Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[Cindlady]

Hi All!

Nothing New.... not looking forward to the cold snap coming.

Night All.

 

[chikenscratch]

I personally prefer to get fertile eggs, from friends, of the breeds I want and let my hens hatch and raise them. It keeps them out of my house, eliminates my involvement completely, the mom teaches them everything they need to know and protects them from others, and you don't get sick/infested chicks. I have had great success either way

.

Morning to you all, it is cold here, so it must be really cold for some of you! Got 4/7 eggs yesterday, so improving. Getting rid of the CFL was definitely needed!

Well, should probably get ready for work, ugh!

 

[irishrovr]

Until last year I always had hens hatch and raise and that was so much better than incubating them and keeping them warm enough. Until recently I've not had any hens interested in being a mommie. I have one hen with a chick now and 8 new ones in the brooder plus quail in another brooder. Just as soon as one goes broodie again she's getting as many eggs as she wants to hatch out. Raising them in a box and paying for heat lamps is just not as good for me. Besides, I like to watch the mamas with their chicks.

 

[Daethen]

How do I tell if I have a broody hen? I have a few that I find sitting on a few eggs in the nest box, but they do not fight me if I take them away. I would definitely let them raise the babies if I could do it that way.

 

[kristip]

DAETHEN... in the past Chets did not require you to buy so many of a breed. He may want you to buy 4 or 5 total birds, but there were no major requirements and he has plenty of guys on staff that "know a guy" if you are looking for a specific breed. I was going to get ahold of them to see if i can get a few OEGB. I am in New Glarus and may have some for you also... I am inquiring from friends for some hatching eggs at reasonable prices or enabled upon. my kids love hatching!

Anyone want some unfriendly barn cats? We need to relocate some from our neighborhood. The old farmette behind us which is a non functioning farm has cats reproducing left and right... and they dont feed them so they are becoming desperate. There were 8 cats running around the coop and harassing the birds the other day... They tease the dogs too...A vet friend offered to help me get them fixed low cost, but there are too many cats here for such a small neighborhood..ugh they are a pain.

otherwise dealing with the family crazy...mom cracked her hip bone and is in surgery today and goin to a rehab center after that... my father in law was just diagnosed with prostate cancer and the dog may need surgery for his ACL... I need a break!!!

Hope every is having a good Thursday... stay warm!!

 

[Daethen]

Good to know, kristip! And I may be able to help you rehome those cats. Let me get ahold of my uncle and I will let you know.

 

[chickendreams24]

@kristip

What color oegb were you looking for?
I have some friends who breed them. I also have a few but they aren't currently separated from the rest of the flock.

 

[Celtic Chick]

How do I tell if I have a broody hen? I have a few that I find sitting on a few eggs in the nest box, but they do not fight me if I take them away. I would definitely let them raise the babies if I could do it that way.

Broodies aren't always aggressive when on a nest. It depends on the bird.

You might have broodies, or you might just be going in the coop when the girls are getting ready to lay an egg. A good way to tell the difference is to go in the coop after roost time to see if they are still on the nest or are roosting with the others.

If they are superglued to the nest, that is a good indication of a broody hen.

 

[Daethen]

Broodies aren't always aggressive when on a nest. It depends on the bird.

You might have broodies, or you might just be going in the coop when the girls are getting ready to lay an egg. A good way to tell the difference is to go in the coop after roost time to see if they are still on the nest or are roosting with the others.

If they are superglued to the nest, that is a good indication of a broody hen.

Should I leave a couple of eggs in there for them to sit on then?

 

[Celtic Chick]

Should I leave a couple of eggs in there for them to sit on then?

I wouldn't because if they aren't sitting on them at night, the eggs will freeze & crack. I would toss some golf balls in there if you want.

I had some pretty determined broodies that wouldn't leave the nest even after taking away all her eggs. She just sat in an empty nest, silly bird. (I didn't want her hatching chicks out in Dec./Jan.)