Should I buy eggs or wait it out?

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got home about 10 minutes ago, totally dark, but I went out to see if I had any eggs from this afternoon (2 this morning...) and the coop was EMPTY!!! no sleepin' peeps in the window! I immediately starting shining the flashlight all over the place... they are all okay. they are all roosting in the back of the enclosure! on one side is Royce, Rose, Isis, Blu and Archie, on the other side is Wilma, Betty, Peach and Si ~ no Violet... so I look in the apple coop, nada. go back to the store bought coop... where they usually roost... aha! Violet is in the nest box, all by herself, and the roost has been knocked to the ground! no wonder why they are all in the back of the main room... so, since Vi was all snug, I didn't root around for eggs, she'll keep them from freezing til morning. I thought it was cute to see Peach all snug between the BR's and Si, and found it fascinating that Archie has found a way to work with Royce. for the past couple of days, I watched him follow Royce around. he doesn't overstep his bounds, and Royce has let him eat with everyone, and now they are roosting together, granted, a few hens between them, but still quite close. should I go and pluck Violet from the nest box and put her up on the roost with everyone else or leave her alone?
 
Probably got confused when the roost they use was no longer there and got in the nest box. She would probably rather be with the others but I don't think it would hurt to leave her there. I bet she rejoins them tomorrow on the roost when you fix it and they get back to the routine. When they go broody they spend weeks in the nest box alone so she will be alright. Somebody may have better advice than me
 
It won't hurt Vi to spend the night in the nest box, but you will probably have a bit to clean up in the morning!
sickbyc.gif
When they're truly broody, you never find poo in the nest.
 
the roost is fixed... it's just a little bar that slides into slots on the walls... kinda chintzy, but it's what they have in that coop... I'm surprised that they haven't moved into the apple coop... it's larger, and has two much sturdier roosts, but I guess once they find what they like, it's kinda hard to get them to change without taking it away, and forcing them to adapt... she's plenty warm in the nest box, it's got really nice dried grass bedding, freshened yesterday. I'll check at 7, see where she's at... she was wide awake and chirping to herself. i know it's late, but she's an afternoon layer, I thought she might be working on an egg despite the hour. I'm not sure whether or not I'll move her.

because Royce takes up so much space, one of the girls is usually forced to spend the night in the nest box, so I'm used to pulling poop out in the morning, it's not bad... it's always in the one corner, and easy to get out... it's never the same hen in there either, which is cool, I have a flexible pecking order, they take turns
 
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Here is what I came up with for a water heater. My concern was the chickens (roger) knocking it over and starting a fire. I wanted something heavy and at the same time would not transfer heat Thur the sides where leaves or other stuff might get hot and start a fire. I cut the bucket in half and slide the two half's together until I got the height I wanted and then put screws Thur the two half's to hold it till the concrete set up. While the concrete was still wet I put the tin in there and as you can see the brass stem out the side for the cord to fit into the light socket. The pictures don't show it but I did drill a few holes in the lid of the tin to allow heat to escape which helps warm the bottom of the waterer. Works real nice.
 
cheeka said:
got home about 10 minutes ago, totally dark, but I went out to see if I had any eggs from this afternoon (2 this morning...) and the coop was EMPTY!!! no sleepin' peeps in the window! I immediately starting shining the flashlight all over the place... they are all okay. they are all roosting in the back of the enclosure! on one side is Royce, Rose, Isis, Blu and Archie, on the other side is Wilma, Betty, Peach and Si ~ no Violet... so I look in the apple coop, nada. go back to the store bought coop... where they usually roost... aha! Violet is in the nest box, all by herself, and the roost has been knocked to the ground! no wonder why they are all in the back of the main room... so, since Vi was all snug, I didn't root around for eggs, she'll keep them from freezing til morning. I thought it was cute to see Peach all snug between the BR's and Si, and found it fascinating that Archie has found a way to work with Royce. for the past couple of days, I watched him follow Royce around. he doesn't overstep his bounds, and Royce has let him eat with everyone, and now they are roosting together, granted, a few hens between them, but still quite close. should I go and pluck Violet from the nest box and put her up on the roost with everyone else or leave her alone?
Click to expand...
EEk what a scary moment! Wonderful they are roosting together!! I would pluck your lil violet and plant her on the roost. (hehee pun intended) I feel more comfortable when they are all together.
Quasey my little pearl guinea kept going off by herself when her sister Loppy passed away. I wait til about an hour after dark, and scoop her up, carried her into the coop. She has finally made best friends with my BR and is eating better.Finally back roosting with the flock
yesss.gif
. The white guineas still haven't fully accepted her, but Mabel my BR wont allow any more challenges by the 2 little cocks. Its sad, the pearls are 6 months old, were here before the whites, but the whites instantly became dominate over the little girls. Quasey is the only hen that lays eggs so far. She may weigh 4 pounds if that, she is still so tiny. Red, my RLW roo, has fallen madly in love with her, ugh. Red is at least 12 pounds! Prissy and the boys are 8 months, and she has not laid a single egg yet but she went thru a broody spell too... jeckel and hyde, the 2 cocks, hateful little things. They do keep help the hawks away and eat the snakes, so they earn their keep. Since Red became lovestruck over her, he set the boys straight quick, but they still puff up at her any chance they get. Gotta love chicken TV
lau.gif
 
okallthis4eggs said:



Here is what I came up with for a water heater. My concern was the chickens (roger) knocking it over and starting a fire. I wanted something heavy and at the same time would not transfer heat Thur the sides where leaves or other stuff might get hot and start a fire. I cut the bucket in half and slide the two half's together until I got the height I wanted and then put screws Thur the two half's to hold it till the concrete set up. While the concrete was still wet I put the tin in there and as you can see the brass stem out the side for the cord to fit into the light socket. The pictures don't show it but I did drill a few holes in the lid of the tin to allow heat to escape which helps warm the bottom of the waterer. Works real nice.
Click to expand...
OK, WOW i really like this, my geese won't even be able to knock it over! I bet i will see them snuggling up to it too. All i have to get is the tins and 2 fixtures, i have all the other goodies.
 
Let the side of the tin stick up above the concrete so you can get the lid on the tin. Also this will keep spilled water from running down into the tin. Then drill a few holes thru the bucket even with the level of the concrete so the spilled water can run down the side of the bucket instead of rising up and going into the tin.
 

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