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- Handling Broody Hens + How to Maintain Energy on the Homestead
Handling Broody Hens + How to Maintain Energy on the Homestead
Question of the day: Which medicinal herb do you use most often on your homestead?
Cedie Omaña
November 17, 2024
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"Homesteading is the art of being resourceful with what nature provides."
— Anonymous
HOMESTEAD TIP OF THE DAY
Fill bare patches in flowerbeds with winter bedding plants like pansies, violas, and winter-flowering heathers to keep your garden looking colorful even in the colder months.
Which medicinal herb do you use most often on your homestead? |
IN TODAY'S EDITION
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Thursday 📊
All Things Homestead: Broody Hen 101 🐔
Personal Development: How to Keep Your Energy Up on the Homestead 🔋
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
BROUGHT TO YOU BY
Kickstart Your Home Apothecary with the Medicinal Garden Kit!
Thinking about a home remedy garden? Nicole Apelian’s Medicinal Garden Kit is perfect to start now and enjoy later! Packed with seeds for 10 powerful herbs like soothing lavender and calming chamomile, it’s everything you need.
Plus, it comes with a FREE guide to show you how to make tinctures, salves, and more. Perfect to tuck away for the colder months when a homegrown remedy can be just what you need.
Why wait? Order now and have your garden ready for when winter rolls around! 🌿🌨️
POLL RESULTS FROM LAST THURSDAY
What’s your biggest concern with washing machine and dishwasher maintenance?
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Buildup causing odors or stains on clothes/dishes
⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Reduced cleaning performance
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Appliance breakdowns and expensive repairs
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ I don’t think much about appliance maintenance
via @beehiiv polls
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD
Broody Hen 101 🐔
Let's chat about something you might be dealing with in your coop: a broody hen. When one of your chickens decides it's time to be a mom, it can shake up your routine, especially if you're focused on egg production.
Don't worry, though; I’m here to help you manage these motherly hens (whether you want to encourage or discourage their broody behavior).
What Does It Mean When a Hen Goes Broody?
A broody hen is all about hatching eggs. She'll sit on them day and night, even if they're not fertilized. Expect her to stay put in her nest, rarely leaving, and she might even get a bit grumpy if you try to check on her or move her eggs.
Spotting a Broody Hen
Always on the Nest: If she's glued to her nest and barely leaves for food or water, she's probably broody.
Defensive and Fluffy: She might puff up and growl or peck at you if you get too close—broody hens aren't very sociable!
Feather Loss: She may pull out her own feathers to make her nest cozier and keep the eggs warm.
Why Do Hens Get Broody?
It's just their nature! Hormones, instincts, and environmental cues like long daylight hours and warm temperatures can kick-start broodiness. Some chicken breeds, like Silkies and Cochins, are naturally more inclined to be broody due to their strong maternal instincts.
How to Manage a Broody Hen
If you need her to stop being broody because you want the eggs, you'll have to intervene since she won't lay while she's broody and might neglect her own health. Here's what you can try:
Change Her Scenery: Move her to a cooler, more open spot. Some people use a cage with a wire bottom to discourage nesting.
Deny Nest Access: Keep her out of her favorite nesting spot to help snap her out of her broody mood.
Engage Her: Get her back with the flock and keep her active to distract her from brooding.
When You Want a Broody Hen
If you're looking to naturally expand your flock, a broody hen is exactly what you need. Make sure she's comfy and safe:
Provide a Quiet Corner: Set up a secluded spot for her to nest peacefully.
Food and Water Nearby: Make sure she doesn’t have to go far to eat or drink.
Check the Eggs: Ensure the eggs under her are fertilized if you’re hoping for chicks.
Looking After a Broody Hen
Caring for a broody hen is pretty straightforward. Ensure she has a peaceful spot, easy access to food and water, and a clean nesting area. Keeping her happy and healthy is the key to a smooth brooding process.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
How to Keep Your Energy Up on the Homestead 🔋
Today, let’s chat about something super important for all of us homesteaders: keeping our energy up. We all know homesteading can be tough, with all the planting, harvesting, and day-to-day tasks. It’s really important to manage our energy well so we don’t burn out.
Why Your Energy Matters
Everything you do on the homestead – from the physical labor to the planning and emotional investment – is connected. If you're physically exhausted, it can mess with your mental state, and feeling down can drain your physical energy too.
Figuring Out What Drains You
First things first, pinpoint what tires you out the most. Is it a certain task like weeding that’s a pain, or does the stress of keeping everything organized wear you down? When you know what the culprits are, you can start figuring out ways to make them less draining. Maybe it’s time for some helpful tools, or maybe changing up your routine could help.
Tips for Recharging
Keeping your energy levels balanced means taking care of yourself. Here’s how:
Physical Rest: Don’t push too hard. Rest when you need to, whether it's grabbing a quick nap or getting a good night's sleep.
Mental Breaks: Give your mind a break with some light reading or a craft. It helps to switch things up.
Emotional Support: Don’t underestimate a good chat with friends or family. It’s great for lifting your spirits.
Make It a Team Effort
One great way to manage your energy is to involve others in the homestead tasks. Sharing the workload not only makes things lighter for everyone but also brings a sense of community and support. Here’s how you can make homesteading a team effort:
Divide and Conquer: Assign tasks based on each person's strengths and interests. Someone might enjoy the meticulous nature of pruning while another finds joy in the hustle of the harvest.
Schedule Group Activities: Set times for group tasks, like planting day or a big kitchen prep session for all those veggies. It turns hard work into a social event.
Lean on Your Community: Don’t forget about the broader community. Swap tools, share harvests, and exchange knowledge with neighboring homesteaders. It can be a fantastic energy booster to know you're all in this together.
THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER
Why are trees great at math?
Because they have so many branches of knowledge.
TODAY'S TOP PICKS
LET’S KEEP IT REEL!
I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!
Just a bunch of chickens grooving to a catchy tune:
@ilgallinaio_special #perte
My bestie and I on a mission to grab some new seeds:
@funny_trends1 Funny duck video 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 #FunnyPets #funnyvideos #funnyducks #adorableducks #ducksontheroad #viral #fypシ #foryoupage
When a tiny human takes charge of a flock of ducks:
@thepetcollective duck...duck...baby! 🐥👶🥰 #Ducks #Wildlife #Funny #Cute #Babies #Ducklings #CutenessOverload
ENGAGE WITH US
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