Well, up until a few weeks ago 2 of my Isabella hens were broody. Had been all spring. Finally pulled every egg out there and kicked them out. One occasionally still walks around clucking. With their help, approximately 35 ducklings and 20+ chicks hatched this year. Now they are finishing up...
For anyone in the Marshall county area that may be interested in some nice Coronation Sussex growouts....check it out. I'm already getting a pair. These are not culls and are unrelated.
I Have a friend in SC that raises exchequers. She got Isabels from me. At some point I'll get some of those from her as well. Goodness, talk about a rabbit hole.
Yep. At least we picked a breed that pumps out eggs. I have way more than we can eat, sell, or preserve. I've been giving them back to the birds and putting them in the dog's food but still have buckets of eggs. The tomatoes are going to love me this year. 🤣
So, that broody is contagious thing....I moved some of my Cochins to a different coop that has younger birds in it. One of the hens is broody but was sitting on nothing. 1 day after putting her in there, one of the other young pullets started sitting. 🤷
They do seem a bit smaller than the buffs. Granted, I have not weighed them. I was wondering what could be done to increase the size, outside of selection. Gosh, I'd love to have barred at some point. Funny how I went from not wanting any Leghorns to having mostly Leghorns. 😆
@The Moonshiner , as promised, pictures of the new Leghorns....well, at least the Buffs. The blacks absolutely did not cooperate. Apparently they are convinced the camera will steal their souls.
Well....lol. The only excuse I have is they literally just got here on Friday. They need to get some feathers in and such but that will rectify soon enough. Pictures coming shortly Captain!
I think the proof is in my mixed coop right now. Also, I had my older female goose stolen off of her nest in March. Her daughter from last year was learning from her and just starting to investigate the neat herself. Well, after the mom was taken, the daughter got very serious about trying build...
Soooo...this is suprising. Once again proof that things echo down the generations. I have a 1 yr old Isabella hen that is very broody. She stole the duck's nest. Now it is a co-nest with 3 hens in it. Then her sister is showing brooding interest. Crazy.
On this episode of 'As the Broody Barn Turns'...another girl joins the nest. All agree there is still a full 3.5in of room left. Surely a silky can fit? 🤦 This Isabel's sister is also making a feint at going broody. It's so contagious.
I've been pulling all chicken eggs from the nest as that is a mixed coop. Goodness knows I don't need anymore cute mutts running around. So it is all muscovy and muscovy/rouen cross eggs. She is now so broody that she stays on the nest when I reach in. Boy she pecks hard though! Lol.
One of my 1yr old Isabellas went broody. Darn thing keeps running the muscovy off her nest and stealing it! This is the hussy I speak of...after I made her get out. She was pissed. Lol.