The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[Melabella]

how can you even think of doing that

What kind of rabbit? Haven't had rabbits since I was a kid

I could never, my daughter has 3 mini lops. Bought them for her three years ago for her birthday. I actually only bought two "females". Woman who I bought them from assured me she has been sexing rabbits since she was 10. She was a big breeder, charged me 40 a piece as they were top show quality. After 3 months, they started behaving in an odd fashion if you get my drift. I called her, and she siad "if those two turn out to be different sexes I will reimburse you your money". I guess she was related to the sexing person at Meyer who sexed Duke for me. Anywho, I went out one day to cute lil furry nest of bunnies.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: She IS VERY PROTECTIVE when any of the other chickens come around... would take their head off and let's them know right away what the boundaries are. I guess she trusts me since I bring the food!

(I don't get a single tip, however...but they are great fun to watch!)

 

[stonykill]

Thanks for explaining that! I'll leave the dummy eggs,,good idea.. If a broody jumps off a nest mid way through, can one intervene, and try to continue to hatch them?
The ol towel trick...lol... I just did that to clip my rabbits nails...she wanted to kill me. Wrappedher in a towel, and she couldn't move, and grabbed each leg out at a time. She still got even with me, and peed in my lap. I think I have to walk deep into the woods, and turn her loose! jk...well,,,maybe not.....

MB

I'm writing an article on broody's this weekend

. That will hopefully answer any questions.....

 

[Melabella]

I think any breed can be broody..most are not birds that set well.

If your bird is broody, they simply will not get off the nest, or they go off somewhere and lay eggs away from where they normally lay.

My birds usually do not bite me. But I have been bitten by broodys. Even my broody now who sounds like she will take off my face does not bite me. I think she is going to bite me when I mess with her cause she sure is loud.

To test if a hen is broody and will stick, take them off the nest a few times. I just had a pullet go broody on me, she is too young and I worry that she is not mentally ready to raise chicks. I tossed her off the nest and she did not go back. It is too early in the season in my thinking, but, not in the cchicken world, because, I have my rir making broody sounds..sheesh. frustrating. Her I will let set if she decides she wants to. She does not always set a nest. She goes broody and sometimes does not set the first nest. If she finds a nest with a larger amount of eggs, you can't get her off. She was trying to dislodge the other broody today. That bird is not getting off. So I do not expect her to set until next month or later.

Lisha,

Do they actually make a nest, or they just pick a spot, and it becomes their nest?

 

[Leahs Mom]

To test if a hen is broody and will stick, take them off the nest a few times. I just had a pullet go broody on me, she is too young and I worry that she is not mentally ready to raise chicks. I tossed her off the nest and she did not go back. It is too early in the season in my thinking, but, not in the cchicken world, because, I have my rir making broody sounds..sheesh. frustrating. Her I will let set if she decides she wants to. She does not always set a nest. She goes broody and sometimes does not set the first nest. If she finds a nest with a larger amount of eggs, you can't get her off. She was trying to dislodge the other broody today. That bird is not getting off. So I do not expect her to set until next month or later.

With the HATCHERY RIR that you see in the photos with my chicks went broody, I took her off the nest at least 2x a day and carried her outside to the farthest area away from the hen house I could get her then put her down. I did that for about 3 days. She kept coming back.

Then, because I wanted to see if she would continue to set, I moved her in the night to a different nest box on the other side of the coop to see if she'd stick with it. I also removed her from that the next day. She went back.

Then I put some fake eggs under her and she had to wait a whole week before the real eggs came (I ordered - didn't have a rooster).

Then put the new eggs under at night in the dark.

She set the whole time beautifully.

She's 8 months old when this started at the end of November.

 

[Melabella]

I'm writing an article on broody's this weekend

. That will hopefully answer any questions.....

Can't wait to read that stony, THANK YOU!

 

[stonykill]

When we made a 6' high pen around the Bantam coop they just flew out & across the yard like it was nothing. Had to put poultry netting across the entire top of their pen Now the AG's can really fly

they're totally freerange & roost in the trees except for the original 6 hens will go into their coop at night, I lock them up & turn them loose every morning My 3 WR's can bearly climb over the 6" ledge in & out of their coop

far too many of my Sumatra's are the same way. Live in tree's. 36 of them that free range all day (I counted) live in 2 coops. More than that live in tree's. The 2 Sumatra breeding pens are covered like yours. Another 19 Sumatra's between the 2 breeding pens. Although that number may be 18 soon. One of the young roo's may need to go to freezer camp.

 

[delisha]

BROODY -- I'm too new to chicks -- here's what's now happening with my bunch - 2 buckeyes, 2 australorps, 1 GSL. born early May - so let's see about 8 mos old - all pullets, no boys. Laying well into the winter - as many as one per day per chick on good days. Now I'm seeing a little slow down, but it's cold, and dark (leave flood lights on in their run into the early evening - more for me than for them, but may be extending their daylight??)

both my BA's are now taking turns, one one day, the other the next -- sitting on a nest for hours - one has pulled the down feathers from her breast, which I understand is another sign of wanting to sit. I've been pulling them off the nest & taking the eggs, when I think they've been sitting long enough. - for example - it's time to roost, get off that nest and have a snack before bedtime. this has been going on about a week, no complaints from the hens - will this break them?? I've also now taken all the fake eggs out of the nest. -I had been lazy & not removed them from when they were being trained to use the nest last fall. When I move the hen (s) - I'm finding at least 3 eggs under them - so was thinking that if I keep the number of eggs down, they'd be less likely to sit???

Am I doing the right thing??


HERBICIDES -- I know many are hesitant to use, I'm not -- but understand concerns some have -- BUT -- there are those here that are using straight vinegar to kill weeds, selectively in their yard -- not the good stuff - the cheap, by the gallon stuff. 'they' claim it will kill the weeds directly sprayed on, without harming the rest of the environment. It is espoused by our local 'celebrity' TV organic gardener. I have not used it, but he claims it works -

found a link on ehow --http://www.ehow.com/how_4762568_make-weed-killer-vinegar.html

offering in case it's of interest to those of you who want to use more natural means, but have weeds to kill -I do not personally use...

If it is working for you..it is the perfect thing to do. Keep up the good work!
Chickens can't count eggs. If you leave fake eggs laying around they will try to hatch those too.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Me too!

 

[jockeyeba]

how can you even think of doing that What kind of rabbit? Haven't had rabbits since I was a kid

I could never, my daughter has 3 mini lops. Bought them for her three years ago for her birthday. I actually only bought two "females". Woman who I bought them from assured me she has been sexing rabbits since she was 10. She was a big breeder, charged me 40 a piece as they were top show quality. After 3 months, they started behaving in an odd fashion if you get my drift. I called her, and she siad "if those two turn out to be different sexes I will reimburse you your money". I guess she was related to the sexing person at Meyer who sexed Duke for me. Anywho, I went out one day to cute lil furry nest of bunnies.

So cute what do Mini Lops look like grown? Duh, I could just goggle couldn't I