[suziequeue]

 

YAY - I think one of the speckledys has gone broody. DH didn't collect the eggs for a day or two and now she's sitting in the nesting box with her tail up the corner and her chest all puffed out making that chirruping noise.

The next move is to get her to sit on some fertilised eggs which I am going to purchase (hopefully) from someone nearby.

We plan to put her in her own broody pen - a large rabbit hutch with a run which will be in the same paddock as the other chickens so she will be able to see them etc.

I was thinking that I would put the eggs in there and then wait until it's dark, picking her up out of the nesting box in the coop and putting her on the eggs in the broody pen.

My question is: if we move her to the broody pen - will she desert the nest?

Does anybody have any suggestions as to this approach?

[Mel Rice]

how about moving her with the present eggs. If she does give up then you havnt wasted the eggs. Some hens will be very broody and will put up with quite a bit of disturbance, if there not sure about being broody they can give up very easily.

[suziequeue]

Ooh - that's a good idea. I'll go and prepare the hutch now before it gets dark and then move her

[Rosie posie]

Hi Suzie, I agree with Mel

though I would give her a day or so, just to see if she is definitely serious, mark the eggs she's on now, so you can take away any freshly added.
Then if she is still sitting tightly after a couple of days, move her, and the eggs she is on now, at night in the dark, to the new place.

Then keep her locked in for most of the next day (no peeping )

If she is still sitting tight 24 hours later, then get the hatching eggs under her (again at night) and you will have the best chance!

[Dizzycow]

I'm jealous. My Light Sussex Ladies keep on pretending they're broody, then buggering off after three or four days. Most annoying.

[Mays]

O how fab I have been waiting for one of my two usual broodies to start, but nothing yet!

[suziequeue]

 

though I would give her a day or so, just to see if she is definitely serious, mark the eggs she's on now, so you can take away any freshly added.

Oops - just been out and moved her 

She didn't seem too impressed!!

But maybe she'll settle down.

[Rosie posie]

well you never know, some are unbudge-able!  (is that even a word?)

[suziequeue]

Fingers crossed.

I'll report back in the morning

[Sylvia]

I'm waiting for a broody too so that I can order some of Dark Brown Eggs's eggs. You can't rush them though. If, when you pick a hen off her nest she shrieks and flaps she's probably no good. The best ones are the ones that "purr" and feel a dead weight in your hands. Almost as if they were in a trance

[deepinthewoods]

great, im glad it worked!!

[suziequeue]

Well - I think I was too hasty.

Just checked and she's sitting next to the nesting box and not on it.

Oh well - next time I'll know better.

It's probably for best as DH is not around this week and our house sitter isn't familiar with chooks - she's happy to put their feed and water out but nothing more complicated.

Oh well - better luck next time

[deepinthewoods]

she might just be cooling them off a bit?

[suziequeue]

Nope  he was out in the run this morning and when I opened the end all her pals came in for a good gossip and she  joined the rest of them in the main t=run for breakfast.

Learning points:

• Useful method to stop a hen being broody
  
• Take a little more time over things next time.
  
  • Maybe let eggs accumulate in the broody box and see if anybody gets curious
    
  I'll be better prepared next time   
   

[Rosie posie]

ohh poo!

never mind......patience is a virtue