Surviving Minnesota!

[Violetsfeathers]

Are either hen broody now?

If not just pull the eggs and store them in cool place 60ish until they go broody.  I would load the nest with fake eggs and change them when they are broody. Leaving them there is a good way to get rotten eggs...


And then I am doing it myself right now too,,SO Do as I say not as I do...  I have not been getting any Minnesota Australorp eggs for almost a week.  I have a small "coop" off that run and I mean small.  Holm saw it he can tell you how small. The other day I thought to myself... " self, do you think she could be laying eggs in that old nest/coop?"

I checked and she had a half a dozen eggs in there. So I decided to let her keep laying there. I expect her to go broody any day now.   Because she is an Australorp she will most likely go hard broody. So ignore what I said...lol

I had a chicken stashing eggs In a haybale, there were about 8 of them by the time I found the nest. I don't think that because they go off and lay somewhere else means they will go broody, it just means they found a better nest box and no one is collecting eggs.

 

[holm25]

I would not be scared of it at all. Just make sure you cover his eyes now and then and bend his head down, little things roosters do not like. I only had to do it once this year with King George and he has been on his best behavior, while still being a good rooster.

Yesterday during retesting of the Turkey hens. King George was in the rhubarb patch with his hens. (one of their favorite places to forage)  The hen tussled and made some noise. King George came on a dead run ready to fight. He got about 10 ft away and saw it was me and just stood and watched, he did not interfere.

It just amazes me how willing to die for their women these roosters are.  The only rooster I have that I do not think would fight to the death for his hens is Blackie..Lucky's Dad, sorry Holms Lucky has a worthless father. I just wish I knew who is mother is.     Brown egg is all I know.

OK I will do that! He has settled down some and hasnt been foght with my boots anymore so I think he was just scared when he got here!

King George is such a good rooster! Hes beautiful too!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Good morning everybody!

Dixie is a determined little broody. And I feel bad that I'm taking eggs away from her. She sits in the nest that everyone likes to use. She keeps the eggs covered that every one leaves until I come collecting. Her being broody and covering the eggs seems to have kept the Labrador off egg stealing. So.... I cracked open a BLRW egg to check fertility from my old man Roger. NH over BLRW would be pretty wouldn't it? The old man is getting the job done the blastoderm was there on the yolk. Give Dixie two eggs to tend to to satisfy her mommy urges...?

We drug the broody coop out of the woods into the run. I need to sweep it out. Get a beer flat full of pine shavings and new mint sprouts and set Dixie's buff broody buns with a couple of huevos.

 

[KlopKlop]

Good morning all! Sadly I am back to work today. I enjoyed my long weekend at home with the flock and the pups.

We got a spattering of rain last night but I wish we had gotten a hair more. It will be enough to make the grass explode but I will need to get out and water stuff tonight. Raspberries, garlic, flowery, and apple tress are all thirsty!

 

[Cebarmlds]

I found a deer tick embedded in my skin this morning. anyone- would you wait to see if it stays red around it or go to the dr. ? I don't know if they just give antibiotics or test anymore.

 

[duluthralphie]

I had a chicken stashing eggs In a haybale, there were about 8 of them by the time I found the nest. I don't think that because they go off and lay somewhere else means they will go broody, it just means they found a better nest box and no one is collecting eggs.

I THINK THAT IS WHAT I JUST SAID!

 

[duluthralphie]

I found a deer tick embedded in my skin this morning. anyone- would you wait to see if it stays red around it or go to the dr. ? I don't know if they just give antibiotics or test anymore.

That depends on the DR. my last one the doc said " no Antibiotics until you get a symptom... Which makes no sense to me, I would think prevention is better. but he said there are so many deer ticks now everyone would be on antibiotics all the time...

NOW I bet if it was him he would take them!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Ivie it might be worth it to watch your hens for a day. Do some linger on their eggs longer than others? . What breeds do you have? Some breeds have more tendency to broodiness than others. Cochins, silkies, australorps, orpingtons. There is also the pressure of a clutch of eggs against a hen's breast that can trigger broodiness some claim. So building a nest with 4 golf balls or ceramic eggs maybe and an extra dark nest box..? As the spring wears on and egg laying cycles tend to wane those hormones tend to come to the surface. Usually production type layers have the broody gene practically bred right out of them.

A hen sitting very flat on a nest. Not roosting at night. Lots of bick-bicking. Those are the signals you have a broody

 

[Cebarmlds]

That depends on the DR. my last one the doc said " no Antibiotics until you get a symptom... Which makes no sense to me, I would think prevention is better. but he said there are so many deer ticks now everyone would be on antibiotics all the time...

NOW I bet if it was him he would take them!

Thanks
Maybe I'll just call and see what they say.

 

[lvie]

Quote:
Truly, I would be drinking the Mother's or Bragg's Apple Cider Vinegar an some honey just to up my immune system. Especially (an I am doing this) this time of year. Energizes also. And dab it full strength on the site. Just sayin.