The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Leahs Mom]

Here's the link to the waterer post: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...keeping-thread-ots-welcome/1000#post_10109510


This is the one I liked best:

Cup type A. (So far I like this one best. It is the less expensive at $1.70 ea.) This one PASSED THE FIRST FREEZE TEST.
I purchased these at http://www.cornerstone-farm.com/equipment/poultry-float-valve-226

 

[stonykill]

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?

some break themselves, some need to be broken or have a hatch. I've had 1 hen sit through THREE cycles before hatching and she did just fine. I would never push it past the 65 day mark though. That is a long time for a girl to sit, but oh boy was she dedicated.

 

[Leahs Mom]

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?

I haven't attempted it. Of course I wouldn't be able to on the Marens as they are dark as a milk chocolate bar!

I'm still contemplating trying on the others. She would let me at them but I'm not sure I want to bother her with it

 

[Leahs Mom]

Yes...thanks Stoney! Definitely appreciate all your input.

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.

 

[stonykill]

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.

part of what you said is why I said I would never go past the 3 cycles, roughly 65 day mark. After being broody for that long they need a lot of nourishment. I have had few few bad broody's. It happens. They are NEVER allowed to go broody again.
Your's....yeah may have been a little loony

 

[maidenwolfx80]

Just read it slowly. You'll get the hang of it

I find it hard to remember which posts to comment on, so I do a lot of posting in a row to reply, as I'm impatient and can't wait to reply before I finish reading.

Yea the hang of it isnt the issue really I am apart of alot of other threads. It is building up pretty fast over just a few hours. I post in a row too because well, my memory is not so good.

 

[stonykill]

rain and lots of wind here. The chickens aren't happy. The ducks are all running around looking up at the sky quaking "BRING IT ON!"

 

[Toast n Jelly]

Quote:
Nicely done!

 

[aoxa]

I haven't attempted it. Of course I wouldn't be able to on the Marens as they are dark as a milk chocolate bar!

I'm still contemplating trying on the others. She would let me at them but I'm not sure I want to bother her with it

If you want to do it just because it's interesting and educational, wait until she is off her nest eating or drinking. It can be done fast, and I always love seeing them move around. I haven't candled broody eggs in a while, because mama knows best, but I do for the silkies. They won't (at least mine) kick any out that are bad/infertile. I have to pick them up and take out new eggs, so for the silkies - this is when they get set out of the nest (which is where all the other chickens are), to eat, poop and drink. I take new eggs, and if I'm curious to see how the eggs are doing - I'll candle quickly.

This is where pencil on eggs is not a good idea. I had it wear off and had the worst staggered hatch. Thankfully I had plenty of broodies to place eggs under once the further along eggs hatched. One time I didn't have an extra broody and put them in the incubator for the last week. All 4 hatched. Once hatched, I gave them to the same mother who was sitting on them. Her other chicks were 1 week old and she still took them. That's a silkie for you. They don't seem smart enough to realize that her babies seem to have multiplied.


Here is a terrible picture of that mama with her babies. One at the top and two bottoms silkies and the grey in the middle were hatched by here. The dark blue one on the right, the white two in the middle and the greyish one on the left are all hatched by incubator and given to her. A little over a week after. Darn pencil wearing off.

 

[aoxa]

rain and lots of wind here. The chickens aren't happy. The ducks are all running around looking up at the sky quaking "BRING IT ON!"

The waterfowl are so much more ballsy, aren't they?

The only ones accepting of the rain/wind/snow




Randy the duck bathing in the rain that has fallen on the old platform.

Despite the kiddie pools I have. Rain is always the favourite method of bathing.