i have a very strange question?

[lynda66]

but i need to worry ....... i'm an expectant mum

actually theres some very good points, i'm glad i asked now, ....... now i've got sensible replies it doesn't seem such a stoopid question


now about these duvets ...... if i spray them with waterproofing, would the chooks appreciate dry warm puffa jackets?

[Bephlam]

I opened this thread expecting a far out Lynda question...but alas, it was a fairly normal question for you! Not a mention of one legged frogs, etc.

If you do make them puffa jackets please please please be sure to post a picture...what a laaaffff!!!

[Johnny Appleseed]

There no such thing as a stupid question lynda. Your question brought so many great memories flooding back. I had a broody hen once and as she stubbornly refused all encouragement to come off the nest, I let her hatch 4 duck eggs. She was a wonderful step mum - but the first time the ducklings jumped into the kids paddling pool - the hen flew round the plastic pool, clucking frantically and waving her wings in a blind panic.
The ducklings used to follow her everywhere in a line behind her and at night she struggled to get them all under her wings and within a few weeks they were all bigger than she was - but she was devoted to them and she stayed with them in an outhouse surrounded by bales of hay. It was a strange sight that had our friends in fits of laughter but as a mum - she was a natural and her stubborn broodiness paid off for her - she got her babies to fuss over and worry about.

[Bephlam]

What a lovely little story Johnny... It made me happy!

[Snadger]

No-one has mentioned the dreaded red mite! Luckily I haven't come across them yet but they love hidy holes and are only the size of a pinhead so can get into most places. It's even not advised to use roofing felt on the coop roof as the little blighters get in between it and the wooden roof and only come out at night to feed!
Ooops, there I go again.............as soon as I start talking about mites I start scratching!
No, better not to give the mites a warm duvet to curl up into!



PS Apparently they are only red when they are gorged with blood!

[davefromthechipie]

No-one has mentioned the dreaded red mite! Luckily I haven't come across them yet but they love hidy holes and are only the size of a pinhead so can get into most places. It's even not advised to use roofing felt on the coop roof as the little blighters get in between it and the wooden roof and only come out at night to feed!
Ooops, there I go again.............as soon as I start talking about mites I start scratching!
No, better not to give the mites a warm duvet to curl up into!



PS Apparently they are only red when they are gorged with blood!

great thanks for posting that ............................... going to sleep well tonight

out of interest and incase of redmite can you use sulphur candles and if so how long can you wait till its safe to let the hens back in ? I know the back of the box says 12 hours for a greenhouse for plants but im guessing its 3 times or more for any animal .

As for the topic using a duvet i would say it was a bad idea as pests ,damp and chicks poo every 5 mins. But then i dont know anything about bringing up chicks. My ducks when i used to breed them years ago did all the work themselfs . Still cant wait to here what you use and how its done because reading your post has really got me in the mood to try incubate some eggs myself . All that said wouldn't a heat lamp over a box with straw do ?
sorry if thats wrong Its been over 16 years since i seen it and have the memory of a gold fish................................................?

anyway Snadger dont let the bed bugs bite

[MaureenHall]

you could always give them a hot water bottle with a nice mummy chicken cover on it

[Johnny Appleseed]

What a lovely little story Johnny... It made me happy!

Thank you Bephlam - glad it had that effect. We had many happy years with chicks and ducks. The broody hen hatching the duck eggs was most magical. She hatched all four and hen and ducklings were totally devoted to each other. I was told the first thing the ducklings see when they hatch, in this case the hen, they assume is their mum and form a bond with and that is how it appeared to be. It was a very funny thing to see, a row of ducks devoted to a chicken especially when they overtook her in size and weight. Happy days and lots of happy memories with them.

[Two_Sheds]

I was told the first thing the ducklings see when they hatch, in this case the hen, they assume is their mum and form a bond with

Yep. It's called imprinting. The birds will follow the first thing they set eyes on, whether it's another bird or a person.


Look at these geese with Christian Moullec ... they fly around with him in his microlite plane: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWW7v0QW7SM

* sorry to go off on a tangent

[Pumpkin Becki]

No-one has mentioned the dreaded red mite!

I did! *sniff sniff*

[Flummery]

She did, she did, I heard her!

[lynda66]

i heard her too

i can't wait to be imprinted mummy to chickens ..... think i may have to get my living room laminated, cos chicken poo and carpets might be a problem

*has visions of waking up in the morning, with a cat each side of me, a dog on my feet, and a row of chickens perching on the end of the bed*

[BrideXIII]

STRAW!!!

if you have a gap, between the inner and outer wall, pack it with straw, they even use it to build walls on 'grand designs', its a great insulater, it's natural, and its cheap

[lynda66]

maybe i should have just got a load of straw bales, and stuck a roof on

[Johnny Appleseed]

Please don't use any insulation at all

all you will do is provide a nice warm protected breeding ground for bugs and mites to hide in and attack your hens whenever they feel like it. You will never be able to get to the mites etc once they have a nice warm shelter to breed in.

The hens will be ok in a standard hen house. I used to go round all the nooks and crannies twice a year with a blow lamp to get rid of any mites etc. All the hens were fine even with snow on the ground.

They used to huddle up together on a perch in the apex of the roof, heat rises so they ain't that dumb and provided they can still access their food and water you and they will be fine. Promise

If you ever make your hens duvet jackets would that be chick chic ??????