The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote:
I would love one, if you are coming through Indianapolis around the time they are old enough to give away. I know I will not be in OH anytime soon.

 

[Kassaundra]

How to tell your cat spends too much time w/ chickens .............................. her white fur is brown from dust bathing. She spends as much time stalking and catching insects as rodents.

 

[Bulldogma]

 

[aoxa]

I posted this on the silkie thread, but wanted to see what you guys thought too since a lot of you have experience with silkies. "Cloud" is my only silkie hen in my current flock so I am just hoping there's nothing wrong with her...

I have a question about my little white silkie's behavior - I think she's trying to go broody. She is about 24 weeks old and started laying for me at around 20 weeks. She's a pretty good little layer and only has given me one softshell so far.
Anyway, when I went to put them up for the night last night, she was in her favorite nesting box instead of the roost like usual. She normally roosts with all the big girls. I thought that was really strange, but I just left her there and when I went out in the morning, she was still there. I found a couple eggs under her as she's laying in the favorite nesting area of all the girls, and took them away. She didn't make any noise at me, but she did fluff her feathers.
This went on all day - somehow, the other girls would get in there and lay but I would have to collect them from underneath her. Every time I grabbed another egg or two, she would fluff up at me, but I would take her out of the box/coop and put her on the ground in the run. She would then get a drink, scratch around for a minute or two, eat minimally, but eventually go right back into the coop. I think I removed her from the box and collected eggs (one was hers) 4-5 different times today. Then again tonight, when I went to make sure they were all in bed, she was back in the nesting box instead of the roost... any thoughts? Any advice?

The above was posted yesterday - when I went out again this morning she was in the nest again - no eggs under her, but she might be getting to ready to lay for the day... I took her out anyway and put her on the ground. She joined the flock scratching through some of the table scraps I threw out this morning, got a drink, and then was back in the coop within a few minutes. She's such a tiny little thing - I just worry that she's not really eating much. The only other thing I noticed is that she seems to be a little more "crabby" with the other girls. She's half their size but is pecking at them to stay away from her.

Definitely broody. Classic broody behaviour. Especially that last part about more grumpy with the others.

 

[Leahs Mom]

How to tell your cat spends too much time w/ chickens .............................. her white fur is brown from dust bathing. She spends as much time stalking and catching insects as rodents.

Curious - was she a kitten who got mentored by the chickens?

 

[Kassaundra]

Curious - was she a kitten who got mentored by the chickens?

Yes, she and her brother both, they are cats that think they are 1/2 dog and 1/2 chicken. They were raised by both chickens and dogs, Oreo my roo will run up to check out what I'm doing if I pet her and he makes his "my ladies in trouble" cluck when I pet her and she meows. She spends most of the day in the chicken coop looking for rodents. I have never had cats that dust bathed before. lol

 

[rowerjen]

So I have a question. My pullets free range all day and I have one who will not lay in the nest boxes. We're talking "I'll hold this dang egg in 'til I explode if I have to." She's always been my most reliable layer, depositing her egg in the same spot in the garage every day. I collect eggs when I get home from work each day,and since Monday, nothing in her preferred spot, even if she's sitting there when I leave. Haven't found any secret stashes. No changes in her condition otherwise. She looks like a happy, healthy bird.

My first guess is something is eating her eggs. What do y'all think?

 

[SallyinIndiana]

So I have a question. My pullets free range all day and I have one who will not lay in the nest boxes. We're talking "I'll hold this dang egg in 'til I explode if I have to." She's always been my most reliable layer, depositing her egg in the same spot in the garage every day. I collect eggs when I get home from work each day,and since Monday, nothing in her preferred spot, even if she's sitting there when I leave. Haven't found any secret stashes. No changes in her condition otherwise. She looks like a happy, healthy bird.

My first guess is something is eating her eggs. What do y'all think?

is she hiding them? maybe she is starting to go broody? or you could have a snake?
I'm still very new to chickens so I could be way off in my answer.

 

[aoxa]

Yes, she and her brother both, they are cats that think they are 1/2 dog and 1/2 chicken. They were raised by both chickens and dogs, Oreo my roo will run up to check out what I'm doing if I pet her and he makes his "my ladies in trouble" cluck when I pet her and she meows. She spends most of the day in the chicken coop looking for rodents. I have never had cats that dust bathed before. lol

I have dogs that dust bathe with the chickens

Not my cat though. She is way too prissy!

 

[annewandering]

I have dogs that dust bathe with the chickens

Not my cat though. She is way too prissy!

We had a donkey that dust bathed. It was hilarious because he brayed extremely loudly while doing it. He raised quite a dust storm while he was at it too!