Sumatra Thread!

[farmraised86]

Woohoo I got a blue andalusian hen and bitty at the auction last night and a few lavender cochin bittys too the woman said the hen maybe fertilized by a lavender orpington too so when she layed an egg today it went straight into the incubator (wonder what it will look like)

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Speaking of broodieness...

My pullet isn't eating much. She is just sitting on the roost. When I went to put away the chickens, she was in the nesting box with two other chickens. I kicked the other 2 out and left her. She seemed to be covering the golf balls I'm not sure.

I will watch out for signs of sickness too though.

 

[championsumatra]

Quote: Wow that is so cool! Please post pics!

 

[Peep-Chicken]

Wow that is so cool! Please post pics!

Going to the coop in a bit and I will snap a few pictures .

 

[Peep-Chicken]

The other pictures weren't loading up so here is this one.

She got off the nest but still seems interested...

 

[BBQNuggets]

I'm very new to keeping chickens, and I've got a black Sumatra that seems to be getting picked on by my 3 red Stars. They're not being super mean to her, but not super nice either. The poor Sumatra has been hanging out all day in the nesting boxes, and not coming out much to eat or free-range. Is it broodiness, shyness, or stress from being in a new coop? The birds all came from the same coop when we got them. Will she get more comfortable in time and come out by herself? We do not hatch eggs, so I don't want to encourage broodiness if that's what it is..

 

[ST3PH3N]

Hi BBQNuggets,

Sumatras usually become broody after laying for a while and it's not likely she's been laying much this early in the season. If she was with other sumatras before you bought her she is likely missing them and is just taking a while to get used to her new surroundings. Try feeding her little handfuls of chicken scratch on a raised area (like an upside down bucket) where she doesn't have to compete with the red stars and she should settle down soon. All the best,

-Stephen

 

[championsumatra]

If she is broody she will make lots of clucking noises,When she sees you she will screech at you.

 

[BBQNuggets]

She's not particularly sqwauky or scratchy, just very shy and skiddish. I bet you're right that she's just missing her fellow sumatras and is feeling down. I will try to giver her some extra treats and tlc away from the others!

 

[farmraised86]

I had a couple bring me a barn that fell during the last storm and the main supports were tar treated utility poles, I've got them in the ground and starting my 40'x20' 13' high peafowl coop run around a fig tree. My question is do you think the tree is in danger from hot fertilizer aka poo? If so can I tarp around the trunk about 5' out to help?