The Middle Tennessee Thread

[DMRippy]

my nephew post a pic on FB of the sir pizza in Madison..... the building is in the parking lot now....

I was surprised the wet creek was not up at the farm.

everybody surviving this? do you have your arks gassed up and ready?

 

[CatMom]

Quick newbie question: For the first time since I started keeping a handful of egg-layers a couple years ago, I have a young hen that is going broody, I also have a friend with hatching eggs and we've had the notion to put a few under my gal and see what she does. Here's my question - I have a small coop/chicken tractor, should I move the broody and her foster eggs to a separate maternity coop? Would a modified large dog crate with hardware cloth over the windows work? (I suppose I should ask the hen.) What do more experienced folk say?

 

[DMRippy]

Quick newbie question: For the first time since I started keeping a handful of egg-layers a couple years ago, I have a young hen that is going broody, I also have a friend with hatching eggs and we've had the notion to put a few under my gal and see what she does. Here's my question - I have a small coop/chicken tractor, should I move the broody and her foster eggs to a separate maternity coop? Would a modified large dog crate with hardware cloth over the windows work? (I suppose I should ask the hen.) What do more experienced folk say?

I would move her to a maternity ward. don't give her eggs till you see she will stick it out after the move. how long has she been sitting?

some will break when you move them so just test her first.

 

[CatMom]

I think the broody behavior started 3 or 4 days ago. She is hoarding eggs in the egg laying box in the hen tractor. When I collect the eggs she puffs up and makes dinosaur noises at me. If I leave her in there after taking the eggs, she squawks a lot then comes out to the dustbath and just sort of pouts. If I take her out of the coop, she acts pretty much the same way, only with a _lot_ more noise. I imagine she is cussing me out in hen language.

Here's the logistics: The hen tractor is in a large fenced run (about 15 x 30), and I usually let the flock range around my back yard most days. Would it work to put the maternity box in the run near the tractor coop? The feeder & waterer are in the run, but the yard is their 'salad bar'.

 

[DMRippy]

i would put her in a dog crate with food and water and see what she does. if she sticks with it for a day or 2 giver her eggs.

I just sold some chicks to someone and they left mama with the other girls and they killed 2/3 chicks.

 

[CatMom]

Oo, nasty. Good to know, thanks.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

The pic is one of the girls I've kept because I'm in awe of her coloring (even though she fits no recognized category, just real pretty eye candy). None of the boys are quite like her but many do have quite of bit of calicoing (new word - lol) on thier breat & some are basically brown/red looking (but keeping in mind a calico could have been momma).



Again, throwing it out there in case your in my neck of the woods some day. There are probably 8 or so. thanks

Oooooo... she is pretty! Love that mottling!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Whoever is doing the Rain Dance knock it off already! It is just yucky out there. Blech!

 

[DMRippy]

I had to dig 8 chickens out of a flooded muddy pen today. Yuck. one girl decided to really flap around and almost got it in my eye....she did get it all over me though.....the rest were.caught with a net and not handled after.that.

taking a shower now lol

 

[wflynt01]

Does anyone raise muscovy ducks? I'm looking for a few ducks to put on the creek in my backyard. And maybe a few geese.