Rose is setting!

[Valerie]

Yay! I fixed her up a nest (one of those buckets with a board wired to the front) and put 9 eggs in it for her. She stayed on it all day yesterday but when I went out last night to close their door, I noticed that she had went up to a nest box after her "break".

She went on break again today when I was out there, so I stuck around to see what she'd do. Also, I snuck in there and sprinkled some mint and lemon balm and rose petals in her nest, too. First she hopped on the roost, but then she jumped down, looked in her bucket, then went in and made herself comfy. She's such a good mommy! Once she gets used to setting there, I don't usually have to move her again.

[weg]

That's good Valerie.I don't have any hens that go broody.I had one but she died.

[Valerie]

Rose is my only one Willa. Dot went broody one time, but only hatched one chick (Puff). She's never gone broody again. I always try to put some of her eggs under Rose, hoping that one of her offspring will go broody, but so far no. I never catch any of Rose's eggs when she goes broody. I've always put them all in the fridge before I figure out that she's ready to set!

[Valerie]

I sure hope those eggs can survive being rolled around! I went out there a while ago and Turk had chased Rose off the nest and rolled all the eggs out and was setting on them (warming them with her breast actually - her whole body wasn't over them). I took them back and put them back in Rose's nest and put her back on. Came back after watering the garden, and dern if Turk hadn't done it again!

So, I put some eggs down for Turk on the other side of the house, put Rose back on hers, and both mamas are happy now. I handled the eggs very gently, but I don't know how gentle Turk was with them! Rose has only been on them a few days, so hopefully whatever has happened in there was too small to be damaged.

[BigM]

Lucky you! TWO setting hens!!

[Valerie]

Well, Rose is done! She only hatched one. Tell ya the truth, I'm relieved. We really have plenty of chickens and eggs. I was really hoping not to have 6 or 8.

I think Turk squished her one baby that hatched. It was fully formed and out of the egg, but dead.

[Valerie]

Rose's little chick is gone. It was out there and fine when I came in for lunch. Went out after supper to check on everyone and the little one is gone. No trace, so I don't think the other chickens ate it. They would have had to get through Rose, and she's pretty formidable. I'm thinking a hawk got it. *sad face*

[Granny Smith]

Aw, man.

Maybe it's hiding. ;D

[Valerie]

I don't think so. It peeped it's little head off anytime she got more than a foot away. Poor mama, she's out there still clucking for it and looking all over. I looked all over for it and didn't find any trace.

Maybe it was a rooster, though, and it's for the best. It was definitely the smartest little chick I've seen. Only one we've ever had that could go out through a crack in the fence and find it's way back in on the first try. It figured how to go up the ramp to get back in the coop in just one try, too. Rose had started taking it out in their pasture and there's no cover there. Wouldn't take much for a hawk to get it.

[Granny Smith]

We've had them fall down a crawdad hole, too. Most of them we were able to dig out, though.

[Valerie]

LOL! No crawdad holes here. No snake holes, either.

[Cyngbaeld]

Mine lose chicks regularly, though most can manage if I only leave them 1 or 2 to raise and take the rest to a brooder.

I have one setting in a cardboard box in the front yard. Went to move the box and a hen was in it. I have to move that box, I've got to order feed and that is where the truck drives. I was waiting for that goose to finish hatching and she is done. Didn't want to scare her off her nest or have the dogs steal the eggs again while that gate was open. Have another setting on my garden cart and another under the cart. Saw one checking out the spot under half a dog crate. Took the eggs out from under an upside down tote. Another hen came out with 5 and I grabbed 2 yesterday. I've got at least half a dozen hens with chicks right now. One just told the kids she was done so she'll probably hide a clutch again. Just gave away 30 chicks.

[Valerie]

Rose and Dot are both setting now, full time. I don't even know how many eggs they have between the two of them! I hope I don't regret this.

Funny thing, once Rose went back to setting, Turkey thought she's supposed to do it too. So she's been spending most of her time in the coop, setting, on nothing but shavings. There are no eggs under her at all, but there she sits! Crazy thing! She comes out to eat and drink and look around on occasion.