2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[beach chick]

Chardonnay is determined to be broody, but only in the eglu. she's been in the broody coop for 36 hours now and was still sitting, sulking and putting her wings down around her (nonexistent) eggs at 6pm tonight.

meanwhile, Paris is wandering around like a lost, lonely soul and has taken to roosting in the most inconvenient bush at night, whch means I have to hoick her down and put her to bed.

the 4 babies are still in the wendy house, thriving and waiting for their new eglu to come on Weds.

I have put Char in a wooden coop where she could hatch some eggs if she chose, but she doesnt like it and is sitting on the ground, sulking.

 

DO I:

let Char be broody in the eglu and let Paris go in there to lay and at night? (which would mean getting diff coloured eggs for Char to hatch, she's ok at being moved off to get the egg under her, but difficult to manage Paris going in and out once/if chicks hatch)

get Paris some new friends, either ex-batt or if I can beg some off a mate? (cant find POL birds locally, and I would think they need to be quite big to cope with another grown up hen?)

put Paris in with the babies (only 8 weeks, a bit reluctant to do this) and Paris is used to freeranging, so a bit diff coz I wont let the babies out for ages yet.

 

HELP!!! ANY ADVICE PLEASE?!

[Pinkybijou]

No advice really, but just to say that since Dora went broody about three weeks ago leaving Doris on her own to wander round the garden, Doris has become a human! She now feels it is her right to wander right into the conservatory and hop up on the chair beside me and have a little rest. She also hops up onto the table on the patio when the children are eating in the garden and likes to eat from their plates given half a chance. At first I was worried that Doris would be lonely, but she has just become more sociable with her human family and doesn't seem too peturbed by the lack of her playmate. I think secretly she is looking at Dora and thinking, "stupid chicken sitting in that nest all day while I'm getting all the best slugs!"

 

Best of luck whatever you decide to do anyway.

 

Kris

[Abbey Road Girl]

This is very different from my own experience with chooks, but also fascinating.

 

Best of luck!

[beach chick]

well I gave up and let Char out of the broody coop because she was just sitting on the wet ground... Paris delighted to see her, Char ignored her, stuffed her face and has now gone very firmly back into the eglu!!!

d*mn bird!!!

meanwhile, Paris has either not laid the last 2 days or more likely has hidden them somewhere in a wet and soggy flowerbed - one of her favourite tricks. and if the babies dont stop knocking their water over there will be no Wendy house floor left... roll on Weds and my purple eglu and at least I can get them sorted.