[Crazyboutdaanimals]

went to check ma pekins x silkies, none of them have been laying since i took the first broody out but now i seem to have another broody that has never layed eggs before, and she pecked me... it had to be my only nasty hen...

[suziequeue]

I think that breed are notorious for going broody.

Can you get fertilised eggs from anywhere else for the broody one to sit on?

[deepinthewoods]

or sneak a few from your other one?

[Crazyboutdaanimals]

nah my other one won't let me near her eggs, she nearly had me when i gave her water  but the blinking evil hen hen pecked me cause she wanted to lay an egg  , and she was doing all the signs my broody did until i gave her some eggs and moved her, my mum said she is probably going to go broody soon though as she lays quite late... am still quite annoyed that i got pecked though... 

[in the hills]

Some of my hens peck if you disturb them when they are trying to lay.

Mine arent nasty but just want some quiet time.

I know how they feel 

[Brijjy]

Nothing is as vicious as a sitting muscovy. My broody bantams are pussy cats in comparison 
Pekin x silkies are the best broodies on the planet. If you want egg layers then you'll probably need to look at another breed. Araucanas are great and they lay green/blue eggs.

[MAK]

I gave the sitting muscovey some space when I put some water in for her lst year - forgot about the drake who caught me on the rear causing me to bang my head on the edge of the duck hutch. The OH made the duck hutch ans she put a slate roof on it - some of which is still in my forehead  ( well a little scratch really but a surprise none the less).

[colliewoman]

One of my muskies has gone off in a hedge or summat somewhere to sit, I am not even going to look for her as I know she will be mean when I find her
Either that or something got her without leaving even a feather

[Brijjy]

Just got in from shutting the chooks etc up and found one of the muskies sitting on eggs underneath the climbing frame. I had to move her as she has no protection from Mr Fox there. Well after making her a cosy nest in the horse trailer (awaiting renovation) I got hold of her and 6 of her eggs. She grabbed my hand and wouldn't let go, then she shat on me, then she let go of my hand and went for my face. In spite of the brutal attack, I got her and eggs into the trailer. She's now shut in with water and food. I'll peer in tomorrow to see if she's still sitting. Give me a broody bantam to tackle any day 

[Fleecewife]

When a hen is sitting on eggs she is extremely vulnerable to attack from predators such as foxes.  The more viciously she pecks the more chance she has of survival - a broody hen isn't evil, she's just protecting herself and her eggs and showing a strong survival instinct.  So when you have to touch a broody, wear thick gloves which come a bit up your arm (and hold her with her backside pointing away from you Brijjy  )

[Brijjy]

The backside was pointing towards my leg, which is now covered in duck poo. She aimed on purpose    I learnt the hard way last time I moved her. That time she pooed down my front. She's definitely not evil though, when she's not sitting she is very friendly and almost tame. I still don't rate her chances against the fox though. I lost a late sitting muskie last year when she went to nest up the bank in the holly bush. I didn't want to lose this one.

[Crazyboutdaanimals]

oh i am not worried bout getting eggs for them i like the way they look, (mine have poofs on their heads), i would prefer them to go broody too, mainly because i haven't got a incubator 

The more viciously she pecks the more chance she has of survival - a broody hen isn't evil, she's just protecting herself and her eggs and showing a strong survival instinct.)

my actual broody is not that bad with me touching her, she just makes a broody noise (sooooooooo cute ) its when i touch her eggs (not that i usually do that, just checking one that was not under her to see if she had kicked it out (she had not, i have the peck to prove it lol)

[Nell]

Another vote for thick gloves - i borrow OH's welding gloves. I had a broody silkie bantam -she's still a baby, had only just started laying  a couple of weeks prior to that, so was quite surprised she went broody so early. Took me a few days of turfing her out of the nest box (she does this wonderful growling noise, she's indignant, whereas I couldn't help but find it funny  ) Although she's finally snapped out of the broodiness, does anyone know how long it generally takes before she'll settle down and begin laying again?