Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[delisha]

Quote: When a hen goes broody, before you give her eggs to set on, make sure she is going to *stick*. The best way I have found is to have a separate area away from others sectioned off. I take her off the nest she is presently on with some of the nesting material and I place the *broody* in the area on the new nest, and see if she sticks. If she does stick, I give her eggs. You don't have to sneak them in. If you set an egg in front of her, she will roll it under. It is fun to watch. Mom hens are really protective of there chicks when they take the chicks off the nest.
I have never seen another domestic bird eat a chick of any kind, but, I have seen them peck them pretty good if the chicks get to close to the feed dish. Mom usually ushers the offending chick out of the way, and if the hen that is the pecker comes after her chick, the mom usually raises a huge ruckus. Sometimes you have two hens who will co-raise a bunch of chicks..that is adorable to watch. Some roos make the best mothers. My drake loves chicks and will protect them from just about anyone. He even gives me the stink eye if i approach his charges. I just let the hen hatch out her brood, and take them in with the rest of the group.She will know when it is time to introduce them. Make sure food and water is always available and easy to reach. They only get off the nest to quick poop and gobble a mouth full of feed sometimes. I use FF game feed and put calf manna on top for a dressing when all hens nest. They loose copious amounts of weight if food is not close. With Muscovys you sometimes have to pull them off nests to make them eat and drink and exercise they are so devoted.

 

[jvls1942]

OK, I have read the posts up to here and now my apple id gone too.. so I will type for a spell..

any broody will hatch any eggs you put under her.. they don't even have to be chicken eggs.. and yes, whatever she hatches, she will take care of..

I have never seen a chicken eat a chick.. they will take an annoyed peck at them, though.. but usually it is not fatal.. However, chickens will eat dead babies occasionally..

do not let the cluck just use any nest.. the other chickens will keep adding eggs to her nest daily.
fix her up with a nest that the other chickens cannot get to..
sometimes a cluck will resist moving from her chosen nest..

If the flock is free ranging or in a large pen where the cluck can escape with her chicks, you/she shouldn't have any trouble..

speaking of hatching eggs.. that is not too bad of a deal for that GQF bator and hatcher on Wausau Craig's list.... be advised, you cannot stack the plastic egg trays in that model.. but just even single stacked you have no trouble setting 210 chicken eggs at one time..
and with the added feature of the hatcher, you should have no trouble with rotating hatches.. In two months, you should be able to set about 500 eggs..

.....jimgoingbackontomydietaftertheholidays.........

 

[judge]

Quote: When a hen goes broody, before you give her eggs to set on, make sure she is going to *stick*. The best way I have found is to have a separate area away from others sectioned off. I take her off the nest she is presently on with some of the nesting material and I place the *broody* in the area on the new nest, and see if she sticks. If she does stick, I give her eggs. You don't have to sneak them in. If you set an egg in front of her, she will roll it under. It is fun to watch. Mom hens are really protective of there chicks when they take the chicks off the nest.
I have never seen another domestic bird eat a chick of any kind, but, I have seen them peck them pretty good if the chicks get to close to the feed dish. Mom usually ushers the offending chick out of the way, and if the hen that is the pecker comes after her chick, the mom usually raises a huge ruckus. Sometimes you have hens who will co-raise a bunch of chicks..that is adorable to watch. Some roos make the best mothers. My drake loves chicks and will protect them from just about anyone. He even gives me the stink eye if i approach his charges. I just let the hen hatch out her brood, and take them in with the rest of the group.She will know when it is time to introduce them. Make sure food and water is always available and easy to reach. They only get off the nest to quick poop and gobble a mouth full of feed sometimes. I use FF game feed and put calf manna on top for a dressing when all hens nest. They loose copious amounts of weight if food is not close. With Muscovys you sometimes have to pull them off nests to make them eat and drink and exercise they are so devoted.
Thanks Delisha- what is calf manna? After her eggs are hatched how long to I keep them separated before I let them back into the general population? I assume once I do the mama won't roost but will stay with the chicks? I don't have anywhere for the babies to sleep except the nesting boxes once I move them in with the rest... Do I feed the chicks what I did when i got them from Tractor Supply, or does the mama feed them (like a robin or something) I know- I should know some of this huh?

 

[judge]

OK, I have read the posts up to here and now my apple id gone too.. so I will type for a spell..

any broody will hatch any eggs you put under her.. they don't even have to be chicken eggs.. and yes, whatever she hatches, she will take care of..

I have never seen a chicken eat a chick.. they will take an annoyed peck at them, though.. but usually it is not fatal.. However, chickens will eat dead babies occasionally..

do not let the cluck just use any nest.. the other chickens will keep adding eggs to her nest daily.
fix her up with a nest that the other chickens cannot get to..
sometimes a cluck will resist moving from her chosen nest..

If the flock is free ranging or in a large pen where the cluck can escape with her chicks, you/she shouldn't have any trouble..

speaking of hatching eggs.. that is not too bad of a deal for that GQF bator and hatcher on Wausau Craig's list.... be advised, you cannot stack the plastic egg trays in that model.. but just even single stacked you have no trouble setting 210 chicken eggs at one time..
and with the added feature of the hatcher, you should have no trouble with rotating hatches.. In two months, you should be able to set about 500 eggs..

.....jimgoingbackontomydietaftertheholidays.........

Thank you Jim. I was hoping you would be one of the people who could give me some advise. You are all too kind to answer my silly questions.

 

[delisha]

Quote: When a hen goes broody, before you give her eggs to set on, make sure she is going to *stick*. The best way I have found is to have a separate area away from others sectioned off. I take her off the nest she is presently on with some of the nesting material and I place the *broody* in the area on the new nest, and see if she sticks. If she does stick, I give her eggs. You don't have to sneak them in. If you set an egg in front of her, she will roll it under. It is fun to watch. Mom hens are really protective of there chicks when they take the chicks off the nest.
I have never seen another domestic bird eat a chick of any kind, but, I have seen them peck them pretty good if the chicks get to close to the feed dish. Mom usually ushers the offending chick out of the way, and if the hen that is the pecker comes after her chick, the mom usually raises a huge ruckus. Sometimes you have hens who will co-raise a bunch of chicks..that is adorable to watch. Some roos make the best mothers. My drake loves chicks and will protect them from just about anyone. He even gives me the stink eye if i approach his charges. I just let the hen hatch out her brood, and take them in with the rest of the group.She will know when it is time to introduce them. Make sure food and water is always available and easy to reach. They only get off the nest to quick poop and gobble a mouth full of feed sometimes. I use FF game feed and put calf manna on top for a dressing when all hens nest. They loose copious amounts of weight if food is not close. With Muscovys you sometimes have to pull them off nests to make them eat and drink and exercise they are so devoted.
Thanks Delisha- what is calf manna? After her eggs are hatched how long to I keep them separated before I let them back into the general population? I assume once I do the mama won't roost but will stay with the chicks? I don't have anywhere for the babies to sleep except the nesting boxes once I move them in with the rest... Do I feed the chicks what I did when i got them from Tractor Supply, or does the mama feed them (like a robin or something) I know- I should know some of this huh?
calf manna is a powder that is given to calfs to add weight, vitamins, electrolites. I also used to use it for show conditioner for the goats and dogs. Actually after she takes them off/out of the nest, you can just open the area where you have her. She will choose where to bring them, either back to where you had her or back to the general population. She will show them how to roost, I have had hens show baby chicks how to roost the second week, she shows how to walk up stairs, what to eat, where to find it, etc.

 

[delisha]

 

[babylady4]

Turkey was phenomenal as usual... did Alton Brown's brined turkey.... and then a ham cooked out on the grill.... YUM! That ham tastes just like a giant lump of bacon! Made some baked sweet and russet potatoes along with steamed carrots and broccoli. Fantastic food, good company, and plenty of spirits to go around.......

You all have a good evening.

 

[Celtic Chick]

Hart automatic watering system for chickens
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/grd/3468675813.html

Hey Jim, you could maybe make some cash making/selling yours?
http://milwaukee.craigslist.org/grd/3512298388.html

 

[Celtic Chick]

Thanks Delisha- what is calf manna? After her eggs are hatched how long to I keep them separated before I let them back into the general population? I assume once I do the mama won't roost but will stay with the chicks? I don't have anywhere for the babies to sleep except the nesting boxes once I move them in with the rest... Do I feed the chicks what I did when i got them from Tractor Supply, or does the mama feed them (like a robin or something) I know- I should know some of this huh?

Cute pics, Del! I prefer to keep my momma & chicks separate for at least a few weeks before returning them to the flock. Mine can all see each other, but I have a fence to keep the adults away from the mom & chicks. A few of my adults have pecked the chicks pretty hard in the past, but they've never caused any damage. Feed the momma & chicks a chick starter (she will show them where it is & how to eat). Another reason I like to keep the chicks separate is because the adults will gobble up all the chick feed before the babies have a chance to get any. Mom will sit on a "nest" & keep the babies under her until she feels they are big enough to roost.

 

[judge]

Quote: When a hen goes broody, before you give her eggs to set on, make sure she is going to *stick*. The best way I have found is to have a separate area away from others sectioned off. I take her off the nest she is presently on with some of the nesting material and I place the *broody* in the area on the new nest, and see if she sticks. If she does stick, I give her eggs. You don't have to sneak them in. If you set an egg in front of her, she will roll it under. It is fun to watch. Mom hens are really protective of there chicks when they take the chicks off the nest.
I have never seen another domestic bird eat a chick of any kind, but, I have seen them peck them pretty good if the chicks get to close to the feed dish. Mom usually ushers the offending chick out of the way, and if the hen that is the pecker comes after her chick, the mom usually raises a huge ruckus. Sometimes you have hens who will co-raise a bunch of chicks..that is adorable to watch. Some roos make the best mothers. My drake loves chicks and will protect them from just about anyone. He even gives me the stink eye if i approach his charges. I just let the hen hatch out her brood, and take them in with the rest of the group.She will know when it is time to introduce them. Make sure food and water is always available and easy to reach. They only get off the nest to quick poop and gobble a mouth full of feed sometimes. I use FF game feed and put calf manna on top for a dressing when all hens nest. They loose copious amounts of weight if food is not close. With Muscovys you sometimes have to pull them off nests to make them eat and drink and exercise they are so devoted.
Thanks Delisha- what is calf manna? After her eggs are hatched how long to I keep them separated before I let them back into the general population? I assume once I do the mama won't roost but will stay with the chicks? I don't have anywhere for the babies to sleep except the nesting boxes once I move them in with the rest... Do I feed the chicks what I did when i got them from Tractor Supply, or does the mama feed them (like a robin or something) I know- I should know some of this huh?
calf manna is a powder that is given to calfs to add weight, vitamins, electrolites. I also used to use it for show conditioner for the goats and dogs. Actually after she takes them off/out of the nest, you can just open the area where you have her. She will choose where to bring them, either back to where you had her or back to the general population. She will show them how to roost, I have had hens show baby chicks how to roost the second week, she shows how to walk up stairs, what to eat, where to find it, etc.
Ok last question

Is that the mik replacer that we feed the calves after they are weaned off milk? If so that is great because we have a ton of that stuff!