- Sep 3, 2012
- 692
- 138
- 195
Lost my favorite BR hen last night. It was my fault. I should have been checking her closer. She's been broody-they all are, and she apparently wasn't getting off the nest enough to eat and drink. I had food and water right outside the nest box, but I guess she didn't want to leave those eggs even that long. I think she was so dehydrated, she had heat stroke. I carried her to my house, hoping to cool her down, but it was too late. I know the other 2 broody turkey hens and the chicken are getting off to eat and drink, but I'll check them over good today. Actually, the chicken looks great. She's sharing a nest with a turkey and they take turns going out. The other turkey was sometimes sharing with my little hen that died, but she'd leave to sit in the chicken nest boxes when someone laid an egg. She's taken over the orphaned eggs. I couldn't get them to stop sitting, so I gave in and gave them chicken eggs. I want to encourage broodiness. I guess I'll need to let them sit early so they can raise babies when it's too hot to sit. Hope I can convince them of that schedule next year.
BTW, I know not to have favorites. I should have sold this hen. She was tiny and I worried about her because she laid such large eggs. Someone lays a small egg, but it wasn't her. I kept marking her to sell, but she was always following me around, begging for neck scratches and I'd always pick someone else to sell. I really need to get this sentimentality under control.
BTW, I know not to have favorites. I should have sold this hen. She was tiny and I worried about her because she laid such large eggs. Someone lays a small egg, but it wasn't her. I kept marking her to sell, but she was always following me around, begging for neck scratches and I'd always pick someone else to sell. I really need to get this sentimentality under control.
