Texas

[kenmlang]

Just joined BYC. I'm from Longview, Tx area. I'm looking for some birds that are good fryers and layer's. Any suggestions for our Texas climate?

from Cut-N-Shoot!!

 

[kenmlang]

I have a question.I have a 2 year old Buff Orpington named Annie. She has been one of our most reliable layers. This is the deal. I went to check for eggs at about 10:00am and she was in the nest box. OK, I went to check for eggs at about 2pm and she was still in there. I thought this was strange, but dismissed it as just weirdness. Then, I went and checked again at 5:00pm and she was still in there. I swear she growled at me. I actually have 2 questions: Can a hen go broody without a rooster being around? and Does anyone think the weather we have been having lately might cause this?

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[orumpoultry]

I have a question.I have a 2 year old Buff Orpington named Annie. She has been one of our most reliable layers. This is the deal. I went to check for eggs at about 10:00am and she was in the nest box. OK, I went to check for eggs at about 2pm and she was still in there. I thought this was strange, but dismissed it as just weirdness. Then, I went and checked again at 5:00pm and she was still in there. I swear she growled at me. I actually have 2 questions: Can a hen go broody without a rooster being around? and Does anyone think the weather we have been having lately might cause this?

Any help would be appreciated.

She sounds broody. They don't need a rooster, just horomones. I had a game hen go broody for the first time at four.

 

[kenmlang]

She sounds broody. They don't need a rooster, just horomones. I had a game hen go broody for the first time at four.

Thanks Kate. I just went out there and physically moved her and took the eggs. Was this the right thing to do? Should I get a roo? I really don't want one right now. I don't have the finances to build a brooder. What is your advice??

 

[tjo804]

Quote:
I would keep taking her off the nest no need for a roo if you are not ready. are you looking to breed her? If not no worries she will be ok

 

[topdycke]

Welcome from Magnolia glad the rain has stopped. The girls did get out in between storms to take advantage of the bugs trying to reach high ground. Mowing will have to wait a couple of days

 

[RoosterCogburn7]

Thanks Kate. I just went out there and physically moved her and took the eggs. Was this the right thing to do? Should I get a roo? I really don't want one right now. I don't have the finances to build a brooder. What is your advice??

I have a broody black EE and if you put an egg under her, she will hatch it. If you put nothing there, she will still be broody.

 

[henless]

Just joined BYC. I'm from Longview, Tx area. I'm looking for some birds that are good fryers and layer's. Any suggestions for our Texas climate?

Howdy neighbor!

Just about any chicken will do ok here. You just need to give them shade, plenty of water and some breeze. If your wanting fryers as in extra roos, then get straight run. If you wanting fryers after they stop laying, then really none make good fryers since by that time they are too tough. You can always get some cornish cross chicks and raise them for slaughter, or else just harvest your extra roos.

I have a question.I have a 2 year old Buff Orpington named Annie. She has been one of our most reliable layers. This is the deal. I went to check for eggs at about 10:00am and she was in the nest box. OK, I went to check for eggs at about 2pm and she was still in there. I thought this was strange, but dismissed it as just weirdness. Then, I went and checked again at 5:00pm and she was still in there. I swear she growled at me. I actually have 2 questions: Can a hen go broody without a rooster being around? and Does anyone think the weather we have been having lately might cause this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Sounds broody to me. If you don't want a broody hen, I've heard you can put her in a wire cage up off the ground for a couple of days. It's supposed to help "cool her off" so to speak. I've never been lucky enough to have a broody hen, so I don't know.

You can always buy some fertile eggs and let her hatch & raise them for you.


Look, my 6 week old Orps are roosting already!



They were all on the roost when I went out there. But when they saw me, they thought it was treat time so started getting off the roosts.

 

[orumpoultry]

Ken, some hens don't snap out of it. No need to get a rooster. If you don't want to put eggs under her to hatch, then there are several ways to break a broody. Ice water baths, wire cages, taking her off of the nest daily, these are just a few.

On another note. If anyone wants a bantam leghorn rooster, check out the one in my avatar. I keep saying I want to keep him, but, I never give him hens. He's a year old this month. Thinks he's top dog around our house. I feel bad for him. If he doesn't find a home I will finally put off putting him in the crock pot. I don't think he even weighs a whole pound.

 

[hensfortherapy]

I have a question.I have a 2 year old Buff Orpington named Annie. She has been one of our most reliable layers. This is the deal. I went to check for eggs at about 10:00am and she was in the nest box. OK, I went to check for eggs at about 2pm and she was still in there. I thought this was strange, but dismissed it as just weirdness. Then, I went and checked again at 5:00pm and she was still in there. I swear she growled at me. I actually have 2 questions: Can a hen go broody without a rooster being around? and Does anyone think the weather we have been having lately might cause this?

Any help would be appreciated.

Sounds like she is broody. I have had 3 hens go broody so I stuck a few 1 to 3 day old chicks under her after she went to sleep. My broody hens always wanted to sleep on the nest. Buffs make excellent adoptive Moms. I tried letting one sit eggs , but it was in Aug. and too hot I guess. She sat those eggs for 23 days. Finally she got off of the eggs, flew up on a perch and seemed to be screaming "I'm done".
Good luck breaking her broodiness. It can be done. Just take her off the nest and walk her as far away as you can several times a day. I always gave mine extra special treats.