The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[loanwizard]

We eat almost any egg ourselves. Cracked, dirty, frozen. Since we collect them at least once a day, I know they aren't "old" and risk bacteria. It it's 100 degrees outside and I haven't collected for a full day, I might not for a variety of reasons. But normally, chow down. (They're great for homemade ice cream)

Stony, I loved your article. Very informative. I have 4 broodies right now in nests about 18-24 in off the coop floor and now I'll leave them. When the pullets first started laying some dropped the egg down to the floor from the roost. With so much bedding (litter) it must have bounced because it didn't break. Can you help again with ways to break a broody hen? Mama hatches 4 times a year? That thought causes me to break out in hives. I shouldn't have hatched so many and let nature take place. I'll be standing out in the road saying, "Congratulations, you're the 10th person to drive by since 5pm. Here, have a chick, 25th person, here have a chick." lol Eggs I collected last week. I got one smaller than a marble. So cute! Even turkey eggs look pretty.

Would you mind posting a link to Stony's article?

Pretty eggs! Look like colored rocks out of the river. Sorry, look at my avatar..... I LOVE the river!

 

[lalaland]

So cute! Even turkey eggs look pretty.

Sally, I love this pic. whose eggs are speckled?

 

[lalaland]

Ok, I think my little broody, Lucy, definitely has an issue. Her crop was still really full last night so I brought her inside for some warm water and oatmeal drowning in seasme seed oil. (I was out of olive oil). She did have a couple small poops. She ate a bit but kept trying to nest in my lap so I took her back out to the coop to sleep. This morning her crop is still full. It's much softer than it was last night and she did have a good broody poop this morning but she won't eat. she drank some warm water but obviously she's still not right. I need some guidance from all of you experienced "chickeners" (was that the name someone came up with?) I looked for some advice on other threads and there was everything from giving your chicken monostat to performing crop surgery and cutting her open! Yikes! What would you guys suggest?

SandBsmom,
I might have missed an earlier post from you - am a little confused because I would expect her crop to be very full at night.
Have you opened her beak and smelled? how does it smell - a sour yucky smell can indicate a sour crop.

Not sure if her being broody (how long?) is related or not. Sometimes a broody is soooo broody she isn't interested in eating as much as brooding.

 

[jockeyeba]

I like this picture! Yes, I actually got an incredible up close chance to observe a mating the other day, but walked away scratching my head thinking...what did I just see? After working on a horse breeding facility for many years, one sort of is used to concrete things that just can't be missed , if you know what I mean...lol.

Yes I know what you mean

 

[jockeyeba]

So cute! Even turkey eggs look pretty.

Sally, I love this pic. whose eggs are speckled?

X2

 

[SandBsmom]

Thanks Lala, She just went broody 2 days ago. Her crop was HUGE and hard. She's a little bantam and her crop felt like a tennis ball (Not exaggerating size!) I'm concerned because since she's broody the only time she eats is when I get her off the nest 2-3 times a day. I checked her yesterday about noon and she had not been off the nest yet and her crop was still full and hard. (I would think it would have gone down over the night and morning) She goes broody every few months so we're used to this little dance but I have never felt her crop like this. She was also trembling last night. Granted it was 25 degrees but that's not normal for her either. She is pooping which is very good. I don't smell anything in her mouth but I have a smashed nose from a skiing accident last week so I'm not sure I have all my olfactory senses. It just seems...off. As usual I appreciate any and all suggestions!

 

[stonykill]

Stony, I loved your article. Very informative. I have 4 broodies right now in nests about 18-24 in off the coop floor and now I'll leave them. When the pullets first started laying some dropped the egg down to the floor from the roost. With so much bedding (litter) it must have bounced because it didn't break. Can you help again with ways to break a broody hen? Mama hatches 4 times a year? That thought causes me to break out in hives. I shouldn't have hatched so many and let nature take place. I'll be standing out in the road saying, "Congratulations, you're the 10th person to drive by since 5pm. Here, have a chick, 25th person, here have a chick." lol Eggs I collected last week. I got one smaller than a marble. So cute! Even turkey eggs look pretty.

thanks. I'll thank the girls when I go back out to my workshop in a few minutes. I learned it all from them

.

Once in a while I have an egg bounce off the deep litter off of the roost. Rarely is one broken.

I do have a few other article ideas. I break few broody's but have a few things I do. Maybe I'll do a follow up.

My best broody "Mama" and one of her offspring simply named "Daughter"

both go broody 4 times a year. That is not the norm. Most do it once or twice a year.

 

[Bulldogma]

Would you mind posting a link to Stony's article?

PM'd you.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
Ha Ha...so did I

 

[loanwizard]

Thank you both! Excellent article, this from a guy that incubates a lot. Might try it. I just don't like separating different breeds into different pens.

Shawn