Chicken Update - Mini is Broody, Lil' Sweet is Sick
The dry season has begun and Mini is broody so it's time to hatch a new generation. Last year I built a nest, just like this one. Mini went broody in a nest box inside the coop. I wanted to move her into the paddock and built this nest for her. I waited several hours for her to get on the eggs, but she refused. She told me the nest must be in the exact same spot she had been in for the past few days. I rebuilt the nest inside the coop and opened the door for her to go inside. She immediately went inside the coop, walked over to the nest and sat on the eggs. She is small so I gave her ten eggs. It has been one week since she began laying on the eggs. I am pretty sure one is gone because I found egg shell in the corner of the paddock, as far away from the nest as possible. I think one may have broke and she moved the shell to deter ants.
Here's a photo of some others in the flock. Junior, Ruby, Blondie, Grey Neck, Brownie and Virginia.
Brownie is going through a pretty severe molt and looks funny. Lil' Sweet is behind her and unfortunately, she isn't doing so well. About a month ago she stopped sleeping on the roost at night. I discovered sores on her feet. We took care of the sores with a spray on medicine. There is something else wrong with her though. I am unsure if it's a lung infection or parasite. I have treated her for parasites a few times which seemed help, but it didn't completely heal what ever is disturbing her. Yesterday I noticed she seemed very lethargic. I moved her into a separate cage and will have to determine what to do.
Here's a photo of some others in the flock. Junior, Ruby, Blondie, Grey Neck, Brownie and Virginia.
Brownie is going through a pretty severe molt and looks funny. Lil' Sweet is behind her and unfortunately, she isn't doing so well. About a month ago she stopped sleeping on the roost at night. I discovered sores on her feet. We took care of the sores with a spray on medicine. There is something else wrong with her though. I am unsure if it's a lung infection or parasite. I have treated her for parasites a few times which seemed help, but it didn't completely heal what ever is disturbing her. Yesterday I noticed she seemed very lethargic. I moved her into a separate cage and will have to determine what to do.