The Natural Chicken Keeping thread - OTs welcome!

[kian]

On the broody -
I just had the one and am BRAND NEW to this so it's just what I did. I didn't want the others coming and laying eggs in there with her and I didn't want her to go back to the wrong nest after she had eaten and drank for the day. So...I moved her to the other side of the hen house that is divided off by a door so she had that side to herself. I put her own feed and water supply in there with her. The door that divides the 2 sides is covered w/hardware cloth so they could all see each other.

I moved her BEFORE I got fertile eggs, in the dark of night. She had fake eggs under her. I wanted to be sure she was going to stick with it before I got eggs. And...before I moved her, for 3 days I physically picked her up and took her out in the yard to the farthest away area and deposited her on the ground. I did this to see if she was really determined to set. I did that at least 2X / day for 3 days. After that 3rd day, I made her a nest box from a "rubbermade" tub then, after dark I moved her into it. Then I observed her for 2 more days to be sure she was going to stick with it before I ordered the eggs!








I had EXCELLENT advice from the KING OF BROODY HATCHES - Stoneykill. Here's an article he wrote about broodies: http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2013/01/broody-hens-natures-incubators-your.html

The last picture up there is DAY 1 when the kiddos came out of the nest w/mom (That was NEW YEAR'S DAY - 15 DEGREES OUTSIDE IN THAT HEN HOUSE). I opened the door between the 2 sides at about 1 week. Mom immediately attacked anyone that came near and protected those kids...and the others learned really fast not to mess with her kiddos!

Thank you! That is very good advice and I'll read Stoneykill's article. I don't have the kind of divider that you do, it's an open coop with the nest boxes on one end. I'd like to get her out of there for sure though because we're starting some hot weather and even though we have windows galore, I still think it's pretty hot in there. All the other girls are out in the run. I have some water right near the box for her for now.

 

[armorfirelady]

Quote: Hmmm I wonder if its the mouse droppings? Or could they be a carrier of something the hens are getting?
Ive been trying to think of reasons as well..........might do some google research if works stays quiet....

 

[aoxa]

I noticed that my "Americaunas/Araucanas" (Who knows what they really are) are mean to the young'uns too. On of my A's was the bottom of the pecking order till the new kids came a long and she is pretty mean to them. I think she wants to keep her place in pecking order so she needs to be sure they are lower than she is. Her "sister" A is always mean to HER. The others are just "generally mean" to them but I think it's because they are higher in the pecking order and they don't have as much to protect. Those A's will seek the kids out to torment them.

They are Easter Eggers Their leg colour and feather colours give it away. And they were from a hatchery or feed store, right? So definitely Easter Egger!

 

[Leahs Mom]

Thank you! That is very good advice and I'll read Stoneykill's article. I don't have the kind of divider that you do, it's an open coop with the nest boxes on one end. I'd like to get her out of there for sure though because we're starting some hot weather and even though we have windows galore, I still think it's pretty hot in there. All the other girls are out in the run. I have some water right near the box for her for now.

I have an idea that I would use if I didn't have a place separated by a door. I was going to purchase the plastic poultry netting

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...-plastic-poultry-netting/p-1750924-c-5772.htm

and tack it to the roof of the hen house and let it hang down like a curtain to divide off an area. This could be stapled on one wall and if it's not wide enough, 2 or more pieces could be hung vertically side x side and zip tied. You could put a brick or some other weight on it at the floor that would keep the others from getting in.

For you to get in, you just lift it up and walk under. When you're just starting to integrate them, you could roll it up or down depending on if you want to have the separated or integrated until you want to remove it altogether.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:

Well...the hatchery called them "Americaunas" then in fine print "Americauna Strain"...

 

[cuties]

I'm sooo jealous girls! How exciting! Just hoping one of my chicks will become an aspiring broody next spring, ha! What breeds will you all be hatching?

Mine will be muttys! Im only giving her a few. Their just for eggs. Awesome pics! The Rubbermaid is a very good idea! Congrats on the hatch! For sure reading stonykill!

 

[aoxa]

Well...the hatchery called them "Americaunas" then in fine print "Americauna Strain"...

There is no i in Ameraucana. That's how you know. They are tricky!

 

[aoxa]

Lala, I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Poisoning makes sense. Losing three in such a short time frame has to mean something.. At least with the first two, this one may be a coincidence (because she has been poorly for months).

I'm rooting for you.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote:
No...not them....IT WAS MY SPELLING ERROR

 

[Leahs Mom]

Lala, I am so sorry to hear about your situation. Poisoning makes sense. Losing three in such a short time frame has to mean something.. At least with the first two, this one may be a coincidence (because she has been poorly for months).

I'm rooting for you.

X2