Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[Farmin Momma]

So I have three girls that went broody a few weeks back

, Emma (third time broody), Miss Priss (first time broody), and Blue Bell (first time broody). Emma got off her eggs to often and they were all dead, so I gave her two of Miss Priss's eggs (she had plenty). Blue Bell, a bantom Blue Cochin, did not budge off her eggs this whole time and now that they should be hatching any day.....her and Emma switched nests!

So now instead of Blue Bell being a mom today, Emma already has "her" first chick and another on it's way out. Miss Priss had one hatch yesterday and today has one more on the way.

In no way was I expecting any of my girls to go broody durring the winter. Kinda stupid I know but I was under the impression that they only went broody in the spring/summer

, I was wrong!

Hey Jess, Other than the things you already know you need to do. I don't see anything else that NEEDS to be done. But you could always add some yard art to the out side of the coop. As soon as we find a place and I get the chickens settled that is what I will be doing.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Composting question.. Can i just dump the shredded paper that i use as chick bedding out in my garden? I was doing that in the past until a neighbor complained to my landlord about the "garbage" in the front garden.
I'm considering doing a raised garden this year where I'll be putting it all in buckets, totes, and stacked tires... I am considering starting at the bottom of it with shredded paper because I have one injured chicken and one chick so both have litter (shredded paper) being changed out 3 times a week.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Travis - The girls were making an awful thump jumping down from the roosts that used to be higher...they were probably 4.5' off the ground and I was afraid of Bumblefoot and other injuries, so we lowered them to where they are now. I will probably cover over the 2nd pop door completely with some sort of coop art permanently; right now it's ugly because the coop is painted blue and the board I put over the hole is just pressboard.

I'm always on the lookout for some cute coop art too. Guess I didn't take a pic of the metal painted sign we already have over the nest boxes. It says "Fresh eggs from happy chickens". I want to hang a couple baskets around the coop under the eves for egg collection and wild birds to nest as well. Maybe plant some flowers in them.

FM - I might have my first broody today. Maybe. I keep thinking there's a chance and then someone gets up. But I had to kick Lucy (a Buff Orp) out of the nest boxes so I could clean, then she kept coming back and growling at me and she's all puffed up. So there's hope! I WANT someone broody so I can have me some chicks this winter. I want pullets laying mid summer (all mine started in August/September and earlier would be nice) and all winter since I'm certain everyone else will molt next winter.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

So I have three girls that went broody a few weeks back

, Emma (third time broody), Miss Priss (first time broody), and Blue Bell (first time broody). Emma got off her eggs to often and they were all dead, so I gave her two of Miss Priss's eggs (she had plenty). Blue Bell, a bantom Blue Cochin, did not budge off her eggs this whole time and now that they should be hatching any day.....her and Emma switched nests!

So now instead of Blue Bell being a mom today, Emma already has "her" first chick and another on it's way out. Miss Priss had one hatch yesterday and today has one more on the way.

In no way was I expecting any of my girls to go broody durring the winter. Kinda stupid I know but I was under the impression that they only went broody in the spring/summer

, I was wrong!

Hey Jess, Other than the things you already know you need to do. I don't see anything else that NEEDS to be done. But you could always add some yard art to the out side of the coop. As soon as we find a place and I get the chickens settled that is what I will be doing.

I didn't think I would get a broody until this spring too. Then my hatchery BR went broody at 6 mo in Oct/Nov. I wish she would have been able to raise the chick to full size(she is the one taken by a hawk).

 

[BeccaBeeOly]

BeccaBee, any chance you're one of my relatives by that name? (Middle of three kids, went to East Olympia grade school, et'c?)

Nope, I'm a NewEngland transplant But maybe she's why I get asked if I'm related to so-and-so all the time! Maybe we'll run into each other one day!

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Travis - The girls were making an awful thump jumping down from the roosts that used to be higher...they were probably 4.5' off the ground and I was afraid of Bumblefoot and other injuries, so we lowered them to where they are now. I will probably cover over the 2nd pop door completely with some sort of coop art permanently; right now it's ugly because the coop is painted blue and the board I put over the hole is just pressboard.

I'm always on the lookout for some cute coop art too. Guess I didn't take a pic of the metal painted sign we already have over the nest boxes. It says "Fresh eggs from happy chickens". I want to hang a couple baskets around the coop under the eves for egg collection and wild birds to nest as well. Maybe plant some flowers in them.

FM - I might have my first broody today. Maybe. I keep thinking there's a chance and then someone gets up. But I had to kick Lucy (a Buff Orp) out of the nest boxes so I could clean, then she kept coming back and growling at me and she's all puffed up. So there's hope! I WANT someone broody so I can have me some chicks this winter. I want pullets laying mid summer (all mine started in August/September and earlier would be nice) and all winter since I'm certain everyone else will molt next winter.

Unless you have something to cause a cut in the bottom of their feet, they should not get bumblefoot from jumping down. It is caused by bacteria(from poop) getting into small cuts(usually caused by sharp rocks while scratching in the ground). My top roost is 36" high. When I build the pallet coop next month it will be about 45-48" high. Especially since I know my huge rooster Pigpen can actually fly. I caught him on the sawhorse I have in the run today, it is 36" high. First time I have ever seen him get up on something more than 16" high without steps or a ramp.

 

[FirewifeJess]

Question for those with broodies that are good mamas and actually sit for the full length of time and don't kill their eggs.....if my hen is broody, I shouldn't be able to "bug" her off her nest right? She's still in there all hunkered down on 4 wooden eggs (that SHE gathered from 2 nest boxes, 2 in each box) that she won't really budge or let me grab; I was trying to see if she was also sitting on someone else's eggs because we've only found 3 today, boo. Anyway, she's all growly/purry when I pet her and reach under her, and her feathers are puffed up. I keep going back to check on her. If I happen to bug her enough will she stop? Or if she's a good mama will she be determined through me bugging her multiple times a day.

 

[Sweetlilbaby]

Question for those with broodies that are good mamas and actually sit for the full length of time and don't kill their eggs.....if my hen is broody, I shouldn't be able to "bug" her off her nest right? She's still in there all hunkered down on 4 wooden eggs (that SHE gathered from 2 nest boxes, 2 in each box) that she won't really budge or let me grab; I was trying to see if she was also sitting on someone else's eggs because we've only found 3 today, boo. Anyway, she's all growly/purry when I pet her and reach under her, and her feathers are puffed up. I keep going back to check on her. If I happen to bug her enough will she stop? Or if she's a good mama will she be determined through me bugging her multiple times a day.

it depends on the hen. I had one that i picked up and sat on the ground daily for 18 days. In those 18 days i had eggs in the incubator. I finally brought her in the house and sat her on the eggs for their lock down. She didn't care how much I bothered or moved her she always went back to where eggs were. Another hen went broody and i moved her off the nest for 4 days then she gave up.

 

[TurtlePowerTrav]

Question for those with broodies that are good mamas and actually sit for the full length of time and don't kill their eggs.....if my hen is broody, I shouldn't be able to "bug" her off her nest right? She's still in there all hunkered down on 4 wooden eggs (that SHE gathered from 2 nest boxes, 2 in each box) that she won't really budge or let me grab; I was trying to see if she was also sitting on someone else's eggs because we've only found 3 today, boo. Anyway, she's all growly/purry when I pet her and reach under her, and her feathers are puffed up. I keep going back to check on her. If I happen to bug her enough will she stop? Or if she's a good mama will she be determined through me bugging her multiple times a day.

Let her be and see if she sleeps on the nest tonight. If she does, remove her mid day tomorrow, if she is broody she should go back to the nest within 30 minutes. If she returns to the nest and sleeps a second night, again remove her mid day and see if she goes back. Do this process for 3-5 days to make sure she is committed. Then give her fertile eggs to hatch out.

 

[FirewifeJess]

I think it's funny that all it took was a super clean coop and nest box, and wooden dummy eggs, to make a girl go broody. Sounds like me when I'm pregnant...everything has to be spotless!