I've been keeping the chickens in the coop because it's so cold & windy and there is snow and snow drifts, most days have been in the teens for a high. This morning when I opend the coop door the two Orpingtons said ENOUGH and ran outside (I tried to stop them). Everyone else follwed. They spent a lot of time fluffing in the daylily beds and have moved on to the patio. It's cold but they're laying on concrete stretched out in the sun. I have so much to learn. They didn't want to be hot house flowers and I wasn't listening.
Poor Broody on the golf balls - I put her outside to potty since she won't go in her crate. She went right away, no mess to clean up this time and obviously no blockage! She got a drink of water, refused the food, and climbed gently back on her golf balls. She's pulled out all of her breast feathers - is that so her skin can be right on her fake eggs? I really hope she eats some food SOON and that her adoptive chicks get delivered on time.
Happy Friday!
An Orpington lead revolt.
Yep, chickens seem to not notice the cold like we do. And they love to lay out in the sun.
As for the broody, yes, plucking out her breast feathers is normal and part of keeping her "eggs" warm. She will eat when she needs to, they are very hardy in that manner. Sometimes if we have one sitting and not eating my son will take a little dish of food and offer it to them on the nest. Sometimes they take it , sometimes they don't, but you might try it.
I was going to say the same thing,try taking out some scrambles eggs and put them close enough so she does not have to get up off the nest and leave her aloneand I`ll bet it will be gone when you look again.
This message was edited Feb 11, 2011 4:37 PM
I can hear Haystack laughing from here!
OH Porkpal, you know me so well. Talk about being spoiled, and trained...Oh Annie these women here are going to lead you astray, so just enjoy the ride...LOL... Hay
most won't eat on the nest but a few of mine will eat a few bites out of my hand while they are on the nest
The word "sucker" is stamped on my forehead.
Forget that I swore I'd never get an incubator. I've been looking at them on EBay. Anyone have a favorite brand that holds up to 24 or so eggs? I don't understand moving them to another bator for lock down. Why can't they stay in the same one? Trying very hard to control myself and don't want to buy something that isn't easy and reliable.
If you set all your eggs at the same time, they don't need to go to a "hatcher" bator.. They can hatch in there.. it's when you set eggs at different times, (like when buying shipped eggs from different places) that's when you need a hatcher.
The only recommendation I have is get the best you can possibly afford.. I think Claire had a RCom and she had near perfect hatches..
Orpingtons Rocks!!!...lol...bet they had to get out..mine are the first ones out the door when I open it..lol..and I get out of the way..too..
ZZ's what is a RCom? I did a google search and couldn't find anything. Is that the whole name?
Moodene, I love Orp's too. My two follow me around and talk nonstop. When I sit in the yard they have to be right next to me or sitting on the lawn chair with me. They are my BFF!
I got an e-mail tonight.... the 12 BCM's, 10 wheaten Marans and 2 light Sussex will be here NEXT WEEK! I'm so excited!
If you feed Purina feed you can sign up on their website and they will send coupons quarterly. Every little bit helps.
Here is a link...
http://www.jmtdistributors.com/rcom-20-digital-incubat.html
Thanks, have it saved and will look at it today!