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Author Topic: Broody?  (Read 7572 times)

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Broody?
« on: May 05, 2008, 10:48:14 am »
I think our wee bantam might be getting a tad broody, the last couple of times I've gone out to collect the eggs, she is sitting on the nest on top of them..

If I give her a nudge she gets off, she's not being noisy or pecky.   If I just keep turfing her off the eggs, will she come out of it?   She is still laying eggs herself.

I would love to get some hatching eggs... then I think about all the consequences involved..  :-\

The Chicken Lady

  • Joined Mar 2008
  • Cheshire
Re: Broody?
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2008, 12:07:49 pm »
Yes she will stop - eventually  ::) Bantams can be very persistant. If you want her to hatch eggs I would sit her on some pot eggs for a couple of days while you get fertilised eggs organised then swap them and leave her to it protected from other hens  ;) ;)  :chook:
Karen

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Re: Broody?
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2008, 12:25:29 pm »
Thanks chicken lady  :)

I've been debating this in my head all day... i've even been on ebay looking at eggs  ;)

I keep my 2 chickens in an eglu, so its probably not an ideal setup for letting her sit on some fertile eggs, as i'd have nowhere to put my other chook.

Fluffywelshsheep

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Near Stirling, Central Scotland
Re: Broody?
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2008, 01:32:15 pm »
do you know any where you could lend another igloo from?
Linz

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Re: Broody?
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2008, 01:41:40 pm »
Hi Linz,

Another eglu would take up too much space in the garden, and most probably the people who have them will be using them..

I might keep my eyes peeled on freecycle and see if I can find a either a small coop no-one wants or a rabbit hutch that I can modify  ;)

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Re: Broody?
« Reply #5 on: May 05, 2008, 04:52:49 pm »
See what happens when you get a days holiday! LOL

I've put a bid on ebay for some hatching eggs.. 6 miniature white bearded silkie bantams (my daughter chose)... I've bought chick crumb and growers pellets and i'm now trying to source either a 2nd hand coop or make my own.

I need to buy water and food feeders, any suggestions where the best place to get these online are?

And finally, I have put a fake egg in the nesting area and she is sitting on this until the others arrive.  ;D

If there is anything else I need to know I would appreciate and value your help

The Chicken Lady

  • Joined Mar 2008
  • Cheshire
Re: Broody?
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2008, 09:02:14 am »
Personally I would make my own - or I would get my husband and son to do it  ;) I spent a fortune on my first hen house but after making a pig ark many of the principle of joining wood together seem to be the same  :P In the meantime you could put her somewhere quiet like a shed or garage in some sought of a box that she could get out of to feed etc. and just make a barrier around it so that she feels protected from invaders - her own space. Just becareful of eggs from ebay. Buy from someone with good feedback who gives success rates. It can be a bit of a lottery. I have had rates fron 0 - 100% with eggs that I have bought  ::) Good luck with yours, I think it's great hatching eggs, the children love it, for me it's like taking my work home as I am a midwife  8)
Karen

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Re: Broody?
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2008, 12:51:51 pm »
Thanks for your help chicken lady  :)  ..... we're all really excited, just waiting for everything to arrive now...

I think I have managed to source a rabbit hutch, so will phone about it tonight once I get home from work, and if we can pick it up tonight I'll get her moved into it.   

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Broody?
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2008, 01:37:22 pm »
I love hatching eggs - so will you, but the tension as the big day approaches is almost unbearable.

Townie

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Fife
    • http://www.townie.wordpress.com
Re: Broody?
« Reply #9 on: May 09, 2008, 01:05:00 pm »
I managed to pick up a brand new big double rabbit hutch for £40.. a complete bargin!..

The eggs arrived in the post a couple of days ago... I let them settle for 24hrs

Our wee bantam moved into the penthouse suite of the new hutch 2 days ago with a couple of normal unfertile eggs to sit on... and last night under the cover of darkness I removed the 2 duds and replaced them with the 6 fertile (fingers crossed) eggs.   

How many days roughly does it take for eggs to hatch?

Rosemary

  • Joined Oct 2007
  • Barry, Angus, Scotland
    • The Accidental Smallholder
Re: Broody?
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2008, 07:50:43 pm »
Twenty one for hens.

 

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