Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[itsren]

Quote: I have a sign that says "he may rule the roost, but SHE rules the rooster".

Where did you get that sign? I want one!

 

[itsren]

Quote:
That's an awesome idea! Will chia grow outside? And, can chickens eat it?

 

[itsren]

Hey Renee, just wanted to say I did see the pumpkins you and oldest DS carved, they were both awesome!

Thanks.

Robin - I'm sure grey will be just fine for the funeral. I've seen people wear bright colors to funerals. Lots of people look at funerals as a celebration of life now, instead of as "mourning". HTH.

 

[Hinotori]

Quote:
I think you'd be Henpecked quickly because of that.

 

[VelvettFog]

Quote:
Ren,

The purpose of my broody cage is to break them of being broody I give them just about 2'x2' of space.

If you are wanting to build a cage to allow the bird to actually sit and hatch - -then this is what I think you need to keep in mind:

For the most part, the hen is going to sit on the clutch of eggs. She will need to have access to both food and water, and she'll need a place to poo. If we figure that the area that will hold the clutch is about 16" square, that leaves you with an area of about 16"x20" for a feeder, water fount and 'bathroom'. If you can put the water and feeder outside the cage walls then there is a bit more room for 'potty breaks'. So your 32x20 space sounds doo-able - but might be a little tight. I think it would be worth a try.

Once the eggs hatch, I would consider that space too small. So you'll want a bigger cage/box to move them to. So maybe you want to have her hatch out the clutch in that bigger box so you don't have to shift her and the chicks?

When I let a hen hatch eggs, I give her a 4'x4' space with a wooden apple box in it to act as the nest box. Once the chicks hatch, they can stay in that 4x4 area for a good three weeks. then I can move them to more permanent housing.

I'm sure that there are way more viable approaches than the one I just described

Dave

If anyone goes broody, I want to break them of it. None of our eggs will ever be fertile - it would be useless to let them go broody. Plus, Drama tends to be a clutz, anyway - and if we ever put eggs under her, she'd probably smash them unintentionally.

Edited to add: Wasn't clear with my first post. We're going to try to hatch some BCMs in an incubator.

OH ... well then 32'x20' will be fine as a broody-breaker. It's important to have a wire bottom, and to have the cage elevated. Like I said, the hens that I put into 'solitary confinement' have a space of about 24"x24". They only stay there for 3 days, then I let them out. Usually it only takes one such 'jail term' to break a broody.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: Succullents should work, too

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: Thanks Ruth! You're wonderful.

I am discovering I do not have much black in my wardrobe. I hope maybe mixing with some dark grey will be appropriate for the service...
Purples are also mourning colors.

 

[hallerlake]

The chicks are six weeks old. I turned off the heat lamp. They're acting like the sun has gone out. In a sense, it has. They've never been without it. I will probably turn it back on at night for another week or so. It depends on the weather forecast.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

The chicks are six weeks old. I turned off the heat lamp. They're acting like the sun has gone out. In a sense, it has. They've never been without it. I will probably turn it back on at night for another week or so. It depends on the weather forecast.

When I brood in the fall and winter I do let the light stay on for longer than 6 weeks...I kinda go by how they are acting. They don't have the meat on their bones that the spring chickens do.

 

[hallerlake]

Quote: That's why I'm going to keep it on a while longer at night. They should be fine during the day.