Author Topic: broody hens (Read 2520 times)

droveway · « **on:** June 16, 2013, 02:34:23 pm »

Good Afternoon;
Is this unusual ? I have a broody Silkie sitting on 5 eggs, a light Sussex has joined her in the nest box sitting on 3 eggs, they have now been joined by another Silkie. There are 10 boxes and 9 birds that share the house with access to a large run.
Any Thought's. Thank's Pete.

mentalmilly · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2013, 02:36:19 pm »

There is no understanding a chickens logic.

shygirl · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2013, 06:55:12 pm »

we let this scenario happen once but when the first chicks hatched - all the hens were trying to mother it at the same time and squashed them all to death. separating them into broodycoops will prevent this.

chrismahon · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2013, 07:50:03 pm »

Good advice from Shygirl. You are heading for disaster Droveway.

plumseverywhere · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2013, 08:34:30 pm »

Can you move a broody hen to a coop on her own once she's sitting tight? only reason I ask is that I have a pekin just gone broody yesterday. I was worried about moving her into the separate broody coop that she might get stressed? but obviously for the same reasons that Droveway is experiencing or could potentially suffer, I need to move her from the main house.
Sorry for hijacking Droveway! but similar issues

shygirl · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2013, 10:42:15 pm »

yes pick her up and put her with her eggs in somewhere like a rabbit hutch. you need to let her out to poop and feed etc everyday and then put her back on her eggs. if shes broody, she'l be happy enough, just watch she doesnt peck you when you try to move her

HesterF · « **Reply #6 on:** June 17, 2013, 12:41:49 am »

Yes, if she's seriously broody, she'll sit tight anywhere. Mine have all gone broody in the hen house and I've always separated them off before putting serious eggs under them (my own chicken eggs are not 'serious' because the cockerel's of dodgy heritage). I tend to move them onto fake eggs first and then once they're settled on those, I put the proper eggs under. Often easiest to move them at night (or at least evening) because they'll just got straight to sleep. Mind you, I have Orps which are just big and dopey. Maybe other hens are a bit more feisty when you move them,

H

sokel · « **Reply #7 on:** June 18, 2013, 07:28:51 am »

If I am moving a broody I always move them with either a couple of dummy eggs or a couple of infertile eggs to make sure she is sitting tight after moving her before I risk the good eggs under her.
I moved one last week and then set 12 under her

all seem fertile after candling them just to show there is some good eggs on ebay