FarmerDenise's journal - full on harvest time = busy, busy, busy

[MorelCabin]

Our little frazzle hen, Susie gave us quite a surprise. She kept disappearing. She wouldn't be in the roost at night, then we'd see her at the feeder and then she'd be gone again. We figured she found herself a better place to roost, or got into the neighbors yard. But we just couldn't find her or how she could get into the neighbor's yard. We were worried that some vermin might get her.

Sooo, today I saw her at the feeder and since I was feeling better, decided to keep an eye on her. I was hanging up the laundry and little Susie ran over to the patch of sandy soil where everyone has been dustbathing. This patch is behind a tiny shed that we store 2 bales of hay in. When I finished hanging the laundry, I went to look for Susie in the chicken bath patch. She wasn't there. I looked all around and couldn't see her, nor could I see a place where she might have got into the neighbor's yard. So I looked in the little shed with the hay, I still didn't see her. I scratched my head, where could she be. I decided to look more thoroughly in the little shed. I moved hay and lifted some boards and there, way in the bottom in the furthest corner was little Susie, sitting on 17 eggs. The little stinker!!!
I fixed up a box for her and brought her into the house. I am too worried about the rats and other vermin to leave her outside. Her comb was bloodied, so she had obvoiusly been fighting something off. I candled the eggs and 3 were duds for sure. Most had little chicks in them, I could see them moving. I figure we'll have babies within a week.
Bad time of year to have little chicks, but it's out of my hands.
Now that I have her in the house, I can make sure Susie gets plenty of good food. I don't want her loosing her feathers again.

I wonder if the feed store has chick mash at this time of year. I might have to make my own.

What a wonderful surprise! Wow, brooding in January! she'd never survive that here! I really have to move to California...need a farm hand?

 

[freemotion]

Wait.....isn't this the naked hen??? Sweet!

If you have lots of worms and bugs, she will feed them with a little help from you! I spaded twice a day for my first (and only, so far) little broody Dominique last summer, and she fed her six just fine, mostly ignoring the slightly ground grains I offered. Those ended up being the tamest chicks I've had, even though I had less work caring for them....That Dominique hen still comes up and peck my boot, even in frozen January, asking me to dig for her! So sweet!

 

[FarmerDenise]

We're amazed that the chickens are laying so profusely, got 7 eggs today from 10 laying hens. But Susie going broody is too much. I have never had a hen go broody at this time of year before.

I wonder if it's the feed. For the past few months I have been giving them meat builder, it is supposed to be more nutritious, higher protein etc. Since our chickens get to have the run of the farm in the winter, I figure they are able to get their own calcium and any other nutrients they need from the plants and the soil.
It is definitely a bit strange. Not that I'm complaining

 

[FarmerDenise]

Yes Free, this is the naked hen!! She is a tough little bird and ornery! She did grow her feathers back before the cold weather hit. I was worried that I might have to crochet her a sweater for the winter . So, she is looking pretty good right now. I think do to her being a frazzle, she might need more protein than most. So plan on giving her catfood in addition to the normal chicken chow.

She is pretty content in her box. I still can't believe, we're going to have chicks in January

 

[big brown horse]

I had a frizzle that went broodie every time the wind blew. She was the best little incubator I've ever had. I remember her going broody one extra cold winter, the eggs didn't make it, so we bought her a day old chick and stuck it under her one night. Oh what a happy one chick mother she was the next day!

 

[FarmerDenise]

That's what I did with her this past spring. I didn't want her to be sitting on eggs too long; so I let her hatch out 2 eggs from another hen and gave her two more chicks. She got to sit on the nest for only 8 days. She was a happy little momma hen with her 4 babies.

 

[big brown horse]

That's what I did with her this past spring. I didn't want her to be sitting on eggs too long; so I let her hatch out 2 eggs from another hen and gave her two more chicks. She got to sit on the nest for only 8 days. She was a happy little momma hen with her 4 babies.

How sweet! The things we do for our girls!! (Poor Ruby has finally gone into true molt and I so badly want to make her a sweater!)

 

[Farmfresh]

That "slip a chick in" is how my rooster-less Spangled Hamburg ended up raising a slow grow Cornish cross pullet. She was SO desperate to have a family.

 

[lorihadams]

Awwww....I want some silkies in the spring so I can hopefully get some good broodies. I can't believe she was sitting on 17 eggs! That's crazy! You definitely have to post some pics when they start hatching!

 

[FarmerDenise]

Here is Susie on her inside nest

She is now sitting on 14 eggs, since I removed the three that were definitely not viable. You can see that her comb had been bloodied somehow. I am afraid that it may have been the rats that keep coming over from the neighbor's yard to raid our yard.
Now she is safe in the house.

We had our buff orpington raise a couple of cornish crosses this past summer. We haven't eaten them yet. I usually slip purchased chicks under my broody hens. It is a lot easier to have a hen raise the babies than for me to do it. It is also a lot of fun to watch the mommas with the babies. I prefer to do so in April or May, when the weather has warmed up a bit.

We have another nice and sunny day. It is very cold at night though. The temperature drops rapidly as soon as the sun sets.