The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Community => Introduce yourself => Topic started by: Litl_Deb on April 21, 2010, 06:52:03 pm
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Hi Guys,
I have a very persistant broody hen, she has been sitting day and night for two weeks and will peck me ferociously if I try to touch her. I have read in my small chicken book that I should remove her from the nest each day so she can feed, I don't want to upset her as I would love to get some chicks - is it really necessary to pick her up, bearing in mind the flock is very free range and are not used to being handled at all? I think she has maybe two eggs underneath her as in my ignorance I did not recognise the signs that she was broody, I carried on collecting eggs - I have several very similar looking hens so I didn't notice that it may have been almost always her I saw hanging around the nest box. I have not seen her off the nest at all in the two weeks so far, is there any chance she will be sucessful without intervention??
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If you have a cockerel, then she might be. I'd still make sure she eats and drinks although she'll probably be off, stuff her face and rush back.
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I am having a fit of giggles now, imagining my ferocious hen "stuffing her face" !! You really think so ? I mean if she is still fine after two weeks, she must be getting off at some point, and I havent seen any muck in the nest. She must be a wily old bird, checks to see nobody is looking when she goes for a quick nosebag! :D
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You didn't answer Rosemary's question - you DO have a cockerel, don't you? ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Yes, yes I do have a cockrel. I had one to start, but he got eaten by the fox just after she started sitting, I have had mostly fertile eggs so far. I got another cockrel who is finding his feet and gradually treading more and more birds.
Anyhoo... Saturday afternoon I noticed some broken eggshells near her and I thought, "Ho Hum, she's cracked her egg, that's the end of that then" I plucked up the courage to grab her off the nest and :D :D there was a little chick - I am so happy, I can't tell you !!! I went to see my Man Who Knows and he gave me some good advice. There was another chick yesterday and we have one more egg to hatch. I have a brooding pen ready for her when she wants to leave the nest. I can see wholeheartedly how this becomes addictive. ::) Proud Mum
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That's such a nice story (apart from your first cockrel getting snaffled :() Congratulations ;D ;D ;D
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So he has left something behind then - three babies. ;D ;D :chook: :chook: :chook:
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oh how lovely!
well done mrs hen, trust mother nature....