Suddenly a pet?

[aart]

LOL(with you, I hope) @ Hobbit Hole and @ your dog and @ your chicken....geeesh, they can be a trial huh?

I'd coop your chickens up until they get the gist of laying in the coop nests...unless you like to do the Easter Egg hunt everyday.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for 2-3 days can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. They can be confined to coop 24/7 for a few days to a week, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it.

 

[ameliadanielle]

Our only rooster is still a juvenile. He hasn't started showing off, mounting, or crowing yet. So her eggs will be duds. I just want to fill the hole in so she'll have to use the nest box. I wonder if they all are laying eggs already and we don't know it yet because they're in a hole in the ground. Lol. We didn't get home dark. I'm going to try and get my husband to come hold and flashlight for me.

 

[Wol1]

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Good call.
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Until you take them off. Which I did to look at something. She made a move, I looked up, and BAM! Missed the cornea by 1/8 inch. Also caused (or rapidly accelerated) vitreous detachment (not retinal detachment) of the eye. She was on my lap while I checked her to see which Golden Comet left the pile of feathers by the fence.... the clover must look better on the other side, then they get tangled in the fence.....

You will have to decide if you want her to do that or not, and if you don't, just keep pushing her off every time until she gets the message. They'll go as far as you let them... like kids. and bullies

I wish I'd had chickens before I had kids. The psychology lessons would have been so helpful.

 

[Chickies Mama]

So if u have a rooster how do u determine if the eggs have been fertilized. How long until you can tell? Do some people eat the fertilized eggs?

 

[ameliadanielle]

I just stay on the move now. She gets really mad and chases me around but it seems like she can't pick her landing area and jump on me while I'm moving. She follows me around fussing at me. Lol.

 

[silly4buttons]

Did you ever think that just maybe she just likes you and wants a little attention from you. It's not a bad thing. My kit is like that she love to follow me around and tells me about her day and I answer her back. My neighbors must think i am nuts but I don't care. My chickens and duck have very happy and that makes me happy. There is too much saddest in the world.

 

[Chickenteacher]

Fertile eggs don't taste any different and I'm sure you've eaten them before.....you can tell by sight when you open them ....google it....there is a very small circle in the yolk and with experience you will notice a difference in the circle when fertilized....

 

[shortgrass]

I just stay on the move now. She gets really mad and chases me around but it seems like she can't pick her landing area and jump on me while I'm moving. She follows me around fussing at me. Lol.

Lol this is a good chuckle... Especially since I have Red Stars too... My BRs do most of the hopping on/squatting... But the reason I GOT a red star roo is because he is so sweet! He coos and follows me around, completely spoiled EEs ar super friendly, and mine like the sneak attack too; as soon as I bend over or squat, they're on me, especially if I'm pulling weeds....

I like it; its sweet ha-ha... Makes me feel appreciated just a little more than pecking my toes does

Adding to the glasses thing...goodness it can be a life altering injury.. I wear glasses too, and it almost seems like they go for the MORE because of the reflection... But I dunno, lol I just try not to let them see my eyes; I can tell when they pull their head back to look, getting ready to peck, and I dodge and weave

 

[ameliadanielle]

She hasn't pecked me yet. If I come outside without food the buff orpingtons will do what I like to call a "run by." Lol. They powerwalk past me and try to peck my flip flops. Sometimes they get a toe. I think it's the design on my flip flops they're mostly after. The red stars are the most brave. We have two, the one that has decided I make an excellent perch and the other one just always stays around my feet waiting for treats. It's hard to give the pig treats because they will take it right out of my hand or the pigs mouth and run away with it. The gold lace wyandottes and the rhode island red are the ones that don't get close and complain the most if we ever have to touch them.

 

[ameliadanielle]

Well, we just got down and emptied the hobbit hole. 11 eggs. 11. So we collapsed it and moved the old dog shelter up close to the house right next to the back steps where they prefer to sleep. I put one of the eggs in one of the nest boxes and took the other 10 inside. I put them in a bowl of water and they all sunk. That means they aren't bad right? Since I put them in the water and don't know exactly how old they are I'm going to wash them and put them in the fridge. We'll just have to crack and smell when we use them. Lol. Being underground probably kept them a lot cooler though. All the hens are now checking out their new nest boxes right next to their night time roost. Maybe tomorrow we'll have some more eggs in there so we'll know if they're going to use them.