Wrath's Marans

[wrathsfarm]

About as close as I've gotten to an 'awww' moment. Kong is not much for a Dad of the Year contender.
This is more like a... "Why are you here?"

 

[wrathsfarm]

All this broody talk is giving my girls ideas. I have 2 sleeping in nest boxes now. Both of the girls that I let raise babies this spring. I have been collecting eggs as fast as I can trying to discourage the behavior but these girls are stubborn.

The flock dynamics are super calm and coop is close to maximum capacity so I don’t want to add any more chicks right now. But these girls seem to think they need babies

Expanding the Marans coop as fast as I can, and at the point where now I just wanna see if all 9 girls go broody this year. I'm at 7 in that coop.

 

[wrathsfarm]

3 of the 5 pullets from my Easter Sunday hatch I took today. They're 15 weeks old.

From left to right...white band is Harmony. My first grandbaby (F2) on the farm. She is Joannie's (my darkest layer) grand daughter and Angels daughter.
Middle is purple band (F1) only remaining pullet from Joannie and sister to the 2 cockerels.
On the right (red band F1) is 1 of the 3 pullets from Betty.

And a couple more shots of the Joannie's boys (F1). they've got Kongs lovely color but too much of it.

Haven't took any pics of King in awhile so I grabbed some of him.

 

[wrathsfarm]

When someone posts the question. "Do I need 7 nest boxes for 9 hens?"

Before you say " No, absolutely not"

Think of the one who had 7 broodys....

 

[2ndTink]

When someone posts the question. "Do I need 7 nest boxes for 9 hens?"

Before you say " No, absolutely not"

Think of the one who had 7 broodys....View attachment 3894901

Oh, even then, 1 or 2 would suffice I have a 12x13" nesting box for my silkies, they sometimes lay an egg in there, sometimes they leave me an Easter egg hunt. But, when I had 5 broodies in the one pen, they ALL squeezed inside the one box it was way too hot for them to be doing that so I confiscated their nesting box until I was able to get them all broke.

 

[wrathsfarm]

Oh, even then, 1 or 2 would suffice I have a 12x13" nesting box for my silkies, they sometimes lay an egg in there, sometimes they leave me an Easter egg hunt. But, when I had 5 broodies in the one pen, they ALL squeezed inside the one box it was way too hot for them to be doing that so I confiscated their nesting box until I was able to get them all broke.

I try to shoot for 14" square and tall when I build mine depending on what scrap wood I have at the time, but usually 2 hens in them are cramped quarters.

 

[wrathsfarm]

A couple nice eggs I've gotten the last couple days from Betty and Raven.
Betty normally lays the egg on the right in 1st pic and usually a tad darker at the beginning of her cycle, but gave me this one on left today.

And then Raven layed a nice darker one yesterday.

 

[wrathsfarm]

And finally Mommas five were camped out on top of the nest box last nite at lockup.

 

[2ndTink]

I try to shoot for 14" square and tall when I build mine depending on what scrap wood I have at the time, but usually 2 hens in them are cramped quarters.

My silkies are just goofy

I like your nesting box setup, and planning for broodies is definitely a good thing!

 

[2ndTink]

Nice looking speckled eggs! Your chicks are growing really well too.