Utah!

[lizardandchicks]

I use a wire dog kennel over a wire grate to break broodies. My bantam cochin will break after about 3 days and nights in the broody bin. My silkie takes about a week.

To tell if a hen is still broody, I let the her out with the other chickens when they are out having "yard time". If she tries to go into the egg box, back to the broody bin. If she acts like regular chicken, she can go back in the run, but I keep an eye on her. If I catch her in the egg box, back to the broody bin. I also listen, if the hen is "ticking" (vocalizing every few minutes) when she is out in the yard, she is still broody.

I have noticed that when I check on her. She kind of makes this deep throated cluck is the best way to describe it. She only makes that noise when she is broody, and away from the nest. I have been using our wire dog kennel over a wire window well cover. It has been working pretty well.

i think it depends on the bird. i only let mine out when it was clear she was not broody anymore

Okay, Thanks for you help to the both of you! I will let you know how it goes.

 

[the-bird-man]

I have noticed that when I check on her. She kind of makes this deep throated cluck is the best way to describe it. She only makes that noise when she is broody, and away from the nest. I have been using our wire dog kennel over a wire window well cover. It has been working pretty well.



Okay, Thanks for you help to the both of you! I will let you know how it goes.

glad we could help good luck!

 

[the-bird-man]

my young girls (and boy that will be rehomed soon) spent their first night up on the roost last night with the big girls. it was good to see but kinda sad that they are growing up so fast. amazing how fast they grow up

 

[the-bird-man]

so i know we have a forum for this but wanted to ask you all because i trust your judgement more. this bird is a black austrlorp and is just over 12 weeks. what do you think, boy or girl? i dont think my mind is in the right place to judge because i am attached to it.

and cynthia here is the silver pencil rock i got from you. she has been broody for over a month so is a little rough looking but i still think she is beautiful. thought you would like to see how she turned out

sorry the pictures are not the best. thanks all

 

[Cynthia12]

Oh wow Brad..thank you for posting..that pattern is just beautiful. Little stink has been broody for a month? Maybe she is done now, will start laying again.

I've had Aussies before, this one is a hard one at this age. I am leaning toward pullet. The back area is saying pullet to me. And, for the comb, it isn't a real red red. Thinking at 12 weeks it would be. Just look at that sweet face. It has to be a girl! Australorps have the sweetest faces.

 

[the-bird-man]

Oh wow Brad..thank you for posting..that pattern is just beautiful.   Little stink has been broody for a month?  Maybe she is done now, will start laying again. 

 I've had Aussies before, this one is a hard one at this age.   I am leaning toward pullet.  The back area is saying pullet to me. And, for the comb, it isn't a real red red.  Thinking at 12 weeks it would be.   Just look at that sweet face.  It has to be a girl!    Australorps have the sweetest faces.  

thank you for your opinion. i keep thinking she is a she but question if thats just me being hopeful. her wattles are a deep red but comb not so much. she is super sweet. i love her a lot. and yeah the spr is set on being broody. she actually quit for two days but then went broody again lol. she is so fluffy. and she is a big girl. super sweet. and the pictures dont do her justice. of course she also is a little rough looking with being broody and all. she is a good girl and is so sweet. i am thankful i got her especially since she came from you

 

[Cynthia12]

thank you for your opinion. i keep thinking she is a she but question if thats just me being hopeful. her wattles are a deep red but comb not so much. she is super sweet. i love her a lot. and yeah the spr is set on being broody. she actually quit for two days but then went broody again lol. she is so fluffy. and she is a big girl. super sweet. and the pictures dont do her justice. of course she also is a little rough looking with being broody and all. she is a good girl and is so sweet. i am thankful i got her especially since she came from you

Aww, thank you. I have a friend just down the street from me that got one of these too. She still has her too. Very big old girl. Still lays an egg every now and again, and yes, she has been a mom. A couple of times she let her have eggs to hatch. She made a good mom. Those hens are big!

 

[eggsbert]

Put my babies in their big bird coop tonight at about 6 or 7. They were all excited at first... Then confused... Then concerned.
Hope everyone does okay on their first night out. Seemed pretty nice outside when I went to check on them.

 

[the-bird-man]

Aww, thank you.  I have a friend just down the street from me that got one of these too.  She still has her too.  Very big old girl.  Still lays an egg every now and again, and yes, she has been a mom.  A couple of times she let her have eggs to hatch.  She made a good mom.   Those hens are big! 

yeah seriously this girl can cover a lot of eggs. one day i will let her hatch some. she is not the best layer but that is fine as she was not bred to lay like crazy. everyone has gotta have eye candy in their flock

 

[newmarch2014]

Sigh this flock integration stuff is not for the faint of heart. They may never work it out I am afraid. The almost 4 mos olds finally got brave enough to try the roost but the Buffs (which are somewhat tolerant) were not having any of it. I had to finally put up a barrier on the roost to keep them from running them off. I still have one Production Red in maximum security confinement because she wants to kill the new rooster, I need peace in my hen house