The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: princesslayer on May 24, 2015, 11:21:26 pm
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Hello all :wave:
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
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Maybe keep some dummy eggs in the nest box? Hopefully this warmer weather will encourage her :fc:
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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
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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.
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Shove all the eggs under her, then they'll all hatch at once. Honestly, she won't mind! :chook: and no need to shut her in, just make sure she has grain and water in reach :fc:
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Thanks, just got to hope that the cockerel has been up to the job... :-J