First Brood On the Ground

I was seeing lots of hens in the last couple of week --but now just roosters--Just where did all those hens go? Maybe they are sitting on nests--I sure hope so. Sure hope the weather goes back to a more normal trend--if so we could see lots of birds this fall--now if I could just get people around here to quit taking out shelter belts and stop farming into the ditches.:(
 
That's great news! Thanks for sharing.:cheers:
Nick
 
Jim,

Thanks for your report.

On our trip to Mobridge last week, we saw very few hens - 15 to 1 roosters and I had the same thought; where are the hens?? Hopefully on the nests...
 
The next month is very important for hens/chick survival. I believe the prime hatch is in that 2nd week of June.

As jim stated earlier let's hope for some seasonal weather. It appears the platte area has recieved some much needed rain. Fingers crossed!
 
Wow Chris, that is early. She must know what she is doing!! I would rather have it a touch dry than wet right now!!! I think S. Dakota will be in great shape for birds once again. :10sign:
 
First brood seen, east central SD, was May 25th. Most of the birds made it through the winter. Late April, early May was very dry. The last 2.5 weeks we have had over 8 inches of rain.
 
We have had 4.25 inches of rain in May and has the grass grown up, corn and other row crops looking good--I keep hearing roosters crowing mornings and evenings--it just needs to warm up a little. Oct 17th seems so far away :D
 
SDJIM said:
I keep hearing roosters crowing mornings and evenings--it just needs to warm up a little. Oct 17th seems so far away :D
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I love hearing about what you are seeing out there Jim. My mind wanders from time to time wishing I could be out there hearing and seeing what you do. October does seem far away, but that's part of what makes it so special.
 
farmer buddy was out on my ground yesterday doing some disking...saw a brood of about a dozen...two flew...overall, conditions look pretty good I would say as I look at the weather ahead, and also, the weather we have had...fingers crossed!
 
It should be about 30 - 35 days from first egg dropped to brood hatched. Once she is done laying the eggs they are on the nest most of the time.

Roosters keep crowing for those hens that have lost their next (flooding, cold, predators, farm equipment). Growing up in SE ND we shore fished a lot and would hear them crowing heavily and most of the morning through the month of June.

Once late summer and early fall hit the crowing would greatly diminish (but you would still hear a few while duck hunting) and it would be more cackling as they made short flights around their area.

Turkey hunting this spring in a mix of ag and woods, the pheasants were everywhere. First crowing heard was often at the very crack of dawn ... a hour or more before sunrise. :eek:
 
Dogs put up a young bird Sat. in my grass that easily flew into the corn. Was all by itself. It was not far from where a nest hatched out about a month ago and it appeared to be about that old.
The corn is so high now you will only see broods in the early AM or late PM. THEY MAY BE ON THE ROADS DRYING OUT THIS EVENING IN SD WITH THE WIDESPREAD RAIN WE HAD LAST NITE----5" IN MY NEIHBORHOOD!
 
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