What did you do with your flock today?

[kurby22]

My two new buff orpington ladies are on their way and should arrive tomorrow. I've got a large crate set up in the enclosure for them with a roost, nestboxes, and feeder/waterer and will add an additional "minirun" after a day or two. I want them to rest and recover from their journey before venturing too far. They've been vaccinated, so mareks shouldn't be a problem. I do worry about integration squabbles, though, so I want these ladies strong before they have to deal with my reds being bossy...or boys being boys. The travel will likely break their broody, but that's ok. They'll go broody again.

Now to another slightly different note. My brown leghorn pullet who started laying eggs on January 4 has laid 5 eggs so far in those 7 days. I know it's the same hen because she lays in the same box every time and at around 3pm each time. All small, but consistent in size. Since I know the roosters have been mating with the hens, is it possible these eggs could hatch, despite being small?

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Leghorns are supposed to lay large eggs. So not sure if it would be a waste to put these under one of the BOs if one actually stays broody after she arrives. Also, they've been refrigerated, but I didnt allow any to stay outside in the nest box long enough to freeze. What do y'all think?

I think if they’re new layers, you are supposed to give them two weeks to see fertile eggs? But I could be totally wrong someone smarter than me should pipe in! I think you might wanna give your Orps a few days to destress from their travels before giving them babies to hatch. I can tell you from my own awful experience that sometimes stress from travel and new environments can trigger illnesses—so you won’t want a half baked set of eggs if one gets sick. But I may be a touch gun shy due to my experience! How exciting though!!

 

[pennyJo1960]

We did grocery shopping that fun thing we all need to do sometimes ..

 

[kurby22]

@kurby22 your Emilio is beautiful. I'm so thrilled you all seem to be having one better day after another. It's wonderful!

@TropicalBabies you have a way with your birds. My roos haven't ever given me flack *yet* and all continue to steer clear of me. I walk where I want and never ever sidestep a rooster. I make them get out of my way. But I am certain I wouldnt succeed in picking them up to give them a football hold timeout if they ever did decide to be cheeky. I'd more likely end up looking like a lunatic chasing him around the property until inevitably I twisted my ankle or fell on my backside...probably resulting in even more cussing and lunacy. So, it's probably best if they all stay sweet and slightly afraid of me.

@FrankieDoodle your silkie is hilarious and I love him. TropicalBabies found the perfect doppelganger for him.

Thank you! Emilio is a nice looking dude although none of my ladies seem to think so

 

[TropicalBabies]

Congrats on new hens! They sound lovely.
If it were me- I'd skip the leghorn eggs. They probably could if things aligned etc but do you really want small chicks in winter and what happens with deformities if new leghorn does not have it together? Plus, travel then broody for your new girls? Being broody is super hard enough on its own. I'd put out a welcome mat, give them vitamins get the new ladies settled with meet and greets and wait for spring

 

[629864]

Congrats on new hens! They sound lovely.
If it were me- I'd skip the leghorn eggs. They probably could if things aligned etc but do you really want small chicks in winter and what happens with deformities if new leghorn does not have it together? Plus, travel then broody for your new girls? Being broody is super hard enough on its own. I'd put out a welcome mat, give them vitamins get the new ladies settled with meet and greets and wait for spring

That's sort of what I was originally planning, but the seller misunderstood what I was wanting and thought I wanted them broody upon arrival.... So she just let me know that, in order to prevent their broody being broken, she shipped them with eggs. Super sweet of her, but I may end up with broody hens tomorrow anyway.

 

[TropicalBabies]

That's sort of what I was originally planning, but the seller misunderstood what I was wanting and thought I wanted them broody upon arrival.... So she just let me know that, in order to prevent their broody being broken, she shipped them with eggs. Super sweet of her, but I may end up with broody hens tomorrow anyway.

Man, you guys get everything over there! We are lucky to get basic egglayer chicks here and after a few day trip... they can be pretty beat.
Well, what kind of eggs? lol?

 

[TropicalBabies]

That's sort of what I was originally planning, but the seller misunderstood what I was wanting and thought I wanted them broody upon arrival.... So she just let me know that, in order to prevent their broody being broken, she shipped them with eggs. Super sweet of her, but I may end up with broody hens tomorrow anyway.

Are you all set up for it?

 

[TropicalBabies]

Ok. I have true confessions here. I never walk through my roos. I, like all my critters believe in shared space and coexisting though I do use pressure to move them where I want like I do our horses. Works great.

 

[629864]

Man, you guys get everything over there! We are lucky to get basic egglayer chicks here and after a few day trip... they can be pretty beat.
Well, what kind of eggs? lol?

I'm really REALLY hoping for the girls' sake that the overnight shipping really will be overnight. I hate thinking they won't eat or drink for days. It seems horrible even just the one 24 hour period. I've been feeling guilty about that already. Poor girls. I just want to let them get cozy and settled before even thinking about introductions with the flock. I'm thinking at least several days of saying hello through the fence before any real hellos.

She didnt say what kind of eggs. Not sure if they'll also be BO eggs or not. I did ask, but not sure yet if they're even fertile. I'll update when I know.

 

[629864]

Are you all set up for it?

Yep. I have an giant dog crate (3'×5'x4') set up with a tarp covering it (lashed down with ropes so it's not going anywhere). There's a roosting bar and two nest boxes. Plus feeder and waterer of course. Since this is only temporary, I'm not concerned that it's not exactly the Ritz.

I've got additional fencing that I'll add to the crate entrance to give them a mini run while still being separated from the rest of the flock after they've had a day to just rest and eat.

Since the original plan was to have them not go broody until late spring, this is not ideal, but it'll be ok. If we'd followed the original plan, I'd have the chicken yard enclosed and they'd be able to roost and and nest in the 2nd henhouse. But until the chicken yard gets enclosed, the 2nd henhouse wont have nighttime predator protection....so that's a no until the enclosure is up.