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Suburb: Havelock North

Food Growing Skill Level: Moderate

I am interested in...: Buying Local Food, Learning, Preserving, Helping Others, Seed Savers

Tell us about your garden and what you're growing: Black currents, cherries, daikon, nectarines

Susan Kitson's Blog

Chickens hatching

I am now the proud Mum of 20 wee chicks that started hatching yesterday morning. I incubated them in a hova-bator (despite many warnings that this machine is not great). The eggs are being looked after in our hot water cylinder by our pet chicken (named 'Princess Fiona' by my 6 year old daughter). Fingers crossed they all thrive.

Posted on September 4, 2009 at 4:14pm — 2 Comments

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At 6:16pm on January 11, 2011, Hester said…: Thanks for letting me know you can't come. Hope to see you another time. Happy Gardening.

At 6:22pm on October 18, 2009, Hester said…: That's fine, as long as you keep an eye on them, I'm happy with that.

At 11:12am on October 18, 2009, Hester said…: Hi Susan, you are most welcome to bring your husband too.

At 8:49am on September 27, 2009, Earl Mardle said…: Hi Susan,

I'm also a poultry subscriber but I can't find your question about getting chooks off being broody.

We just picked up our two shavers yesterday so I am no expert but the guy I bought them off is. Here's what he says.

Method 1. Hold the chook by its legs and neck and dunk the back end into a bucket of cold water for about 20 seconds. Take it out, let it think its all over for about half a minute, then dunk it again. Repeat a third time.

Method 2 Place inside an upturned box that is propped open far enough to let air in but is too heavy for the chook to push off. Leave it there for 3 days. No food, no water.

The theory seems to be that the broody chook's metabolism switches to a higher temperature when they are broody and the shock treatments switch it back.

I haven't tried either yet, Dolly and Polly only arrived yesterday and are still a couple of weeks away from laying anyway. If you decide to give it a try, I'd love to hear the result.

BTW, they are brown shavers.

At 2:58pm on August 31, 2009, Hester said…: Wow-you have been busy.Hope things are easier now.

At 10:53pm on August 21, 2009, Pete Russell said…: Hello Susan. Welcome. Great to have you here. You might want to check out the Hawkes Bay group to stay in the local loop. Have fun oooobying!!

At 9:35pm on August 21, 2009, Hester said…: Hi Susan
Welcome to Ooooby. We are having a Hawkes Bay Ooooby get-together on Sunday. Check out the events box on the main Ooooby page. The last one was lots of fun.