This last batch of red chickens are just not very nice and they’re not very fun to deal with. I’ve been threatening to make a big pot of gumbo with 10 hens!
The little white bantam, Della, who lives with them has been sitting on four fertile Dominique eggs. Yesterday was Day 9.
Della
A couple of days ago, I noticed one of the eggs was broken. I didn’t know if maybe because it’s so hot, it had cracked so I cleaned it all out and left 3. Yesterday I noticed that there were only 2 eggs. The third one is just gone.
A bit later I went out there and the poor little Della was walking around in the coop and one of the aggravating red hens was sitting on the eggs. I took her off, put her outside and Della got back on her 2 eggs. Even though she was 9 days into the 21 day incubation period, I went and got another Dominique egg, which is our only fertile eggs right now. She now had 3 eggs again.
After dinner, I went out to check on her and the three eggs were strewn about in the nest, Della was off the nest and all three eggs had holes pecked in them.
I was so aggravated at the red hens. Vince said “I do NOT like those red chickens!” Their days are numbered. We’ve never had such hateful chickens. They fuss and argue with each other all day, fight over any little thing they can fight about. Seriously, once some of the other hens begin laying, I have a feeling I’m going to have 10 hens in the freezer, and I won’t feel one bit bad about it.
Donna Williams says
Poor little Della! If we are voting, I vote for the red ones to go to gumbo, soup, or whatever.
swooze says
Too bad you can’t single out one or two bad culprits rather than the whole flock. Maybe they beed a rooster to kick their butts! Della is beautiful. I hope they aren’t hurting her.
Judy H says
You’ve probably already tried and I just don’t remember, but could Della be relocated? I sure wouldn’t want to live with them if I were her!
Joan says
Della is soooo beautiful! She deserves to be a mom! I vote for the gumbo for the red hens! As if we are taking a vote…………
Helen Koenig1 says
Another vote for Gumbo!!!! Although I do agree about the rooster – although I suspect that the remaining red hens (who are not only aggravating – but obviously pea green jealous!) would make hash of any new rooster “invading” what they obviously consider their territory! Were I you, I definitely would try moving poor Della! AND I might consider putting ONE of the remaining red hens in the freezer this week! How long until the next batch are ready for laying eggs?
JudyL says
There are 2 roosters in there – 14 hens. I have no idea when the others will start laying. We have one group of 7 hens that may start laying in late August and another group that probably won’t start til October but the hot summer days may slow everything down.
Sherrill says
Oh, poor Della! What mean red chickens they are messin’ with Della when she’s simply trying to hatch a few eggs. Think they definitely deserve a swift demise.
Carolyn says
Fried Chicken party! Or Chicken Gumbo party! They are just mean!
Helen Koenig1 says
I wonder – how would Della “fit in” with another group? Say the one due to start laying in August? At least it would remove her from the mean hens!
Katie Z says
It’s a good thing mean hens are good for something after they’re dead. Otherwise, they’d feel like such a waste. We have several that a rooster could not tame. They’ll be on the chopping block next butchering day!
Rebecca in SoCal says
Poor Della!
I am somewhat confused, though (imagine that, with all the chicken merging and re-arranging) Are the aggravating red chickens laying? The way I’m reading it, that’s the way they’re buying their continued existence?
Karin Vail says
My vote is OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! 🙂 I wouldn’t wait for more egg layers 🙂
Theresa says
Chickens who won’t let a hen sit peaceably on her eggs should probably be gumbo. Otherwise, they’ll limit your flock in a very unhappy way. Della is a really beautiful hen.
Valorie Spanogle says
Poor Miss Della! It makes me sad for her to be going through this. 🙁
Donna F says
I think you should cook a chicken in your solar oven and put it next to the red chicken’s pen as a warning of what’s next if they keep bullying that gorgeous white chicken! I’m so sad for her.
Sara says
Della is a beautiful chicken! I hope that you can find some peace for her and she can be a Mom. I hope that you can find a resolution. I had no idea that raising chicken was so fraught with discord.
Cathy Smith says
I love a good fried chicken. I think that with the damage these chickens are doing, that may be the best end for them!!