The Sullivan Six

[AinaWGSD]

Marcille was standing up when I checked on her this afternoon. She had eaten all the food and left me a big stinky "present." I didn't think she was done being broody yet, but I went ahead and left the door to the crate open for her, explaining that if she gets back on the nest tonight she's going right back in broody jail.

*turns away to grab the poop scoop. turns back around:

Ma'am! What did I just say!

Not even 5 seconds and she's back on the nest!

 

[AinaWGSD]

This morning I mentioned I thought both of Limu's chicks are male to my husband.

He looked at me and said, "if Marcille's still broody we could see if the breeder has any chicks available and give them to her." Of course, I let her out of the crate this morning and she went straight out in the run for most of the day! And she was back on the roost tonight.

It turns out the breeder does have malines eggs due to hatch next week. Looks like I'm gonna be getting the basement brooder set up. Ugh, why do I do this to myself. At least if we brood a small batch of chicks in the basement we can do a true quarantine.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Seems Limu is starting to wean her babies. She's on the perch with the rest of the girls tonight! The babies are still sleeping in the box. She's still calling them for goodies though. I wonder if they just didn't figure out how to follow her up to the roost. I have a ramp, but I'm not sure how often the girls use it to get up to the roost. If she jumped/flew up they may not realize that's where the ramp goes.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Gave the girls a bowl of ice this morning, since everyone was panting by 10am. They weren't too sure about it.

Limu's babies are 5 weeks old now, and they've definitely hit their ugly duckling phase! Poor boys are growing faster than their feathers and they each have the two tiniest tail feathers

 

[AinaWGSD]

The gangs all here! Limu finally coaxed the chicks up on to the roost (and the little farts jumped off as soon as I took this picture).

And Limu started laying again today!

 

[AinaWGSD]

And now it seems Artemis is having delusions of motherhood I don't know for sure if she's broody, but she was in the box when I went looking for eggs at 10am and when I went to put the chickens to bed tonight. She didn't puff up at me but she did screech at me when I lifted her off the nest.

 

[AinaWGSD]

Artemis is definitely broody. And surprisingly vicious about defending her nest considering how mellow she usually is. Into the broody buster for you, my dear!

 

[AinaWGSD]

Artemis is a persistent broody. Just like Marcille, she's decided she'll just brood on the board. I let her out tonight and she went directly to the nest box. So I shoved her out the pop door. She joined the rest of the flock foraging out in the garden for about an hour or so. Then right back to the nest (so I put her butt right back in broody jail).

Also, we moved Limu's babies out to the farm yesterday along with the buckeye chicks. They're the terrors of the coop (at least until we let the 16 week old pullets out of the corner)

 

[AinaWGSD]

She is being stubborn! If she's still broody in a week we might have to talk about getting a few broiler chicks for her.

 

[GreenJay]

View attachment 4135328She is being stubborn! If she's still broody in a week we might have to talk about getting a few broiler chicks for her.

Poor Artemis!
She just wants a chance to show Limu she can brood better!