The Determined Lakenvelder

Viollettt

Chirping
6 Years
Joined
May 10, 2013
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Location
West Central Georgia
I had one of my favorite chickens go missing. She's one of a pair of Silver Lakenvelder hens I've had for a couple of years that I got from a hatchery with 30 other chicks. She just disappeared into thin air. I could not figure out where she went but thought maybe a hawk got her. I had been hearing them that same day making hawk cries. She's been known to fly over the fence to be on her own and I had seen her over in the other yard. She's one of our favorites and I was sad she was gone. Then few days later here she is back in the yard. I could not believe my eyes that she was back. I was cleaning up and fixing food for the other chickens and this chicken (her name is Salty) disappeared again! So when my husband got home we went searching the yard for her. It's not a huge yard and it's in the city so not many places for her to be in the yard. She was in the back in some grown up place and had hidden and was sitting on 11 eggs. Out in the yard with the dogs and cats and everything. So there she sits now and I cannot wait to see how this story comes out for her. She's very determined so I have left her to it. She's a grown chicken.

I'm not a stranger to broody hens. I have had two others hatch out some a few weeks ago. I have 3 more that went broody this week. She must have gotten the bug. It's her determination that really surprises me. I was under the impression that this type of chicken rarely goes broody. Now I realize she's been trying to do this for a year. I had found a couple of clutches of eggs a few times where she had hidden them before this time. I already have both my biddy pens full. The timing will be close but I am going to let her hatch these out her way while watching the dogs and cats until I can get them together to get them inside one of them. The dogs and cats don't have a problem with the feathered chickens but they haven't had a chance at the little chicks.

Salty and I are both determined to get this done her way.
 
Viollettt,
Aren't they a panic..................have such a mind of their own.
I do not know if this will help you.it is what I use...........
I have one cage that is woos frame covered with chicken wire except for the bottom...............I have set that over a setting hen before.
Also, I put pegboard cages together for older brooders or broody hens. Very inexpensive and takes little storage room.
We have HomeDepot here...I purchase 1 8 ft. pegboard.about$13.00
They cut it for me......I have some 2x2.......or
have them cut two 4 ft. pieces and two 2 ft pieces for a 2x4 pen.....I put them together with slip ties and lay
plastic fencing over the top.........not good for protecting against raccoons of course....
but gives mom and babies a little protection.
Good Luck with all your babies.........................
big_smile.png
 
Chickydee64, Thanks for the tips. I'll definately keep that in mind to make later. She's gotten into a place that I can barely get to her. With all the rain we've gotten I can't even touch her right now . We did rig up some plastic above her so she's not being rained on directly. I'm torn between having things my way, feeling guilty for not doing more and letting her be a real chicken.

Sourland, Thanks, she needs some luck.
 

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