Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[MustLoveHens]

Hey Dooner!!! Great to see you again!!! On the broody, yes you can move her in the garage. If you have the room it might be better to leaver her in the chicken "area" and just fence her off from the rest of the chickens. THis way she is still part of the flock and has her flock mates for company.
I just left my broody's brood in general population and the mama hen kept everyone away from her kids. In my show barn, the hens had their own cages (called drop pens) and they were all kept apart so I could leg band according to identification system and breeding group. They had the "together yet seperate" thing going on.
She will keep the chicks warm enough. When you move her and set up her broody area, leave the golf ball with her to make sure the move does not break her brood. I'd add the eggs under her then after a few days proving that she is still broody, take the gold ball away or just leave it under her as long as there is room for it and the eggs. It won't bother anything.
On your sex links, you are doing the right thing with blu-kote. There are "blinkers" or "blinders" that might help. Also, try getting a scratch block to give them something else to pick at. That could help as well.
Oddly if you can have a rooster, get a rooster. That will take care of the drama and bring the voice of reason to the coop. Normally roosters will keep every one in line and normally the pecking and squabeling (sp) is kept down to a minimum. HTH

 

[bigzio]

Sunny Morning All....what model Brinsea did you get bf4 ?

Dooner...sorry to hear about the road time...I did that for 30 years....12 to 14 hours a day....I know how demanding it is. IT should be ok to move your hen to the garage without breaking her from being broody....I've done it in the past....depends on the hen.
After she hatches the peeps, you will need to provide chick starter and chicker waterer for them near the nest....mom will decide when she wants to seperate from the clutch...usually after they feather out and she is ready to start laying again...you'll be able to tell when it's time.
The pecking might be due to not enough square feet per bird? They get bored during winter lock up for sure.
Nothing worse than a coop of birds that don't get along...as you already know. Glad you stopped back to visit...good luck and I hope you can visit often and make the bash in May.

later... bigz

 

[Angiebubs]

FT: Friend shared this on FB-couldn't resist posting it here LOL Sums up my week.

 

[Bigfamily4me]

Angie... That chicken is so freaking ugly it's HILARIOUS! Also, I am quite intrigued to hear you have Faverolles. I am getting 4 chicks in June (when the kids get their silkies). I think they are gorgeous! I am in love with muffs and beards on chickens! That's a big reason I am having EE as well. Would you be open to Faverolle questions when I get mine?

Bigz... I got the tiny but Advanced Brinsea. I am rather excited to give it a go. I do have the old hovabator with fan for larger hatches if needed.

Meal worms... Gulp.. I've never seen them... But they sound creepy and gross!

But I guess I will have to find some if I want to suck up to my chicks...

 

[bigzio]

BF4...I checked those mini ones out on their website. Still can fit prolly 7 or 8 eggs at a time. Keep that mini going with back to back hatches and you'll be building a bigger coop in no time!

I let the flocks out early today....didn't collect any eggs so far. Usually they come back to the coops to lay...hope they aren't laying under the spruce trees....silly hens.

What a dandy day out there today!

Hope you left the skins on the spuds when you made ho made fries raim....that's where all the nutrition is and ....makes them good for you....

enjoy to extreme...hope you kids loved them. That fish sounds good too.

bigz

 

[Angiebubs]

BF4U: I'm counting my chickens before they hatch so to speak LOL I dont have any yet either but those are on my list for my order this spring...Salmon Faverolle, Brahma, EE, Sussex, and SL Wyandotte..(Plus a frizzle hen if I can find one and 1-2 of BBP's Lav Orps if she has any available).thinking one of each and see what their personailities are like. Those have been peoples favs over and over again. however, it seems the SF sell out pretty quickly and never saw any local postings for them for sale...

 

[Angiebubs]

10 eggs again today out of 11 hens-this is fantastic!!! and another adorable little blue green egg

 

[babylady4]

Bf4, you can get freeze dried mealworms at Fleet, or you can start raising your own. They are like candy to the chicks, so not too many right away.....

Ducks are out enjoying this beautiful weather by splashing in the puddles in the middle of the yard and enjoying the SUN!

 

[MustLoveHens]

BF4-Meal worms are not that gross!! LOL!! Honestly though, they are terrific! There are a few ways to go with mealies. Live ones that you can find at Petco or any pet shop that sells reptile supplies and food. Or of the internet, ebay and Amazon to name a couple. They are kept in the refrigerator at the stores and generally come in three different sizes. Mini, Medium and Large. I get the mediums. Avoid the Super Worms!!
Happy Hen Treats, Stokes Bird Seed Company and Brown's Feed all sell freeze dried (dead) mealies. These you can find in the wild bird section at either a pet shop, F&F sometimes has them,TSC has them in their chicken section and they might have them in their wild bird section as well. Or you can order them off the internet.

My Girls don't like the freeze dried ones. They like them wiggly. They just stare at the dead ones like: "Seriously! You expect us to eat those things? Hah!" Eventually the dead ones make compost because they don't get eaten....Stupid worthless chickens......
Anywhoo, the live worms are packed in plastic tubs. (I've also had them come in a muslin sack, but that was with vast quantities I ordered). Anyway, they come in a plastic tub, and are packed in red flaky wheat bran. If you never want to handle a worm, then you can dump the whole lot in with the chicks and let them have at it. But's it's was more fun to hand feed them. Especially when one chick is really brave and gets one. Then he or she will play with it, eventually eat it and it's like you can see the little light bulb go on above their heads. They run back for more, making their little excited cheeps and the other chicks are like "Hey! Wait a minute! Henrietta has something and we don't!" They then commence chasing each other, getting the worm and playing tug of war and generally creating much havoc and mayhem....Tons of fun to watch!!!!

 

[Celtic Chick]

I was just reading last night about the striped genetics and yours will all be striped because the Moose carries 2 copies of the striped gene and the hens carry only one color gene so all babies will be striped. Then I think if you would breed those babies together you get something else...but I cant remember how it goes...if the hen is striped something else happens...man I wish my brain could remember better!

Do you remember where you read that, TO? Was it in a book or online? Sounds quite interesting.

I'm so sorry to hear about your silkie, Raim. I'm hoping for the best for her.

Bf4, I agree with H&R & DrH on taming your chicks. Put the brooder in an area where you & your family frequent often so they can see you all come & go. And if they are more easily accessible, you will be handling them more often, which is also good for taming them down. Lots of attention & handling, especially when they are small. And ya better get used to the poop. Chicklens are little manure machines.

Congrats on getting your Brinsea! Shoulda got the bigger one, though.

MLH

Congrats on the eggs, Ang!

What a glorious sunny day! The girls are loving this, as am I. Hope you all are too!