Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Angiebubs]

Wally is going to his new home tomorrow & I heard from my the other person who took Hansel (My other BR Roo) and said he is doing well and a sweetheart-Nice to hear hes in a good home. Trying to decide if I should try to catch Wally whiles hes roosting tonight or look like an idiot running around trying to catch him when they come tomorrow (AND Im suppossed to be working from home not chasing/selling chickensLOL)

So question for the experts..I have been getting 8-10 eggs per day. Half my hens just started laying 2 months ago. Two of my hens have gone broody (At least they are in the nestbox every night when I get home). Do broody hens still lay? Today I had 7 eggs and found one weird looking thing on the roost. It appeared to be like a shellless egg? Cant tell if it was a really soft shell or no shell-kinda membrane looking. I have oyster shell out and available all the time-and have had customers commnet on how much thicker the shells are on my eggs compared to the store. Is it possible that one hen isnt eating hte oyster shell? Would it still be due to thier being young hens laying (2 months though with nothing like this) Do I need to do anything differently?

 

[Cindlady]

Angie... Don't panic... it happens. Unless you get allot of soft/no-shell eggs, there is nothing to worry about. Lots of things can cause it, most often she just excited and laied it too early.
Also, broody hens stop laying and go into what I call "The Broody Trance".
Good luck!

 

[MustLoveHens]

Ang-that weird egg was probably one from the pullets just laying. They can lay some odd eggs for the first eggs. They will settle in and the egg will get more consistent as the hens lay more get going. It sounds like your doing everything right shell/feed wise. If you are feeding a good quality layer feed then technically you don't need to supplement with oyster shell, but it won't hurt to give them the oyster shell free choice.

Broody hens don't lay while they are brooding and pretty much will not lay until she wean the chicks.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Thank you for the well wishes. I popped some PM pain relievers & it did the trick.

Amy, what a beautiful pic of your boys. That little guy sure is a cutie.

TO, sorry to hear the doc didn't give you anything. Just told you what you already knew, hey? And got paid tons for what? I've noticed they are on that kick at least since the economy took a dive: not giving out hardly any antibiotics, and the ones they do are the weakest forms of penicillin that don't do squat anyway. So you went to Kohls to spread your misery around? Don't tell DrH that.

That's why you're feeling better: you gave it to someone else.
Bf4, chicken porn? Really? You are twisted, girlie.

And I am not even gonna touch that "angel" comment of yours. So how many LOs did you have to start with this time? And don't toss the rest just yet. I thought for sure one of mine was a dud, but it hatched. My cameras were a gift from my sweetie so I could keep an eye on my girls, especially in the winter when I can't get out there because of the snow. He takes care of them in winter for me.

SF, cute pics, and good luck on the renovations. It is so much better to get it done the way you want it before you move in. Very smart of you two.

Kris, I had my first broody hatch her chicks in Jan., then did my first incubator hatch not long after. My vote is for the broody. Mine was, and is, such a great momma, even after being separated from them for 2 or so weeks. And the chicks are sooooo much friendlier and calm. Momma teaches them everything, it is really amazing to watch.
Ang, Cind & MLH are right on the money with their replies. Good advice.

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Thank you for the well wishes. I popped some PM pain relievers & it did the trick.

Amy, what a beautiful pic of your boys. That little guy sure is a cutie.

TO, sorry to hear the doc didn't give you anything. Just told you what you already knew, hey? And got paid tons for what? I've noticed they are on that kick at least since the economy took a dive: not giving out hardly any antibiotics, and the ones they do are the weakest forms of penicillin that don't do squat anyway. So you went to Kohls to spread your misery around? Don't tell DrH that.

That's why you're feeling better: you gave it to someone else.
Bf4, chicken porn? Really? You are twisted, girlie.

And I am not even gonna touch that "angel" comment of yours. So how many LOs did you have to start with this time? And don't toss the rest just yet. I thought for sure one of mine was a dud, but it hatched. My cameras were a gift from my sweetie so I could keep an eye on my girls, especially in the winter when I can't get out there because of the snow. He takes care of them in winter for me.

SF, cute pics, and good luck on the renovations. It is so much better to get it done the way you want it before you move in. Very smart of you two.

Kris, I had my first broody hatch her chicks in Jan., then did my first incubator hatch not long after. My vote is for the broody. Mine was, and is, such a great momma, even after being separated from them for 2 or so weeks. And the chicks are sooooo much friendlier and calm. Momma teaches them everything, it is really amazing to watch.
Ang, Cind & MLH are right on the money with their replies. Good advice.

Hi... Angel Sweet Cheeks here...
I started with 7 LO eggs. One had a blood ring, so I tossed it. But the other six are growing some babies. Cross your fingers and say some prayers for safe growing and hatching!

I did candle all 27 eggs. I think I have 21 viable right now. Not too horrible. But I am waiting to see. The questionable ones are marked but not tossed. I was so surprised to see movement already. This Ovaview was SO worth the 30 bucks! I can see into dark marans eggs even.

Yeah... I got the idea of chicken porn when I was telling MLH to put Vaseline on her chickens legs for the photo shoot...

 

[Angiebubs]

Thanks for the input Cin, MLH, and CC. So unless I let then hatch some eggs-they are just going to hog the good nest boxes forever? LOL I have 8 sexed chicks arriving in June-and had decided I only wanted sexed chicks so wasnt planning on letting the hens hatch out any....that is until BBP decided to tempt me with her beautiful cochins and LO's. Thing is-I would like to get my flock set and then let it be-and afraid if there end up being any boys in the broodys clutch-Im in trouble as I want to keep all of them!!! Is it possible to have hen raised chicks be as friendly as day olds you raise yourself? Will the hens let you handle the chicks at all? And I think I remember someone saying that if you let a broody hatch chicks, they need to be in a seperate area right?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Oh, and Ang, catch Wally now.

I'm glad your youngsters were spending the night with relatives!!!

Cute! I'm just relieved the relatives were on their best behavior. Even Priscilla Poultry the PR, the only non-mother in the bunch and the alpha, was behaving herself. The only bad seed was my otherwise sweet Ezmerelda. Why is it the ones that are the nicest to us are always the sassy ones in the flock? Prissy is the exception. She is just a B. Anyway, last night before I went to bed, 2 chickies were sleeping next to Jack on the high roost, 2 were next to him on the kennel wall, and 3 were on the lower roost where they belong. In the morning when DH got up, 3 were on the kennel, 1 was on the high roost with Jack & Alice, 1 was on the low roost and 2 were in the coop with the adults.

Needless to say, when DH got home, a piece of fencing went up to extend the kennel wall to the ceiling. That should cure their sleep walking/flying excursions. I hope........

ETA: DH went out & put the chicks back where they belonged. When I got up later, 2 of them were back in the coop again, the little snots!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Thanks for the input Cin, MLH, and CC. So unless I let then hatch some eggs-they are just going to hog the good nest boxes forever? LOL I have 8 sexed chicks arriving in June-and had decided I only wanted sexed chicks so wasnt planning on letting the hens hatch out any....that is until BBP decided to tempt me with her beautiful cochins and LO's. Thing is-I would like to get my flock set and then let it be-and afraid if there end up being any boys in the broodys clutch-Im in trouble as I want to keep all of them!!! Is it possible to have hen raised chicks be as friendly as day olds you raise yourself? Will the hens let you handle the chicks at all? And I think I remember someone saying that if you let a broody hatch chicks, they need to be in a seperate area right?

Having your broody separated from the rest of the flock is preferrable. Less stress on mom. I left Alice in the coop for about 15-16 days, then DH brought her in, nest box & all, and I trasferred the eggs to where we wanted her. Then I put her in front of them and she climbed in & sat down. She was a super mom, never pecked at me and let me handle the chicks, but was very watchful. Just don't dare let one of them out of her line of sight. Oh my! And those were the friendliest chicks I've ever had.

As for the roos, you managed to find good homes for Wally & the other one.

I say give it a go!

 

[Celtic Chick]

Angel Sweet Cheeks???? Sorry. That ain't flying around here!

 

[BlackBrookPoultry]

I don't separate my broody hens. I only had a problem once with a cockerel who was trying to kill the chicks. But no problems since I got rid of him.

I just had an egg hatch from my isabel orpington hen. Apparently the chick is part Iowa Blue. I can't wait to see what it turns out to look like.