[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi All,

     Snowy my serial sussex broody has just gone broody again. Having rejected her last batch of chicks at 8weeks, by week 10 she was brooding again. I think its far too late in the year to be raising chicks but she disagrees and is quite deternimed to hatch my other girls non fertilised eggs. I have broken her brooding once before with the old dog cage on the garage floor routine but am wondering wether to just leave her to come to her senses in her own time.My other girls usually pull themselves together after a few days of being evicted from an empty nest. I am hoping the weather and the lack of eggs should eventually give her the message.

What do the rest of you think? Does anyone else set eggs this late in the year?

Buffy

[doganjo]

I've got duck eggs in the incubator that are due in 2 weeks time, so your chicken ones would only be a week after that if that's any help?  I have a heat lamp and a shed for them if and when they hatch this time.

[Fleecewife]

I wouldn't deliberately start a brood at this time of year, although I have some ready to hatch in a few days under a hen which sneaked off to lay.  We have loads of broodies each year but only the occasional one gets to hatch and rear chicks - the others we just chuck out of the nest boxes when we see them (gently - they are only doing what comes naturally which is why I don't use a 'sin bin' - to me it's not a sin), we make sure they don't lose too much condition by feeding them and eventually they give up.

[Heather]

I don't think it's too late. It can stay warm until end of Oct.
I only have 2 hens and they're BOTH broody now. One is sitting for the 2nd time, having sat for the full 21days last time, (on no eggs). I'm wondering if they're lonely, and so I've put 2 'possibly-fertile' eggs from another smallholder under them.  Wait and see is my motto! 

[Fleecewife]

My broody just gave up on her eggs.  We were not sure when she started sitting so maybe they had gone over time, bit I did find some mites on the eggs so maybe that was the problem.  She is now powdered, the house cleared, bedding burned, eggs thrown out and I am just about to frazzle the whole house with the magic weed wand again.  No evidence of mites anywhere else than on the eggs, but better safe than sorry.  It does mean that I can have my polytunnel to myself this winter instead of sharing it with a large brood of chicks and their mum but on the down side we won't have much stock to sell early next year.  I am wondering if it might be better to hatch eggs in an incubator then pop the new chicks under a convenient broody to rear them.  With Scots Greys they really do need a mother to teach them all about life as a totally free range bird, as well as to protect them from predators.

[pottsie]

Hope it's not to late, found a Buff Orpington who was broody today. Due to not getting many little ones i'm going to move her in to a stable tomorrow, and put some eggs under her, she is a big hen and i was wondering how many eggs i should put under?

Rob. 

[Declan]

One of my buff sussex has taken to the nest box- won't move for love nor money- wouldn't really care but she is sitting on the days lay of hybrid hens and theres not even a cockeral in the pen.

[Bright Raven]

Sadie is stashing eggs somewhere again! Bird brains!

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi Pottsie,

  the rule of thumb with eggs is to place as many under her as she can phyically cover and then remove one. I realise thats not very helpful if you do not have the eggs to hand. So as a guide, my light sussex bantam can cover 8 so a large fowl such as an orpington could cover several more than that. If it's her first time however you might want to put a few less under her in case she dosen't take to it. Though not all the eggs you put under her may going to hatch.

As it sounds like a number of you are planning to hatch chicks at this time of year it may not be too late. Unfortunatly I dont know anyone with anyfertilised eggs as everyones birds seem to be busy moulting.

[pottsie]

Thanks Buffy,

Have put eight under and she has sat now for a couple of days. Thought as it's getting a bit cold, i would put her in a shed out of the way with plenty of straw, food and water, looking good upto now so fingers crossed.

Rob. 

[Sharondp]

My Buff-O's can manage a dozen if that helps?

[pottsie]

Woops to late, but it will be good to see how she manages her first brood, thanks for the info though.

Rob. 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi All,

   well I hoped the shorter days and cooler temp would make her give up on the idea but she is still sqeeking ang giving me the old turkey bottom whenever I open the nest box. I really thought she would just give up on it buy now but no. I have tried to find a couple of fertilised eggs from a couple of local breeders just to give some purpose to her confinement but no one seems to have any. I still think its too late in the year and not the weather but was willing to let her have a go and prove me wrong. She wouldnt be able to free range with them as the grass is far too long and wet but I got the infirmary coop and run ready in case I got hold of some eggs.

I like my birds to go into the winter with a bit of condition on them so that they can withstand the worst of the weather but if she dosnt start getting out and eating soon she will be struggling to catch up with the others.

Buffy

[benkt]

I had eleven light sussexes(?) hatch at the weekend and have some duck eggs that should hatch in the incubator next weekend. I'm aiming to have them ready for the table by Christmas. They'll all probably stay indoors and under lights for a bit longer at this time of year. My main problem (at least for the chicks) will be the rain as its always pouring down at the moment even if the temperatures are staying mild.

[Hilarysmum]

In the past when we have had a hen determined to hatch infertile eggs I have bought day olds and put under her.  I remove an egg and shove under a chick, then repeat.  I have the heat lamp on and watch her until she settles with them in case of rejection.  I dont know if you can get day olds where you are but it might help.