About A Union... Or We Might Just Quit
You Want More Eggs.....And Complain Were Not Fit
So Write This Down......Here Is How It Will Be
We Get PIE Everyday....Cause Our Eggs Are Not Free
Now Make Your Threats....And Your Meat Bird List
And Try To Control Us... With Your Ugly Iron Fist
Enough Is Enough...And You Need To Know
Your Not The Boss......ROGER's Running This Show

 

[showbarnmom]

I don't think you have a worry there as long as she keeps returning to those eggs and spends the night on the nest. Probably pretty hot there and she needs water often. I wouldn't be too concerned.

SBMom, no worries... it's only day 2, her time away from the nest will become shorter as the time progresses.  by the end she will probably only get up once and make it pretty quick... Peach tries to get a quick dust bath in just about everyday too, especially when it's warm.  her earlier hatches, she beat it back faster.

That's how I felt, just wanted some reassurance.

2nd question - should I move her/nest? She's currently sitting in a nest in the big coop with the adults. I have another coop with 4 14 week olds that I am working on socializing with the adults. I plan to have them out within a week or two, because I will be getting chicks about then from a Friday incubator. So in the grow pen would be roughly 5 chicks and her. Should I let her sit on eggs, then slip the chicks under her? What would be the best course of action??

 

[Silvester]

I'm about 90% confident it's only Georgette that is laying. I have seen her in the nesting box and found an egg soon after...
Harriet seemed to be the more physically mature and sat in a nesting box first, but she seems content with just standing guard for Georgette every once in a while.
Arthur seems the least mature of the group...

Once they get rolling, my cholesterol is going to go thru the roof!

 

[cheeka]

SBMom, that's a toughie really... do other hens get in the nest with her? are you going to let her hatch eggs or is she sitting on unfertile eggs til you get chicks to slip under her? need more info... if she's hatching, she needs some privacy. move her soon rather than later. if she just sitting til you get chicks, leave her alone til the chicks come, then move her... she won't like it, but it's better to give her chicks away from everyone else.

Peach is so darn easy, I can just give her a chick anytime. but for others, it's best to slip them under in the dark.

Silvester, if your flock gets good quality feed and extras like grasses and bugs, your eggs will have less cholesterol than store bought eggs. I wouldn't worry about it, but you can always toss a yolk... I almost never do, they are so vibrant, and dark orange... I want to eat them all...I haven't been scolded by my doctor... he thinks it is great to have a flock, especially the exercise part of hauling water.

 

[Sallysec]

I have a similar question:

Of the 3 hens I have, only one has been laying.... She's been laying about an egg per day for almost 2 weeks now, but the other two haven't lain any that I know of. I have 4 nesting boxes and the on layer has tried out 3 of the four, but has been consistent in the same box for the past 8 or so eggs. I wouldn't peg her as the most mature of the group, all were bought at the same time, at the same place and she is not the biggest or the first to explore things...

Do I just need to wait it out?
One of the non-layers is the same breed as the layer...

Wait it out...sibling chickens can start to lay at different times/weeks etc.

I was out with the dogs and saw someone driving slowly up the road, looking left, right, left...the passenger spotted me up the road, and was waving and then the driver tooted the horn, waved some more and drove up...he said "someone down the road told me someone up here sells eggs, but I can't find a sign".

I don't have a sign... guess it's time to make one. they were going to take a dozen til I opened the carton to show them, they bought 3 dozen. they were amazed at the colors

, so I took them around the back to see the flock. Nice people. said they'd be back for more...

I was ready to squeeze one of the older girls to get just ONE more egg for the day.... of the older girls, only Rose laid today... I got 9 total...

Bahahaha

I can picture someone trying to squeeze an egg out. It reminds me of a key chain my sister had...it was a novely squishy rubber when you squeezed it an egg came out its butt...they had a pig too that pooped.

That's how I felt, just wanted some reassurance.

2nd question - should I move her/nest? She's currently sitting in a nest in the big coop with the adults. I have another coop with 4 14 week olds that I am working on socializing with the adults. I plan to have them out within a week or two, because I will be getting chicks about then from a Friday incubator. So in the grow pen would be roughly 5 chicks and her. Should I let her sit on eggs, then slip the chicks under her? What would be the best course of action??

I wouldn't if you see all the people having reintroduction issues....its better to leave her in with everyone or at least in site if she can protect her own. If you think she might be low on the order or that their isnt other boxes etc for the other girls to use...then move her out. Is she sitting on fertile eggs? I got confused at the end...are you giving her chicks or are you hoping she will hatch out some fertile eggs?

I'm about 90% confident it's only Georgette that is laying. I have seen her in the nesting box and found an egg soon after...
Harriet seemed to be the more physically mature and sat in a nesting box first, but she seems content with just standing guard for Georgette every once in a while.
Arthur seems the least mature of the group...

Once they get rolling, my cholesterol is going to go thru the roof!

Silvester I think they like to take credit for each others eggs, so the switcheroo is very possible. I didn't know until I watched or caught each girl. And even now occasionally I get a surprise. I had the hardest time because I had one girl who wasn't laying who would just sit on everyones eggs after they laid them. The curious nature of them checking it out is good though because they will know where to lay their eggs later.

CT was wonderful, thanks for all that info on shipping cheeka...I constantly think I would love to be eyes on a package to see what it goes through etc. I often think silly things like ...where has this cardboard been?