I just got some chicken aprons (or saddles whatever you call them, they go on their backs) to protect a few of my poor hens from amorous roos.
I got them from Lovemychix, and they seem to fit well, and although the hens objected when I put them on, they adjusted pretty quickly and don't seem to notice them now.
I just wonder why some seem to be all beat up and have bare backs when the majority of the hens have very little feather loss on the backs. Obviously, something makes those hens look different to the roos, but I cannot figure out what.
It is worrying me, because I want to hatch some eggs out. Some of these are VERY nice birds with likewise very nice eggs. I am a little worried that if just a few hens are getting all the attention, the other eggs will not be fertile.
The chief perps for the naked back problems seem to be my big Wheaten Ameracauna roos. I do not see the Welsummer guy making too many waves. I hope he is doing something, because I particularly want Welsummer chicks! I did hatch out one earlier this year, so he is doing something anyway.
Why is this, do you think? I guess I will just have to start routinely checking my eggs for fertility.
I did hatch out one lovely Wheaten Ameracauna egg, just SURE it would be one of those guys, and guess what--it was a tiny little bantie chick. So of course when I want to seriously hatch out some, I'll enclose the ones I want.
Catherine (IggiMom)
I got them from Lovemychix, and they seem to fit well, and although the hens objected when I put them on, they adjusted pretty quickly and don't seem to notice them now.
I just wonder why some seem to be all beat up and have bare backs when the majority of the hens have very little feather loss on the backs. Obviously, something makes those hens look different to the roos, but I cannot figure out what.
It is worrying me, because I want to hatch some eggs out. Some of these are VERY nice birds with likewise very nice eggs. I am a little worried that if just a few hens are getting all the attention, the other eggs will not be fertile.
The chief perps for the naked back problems seem to be my big Wheaten Ameracauna roos. I do not see the Welsummer guy making too many waves. I hope he is doing something, because I particularly want Welsummer chicks! I did hatch out one earlier this year, so he is doing something anyway.
Why is this, do you think? I guess I will just have to start routinely checking my eggs for fertility.
I did hatch out one lovely Wheaten Ameracauna egg, just SURE it would be one of those guys, and guess what--it was a tiny little bantie chick. So of course when I want to seriously hatch out some, I'll enclose the ones I want.
Catherine (IggiMom)
