.
For the first time ever 20 years or so of having chickens, we actually seemed to have a broody hen and a chance of hatching baby chickens. So we quit taking eggs from that particular nest box, and we were on about the third week of her sitting on the eggs, when the lightbulb in the coop went out for just one night. I replaced it the very next day, but evidently that was enough disturbance the mom decided to abandon 16 eggs.
I guess we have pretty much completely bred out the necessity of chickens to do anything constructive to procreate.
Very disappointed in Chickens…
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- AJMD429
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Very disappointed in Chickens…
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
- GunnyMack
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Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
Chickens aren't that smart to begin with as we all know, I wouldn't think a bulb going out would be enough to make her leave the nest but that her instinct alone would be enough.
But what do I know, I don't eat chicken but ill eat their kids.
But what do I know, I don't eat chicken but ill eat their kids.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
Must not have been a buff Orpington, those things go broody for the long haul, lol
Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
Hmm, strange. I responded earlier, but my response isn't here.
I said that my experience with chickens was much different. I regularly had hens that would try to go broody and sit on eggs and I'd have to spray them with a water bottle every day to snap them out of it.
What kind of chickens do you have? Some breeds are much less likely to go broody. It seemed like Brahama chickens would frequently go broody and I also had a couple buff orpingtons want to sit.
I think the breeds that were developed specifically for laying like Rhode island reds and leghorns and those specialty layer cross breeds might be less likely to sit. Try some heritage breeds if you want chickens to sit on eggs.
Also, there are a couple other things you can try. Make sure you have enough egg boxes so that other hens don't boot the broody hen out of the box. or you could move one box over to an out of the way location, or tack a flap of denim or burlap or something over a laying box to make a hen feel more secure and private.
I said that my experience with chickens was much different. I regularly had hens that would try to go broody and sit on eggs and I'd have to spray them with a water bottle every day to snap them out of it.
What kind of chickens do you have? Some breeds are much less likely to go broody. It seemed like Brahama chickens would frequently go broody and I also had a couple buff orpingtons want to sit.
I think the breeds that were developed specifically for laying like Rhode island reds and leghorns and those specialty layer cross breeds might be less likely to sit. Try some heritage breeds if you want chickens to sit on eggs.
Also, there are a couple other things you can try. Make sure you have enough egg boxes so that other hens don't boot the broody hen out of the box. or you could move one box over to an out of the way location, or tack a flap of denim or burlap or something over a laying box to make a hen feel more secure and private.
- AJMD429
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Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
.
Mixed birds but the one broody was a black orphington.
I guess the dogs will enjoy the treats...
Mixed birds but the one broody was a black orphington.
I guess the dogs will enjoy the treats...
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
What’s the light bulb for?
-
- Advanced Levergunner
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Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
Loved our buff Orpingtons. Friendly toots, too.
- AJMD429
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Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
They quit laying eggs in the winter so we use light to make the days seem longer to them.
Doctors for Sensible Gun Laws
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
"first do no harm" - gun control LAWS lead to far more deaths than 'easy access' ever could.
Want REAL change? . . . . . "Boortz/Nugent in 2012 . . . ! "
Re: Very disappointed in Chickens…
Ah makes sense. Hit autumn here and the temps are dropping so our girls are moulting and slowed right down on eggs too.