Author Topic: Newbie brooding question (Read 1668 times)

princesslayer · « **on:** May 24, 2015, 11:21:26 pm »

Hello all

I was hoping my light Sussex would go broody by now - I want to try a hatching if possible. Trouble is, she isn't broody. She had a good spell last year ( when we had no cockerel) and I couldn't get her to STOP going broody, but nothing so far. Anything I can do to encourage her?

Is housing an issue? She shares a best box currently with three other hens, bit we have a new house we can press into action if she does go broody.

Many thanks

devonlady · « **Reply #1 on:** May 25, 2015, 07:34:12 am »

Maybe keep some dummy eggs in the nest box? Hopefully this warmer weather will encourage her

princesslayer · « **Reply #2 on:** May 30, 2015, 07:43:14 pm »

Woohoo it worked! I left a couple of marked eggs in there and she's sat tight all day today!

Now to get the old ones out and put a few new ones in tomorrow. I don't think she's laying herself. If I put a couple of eggs under her each day for a few days, will the first ones hatching cause her to get up and leave the unmatched ones if they're a few days behind?
Thanks

princesslayer · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2015, 07:55:33 pm »

Also, shall I shut her in? I've set something else up for the others so she has a rabbit hutch size coop with two 'rooms', one with a perch. I've put some water in with her this evening and will put some food in first thing tomorrow.