The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: geebee on August 24, 2010, 10:12:29 pm

Title: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 24, 2010, 10:12:29 pm

when i shut the hens in tonight one was in the nesting box, never happened before. I introduced a cockerel last week, has his presence/mating made her go broody?

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: daddymatty82 on August 24, 2010, 11:47:48 pm

how long she sat for? attacking you? popping noise? is she broody or she just want a early night?

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 25, 2010, 12:29:50 am

she was out with the rest earlier today, not attacking me but i didn't touch her even tho' there would have been eggs under her ( i often just wait till i'm shutting them in to lift the eggs), no popping noise. will see what she does in the morning

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 25, 2010, 09:32:20 am

...& this morning she's out & about with the others, maybe was just an early night!

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: CameronS on August 25, 2010, 06:47:19 pm

sorry  ::)  ::)  ::)

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 25, 2010, 11:50:55 pm

Hey Cameron don't be sorry. even though I intended to only have some chicks next year from the LS  I got from Nicky,  I started to get excited at the thought of the patter of tiny chick feet!  The cockerel (Mr Luvva Luvva) has settled in well & the 'girls' like him

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: northfifeduckling on August 26, 2010, 03:38:56 pm

could be mites if they start sleeping in the nesting box... hope not! :chook: :&>

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 26, 2010, 10:05:47 pm

she's back to roosting with the others again so hopefully not mites, i've never had them in any of my hens, they're in a brick building (ex-outdoor loo) so i'm able to give it a good scrub out in summer so that probably helps. what's the best product to use if i need to?

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: northfifeduckling on August 26, 2010, 10:24:27 pm

I got away with powder so far but mine were all back in the nesting box tonight (could not see any beasties anywhere), so a good springclean and hot vinegar spray is next, I think, just in case.... :&>

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 26, 2010, 10:49:03 pm

are the mites easy to see? how big are they? are all powder pretty much the sme?

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: northfifeduckling on August 26, 2010, 11:02:11 pm

I've only seen a few one night under the bedding. They are tiny but come out in clusters sometimes. They go along under the perches, but I never found anything there. Hence the boxes for sleeping...First year for me with chooks, never had an issue with parasites with the ducks, but they are so shy that they are harder to check out - I'm not so certain now! For bad infestations you can get industrial strenght sprays, just check out the mites threads, I'm sure it was mentioned... :&>

Title: Re: cockerel made her broody?
Post by: geebee on August 26, 2010, 11:44:40 pm

Thanks for that, will keep an eye out for them