The Old Folks Home

[superchemicalgirl]

They do get off their nests. And then mine get back on the wrong nest or fight over the same nest with another broody and break the eggs, hence my lock in method. When I get home from work I open it up let the broody out to eatdrinkpoop and then get her back on the right nest then shut her back in for 24 hours. Works for me.

 

[bruceha2000]

They do get off their nests. And then mine get back on the wrong nest or fight over the same nest with another broody and break the eggs, hence my lock in method. When I get home from work I open it up let the broody out to eatdrinkpoop and then get her back on the right nest then shut her back in for 24 hours. Works for me.

Perhaps you need a hen saddle for this bird that has "Space Cadet" printed on it.

I believe @microchick can hook you up with one

 

[microchick]

The oldest of the flock is going into molt thus the sunflower seeds added to their crumbles along with scratch. Usually they get a ration of sunflower seed and scratch to entice them into the coop at night but they are looking so ratty right now and I'm trying to boost their protein.

This isn't my first broody. Lil'Girl is just my first broody who is writing her own rules.

Superchemicalgirl, I like that set up a lot. Guess it's time to add another tier of nesting boxes and fabricate removable walls for the existing boxes. I had the same problem earlier this year with my regular broody hen. She kept forgetting which nest she was on. Lucky she hatched any eggs at all but we were very lucky.

 

[pennyJo1960]

mine being a 17 sq ft dome I would have room to do that just had not thought of it before now
heck of an idea though

 

[Beer can]

Roll out nest boxes are my next project, already have the wood from tearing out our old cupboards. Would be nice to have clean eggs everyday. Going with this design but with only a single row of four and building two.

 

[Latestarter]

I put roll out ramps in one set of my nesting boxes and the hens are afraid to go in them. They now lay their eggs in a pile in a back corner on the floor. Maybe they just have to be raised with them

 

[superchemicalgirl]

Would the roll out nest boxes make the eggs more likely to freeze or am I the only one that has to worry about that? I'm thankful in the winter for crazy broodies, because they keep my food from freezing and cracking.

 

[chickisoup]

Wow!!! my chickens are having a Monday!!! (So am I but that's another story)
Went out to open the coop, all good, happy, squawking, girls charge out for the morning bug hunt. I go do my morning check of the platform under the roost bar (do this every morning looking for any possible problems any the girls might be having) and one spot looked like a chicken exploded!!!

Appears somebody decided to get their molt over with all at once!

Guess I better go see if I have a naked chicken running around.

 

[chickisoup]

Would the roll out nest boxes make the eggs more likely to freeze or am I the only one that has to worry about that? I'm thankful in the winter for crazy broodies, because they keep my food from freezing and cracking.

Good question. Personally, I spent too much time (and money) making sure my nestboxes were heavily insulated and I still get frozen eggs if I don't check fast enough.

 

[microchick]

No, I would be worried about that also, especially where we live. I usually only collect eggs once a day. Twice in really hot weather. Plus I would be worried that my hens would choose the bedding where they can wallow a nest for themselves over the roll out type of nesting box.

I have to admit that for the most part I seldom have an egg that is really dirty and when I do it's usually from a new layer that is just refining her laying.

Got definite 'peep's' coming from under my broody this morning and she is really acting defensive if I try to lift a wing to peek under so she is keeping it or them well tucked under her. I'm suspecting that the ones that have hatched are from the OEGB eggs our neighbor gave us as the peeps they are making aren't nearly as loud as the big mouth chicks from my flock makes when they hatch.