The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Bulldogma]

After some conversation, Here's what Bee had to say:
So...I DID!

She's still at it. She has 3 Swedish Flowers and 3 Black Copper Marens eggs under her as of December 7 so if we have any luck, they should hatch somewhere around a week from today - give or take a day or so. The eggs were shipped so that's another issue...never know what shape they'll be in after shipping.

I'm on pins and needles! Has your broody allowed you to candle the eggs, or are you just going to leave her to her business?

YES...I TOTALLY HATE WATERERS THAT HAVE TO BE FILLED FROM THE BOTTOM.

Those are just some of the reasons I love my waterer.

And for those who may be wondering - I'm putting off running LM's great piece about these waterer cups on the blog until I hear back from the company who sells them - they seem to be interested and I'm hoping we can do a giveaway.

 

[stonykill]

I too have a hen sitting now. Time of year means nothing to hens. I only gave her 4 eggs. If something went wrong and they don't hatch, I'll give her 4 more

 

[aoxa]

Leah, can you provide a link where you purchased these cups? Was this the water cups from when you got to test them, or do I have you confused with someone else? Forgive my swiss cheese memory...

thxs love,
MB

BDM is going to do a blog entry about this option soon I believe. It will be nice to be able to reference that site instead of searching these threads, as BYC search is not great at all.

 

[aoxa]

I too have a hen sitting now. Time of year means nothing to hens. I only gave her 4 eggs. If something went wrong and they don't hatch, I'll give her 4 more

The king of broodies has spoken.

I have none sitting now, but I wouldn't put it past them. My old girls who normally are the good broodies have ceased laying(for the winter). My young ones have not started. I do have a barred rock who has broody tenancies, so it's only a matter of time.

 

[Melabella]

My nephew was running full speed with the egg basket with a couple of eggs and was so excited - huge grin. He did a faceplant right into the ground. Got up, shook off and continued running. He was so excited that he did it all by himself.

Not afraid of any bird. He was out there taking the deep litter and talking to the chickens while making them nests.

Him: "Okay, so who needs their spot cleaned now? You? Okay just a minute." *walks over, shovels it around* "There you go."

The innocence of the young... they keep us going. Love his picture the other day...
MB

 

[aoxa]

The innocence of the young... they keep us going. Love his picture the other day...
MB

We're having a visit with him tomorrow so I'll take some more cute pictures. I have a video somewhere of him 'laying an egg'

I can't wait to break that out when he has a girlfriend.

Also, I am going to be an aunt for a second time, as he has a little sibling on the way. Not a great situation between his parents, but the two make very good children. I'll give them that. That's about all they do. Our family is extra fertile.

 

[Melabella]

I too have a hen sitting now. Time of year means nothing to hens. I only gave her 4 eggs. If something went wrong and they don't hatch, I'll give her 4 more

Stoney,

How long does a hen stay broody, lets say, if these four aren't viable? Does she just stay that way until something hatches?

 

[Leahs Mom]

"Mawmaw's, every day is a little bit like Easter, isn't it?"

​

Oh, out of the mouths of babes! Couldn't decide if I should laugh or cry so did a bit of both. Wouldn't the world be a wonderful place if every day was a bit like Easter - or Christmas - or Thanksgiving - or any of the other holidays where we step back and look at the renewal of life, where we share our bounty, and where we take a moment to stop and reconnect with our families and others? I know she was talking about the finding of eggs but I think she may be onto something really big!

​

This bears repeating. Can't think of a better way to say "Merry Christmas" to y'all than by quoting this. Thanks mtnlaurl.​

And -

HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!

 

[Noncentzter]

I wasn't able to get on the computer all weekend and then been busy at work so I'm clear back on page 58 - you people have been chatty! LOL!

 

[Sally8]

Ha ha ha. I really have to laugh on this one. This past summer I had a barred rock that I could not un broody. She spent almost 2 months with me locking her out. Carrying her almost to the neighbors, changing her nest, moving her nest, no nest at all. What determination. I finally left her, with her infertile eggs. Finally, she left the nest and 2 weeks after she died. I'd even put food and a little water cup so she could eat and drink. Sometimes she would, sometimes not. She would peck holes in the eggs and get rid of them. 2 weeks before she quit I bought 6 fertile eggs and she did the same time. (Pecked holes in them). She was my favorite but maybe a little looney.