Author Topic: Broody hen (Read 14774 times)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #30 on:** June 10, 2016, 03:52:52 pm »

I'm so sorry to hear that [member=25651]Dans[/member] I have a breeder lined up on preloved which is really good they may be able to help, also if you'd told me yesterday I have a lady who sent the eggs out before I had even payed and I recieved them the day I payed her all safe and sound, a definite go back to that breeder. Her last sending out day before the weeknd though is Thursday. If you want hatching eggs in the future here is her advert. http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/114913254/hatching-eggs-speckled-sussex-120-per-egg.html
Here is someone else too which is very good
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/115013132/pure-breed-hatching-eggs-selection.html

Hevxxx99 · « **Reply #31 on:** June 10, 2016, 06:24:50 pm »

Don't worry about the dust bath: all ladies in waiting need to freshen up now and then! As long as she's still fluffed up and "clocking" as they say around here, she's still broody.

Daisys Mum · « **Reply #32 on:** June 11, 2016, 08:10:45 pm »

I have 4 broody ladies at the moment, all sitting in one corner of the shed, not quite sure what to do about them as I would quite like to hatch a few chicks but I think 4 mums might just be too many

Hevxxx99 · « **Reply #33 on:** June 11, 2016, 09:35:22 pm »

Don't let them share a nest and eggs if you do decide to hatch any: it always ends in disaster with eggs getting cold and everyone getting huffy. Choose the best sitters and shut them in seperate boxes so the others can't muscle in.

Dans · « **Reply #34 on:** June 11, 2016, 10:35:01 pm »

Well the broody coop is set up and she continued sitting so we put the eggs (arrived this morning) under her this eve. She threw a hiss fit at first and give the first two a peck then abandoned her sifting until I went away. Sitting happily now.

I'll check on them next week and in the meantime remove any that she kicks out.

Not entirely sure what we have as the lady sent the four cuckoo marans but they look very speckled. She also said she would send two rhode island reds but we have 4 eggs in what I would call a light to medium brown and one blue egg! All 9 under her so we'll see what hatches.

Dans

Bionic · « **Reply #35 on:** June 12, 2016, 08:25:05 am »

For most of my life my dad kept canaries which he bred and showed. I grew up looking at the nests and looking after the young ones but it didn't prepare me for how excited I would be when my own broody hatched some eggs.
You will love it Dans

Marches Farmer · « **Reply #36 on:** June 12, 2016, 10:33:40 am »

Quote from: Dans on June 11, 2016, 10:35:01 pm

Not entirely sure what we have as the lady sent the four cuckoo marans but they look very speckled. She also said she would send two rhode island reds but we have 4 eggs in what I would call a light to medium brown and one blue egg!

Hmm, brown eggs do get lighter as the hen ages but blue suggests Araucana or Legbar.

Dans · « **Reply #37 on:** June 12, 2016, 11:56:15 am »

Well I now know the dangers of ordering eggs in a hurry, on your phone, over the shoulder of your sleeping/feeding 1 year old, late at night when you are sleep deprived.

The eggs weren't actually cuckoo maran. They are from a mixture of cuckoo maran and black copper maran hens which are running with a black copper maran cockerel. The ad also said the eggs were often speckled.

The seller also sent some eggs from rhode island red hens that are running with a black copper maran cockerel and a single egg from a cream Legbar hen running with a lakenveldar cockerel.

Live and learn and we'll see what hatches. One egg was sitting just next to her today, not sure if pushed out or just too many to sit on as she is only a small hen. I popped it by her tail and I'll keep an eye. They are all numbered so if I see that one out again I'll get rid of it.

Still excited

Dans

Dans · « **Reply #38 on:** June 14, 2016, 12:08:17 am »

I think something is going wrong.

When the hen was still in the house with the others and able to free range I saw the famed broody poop when I got her off the nest once. I was expecting more of that now she is in the broody house but since putting her in there on Sat I haven't seen any poo other than a couple of very dry pellets on the Sunday morning.

She is getting up and eating and there is water in there, though I haven't seen her drink. Is this ok or should she be pooping daily?

Dans

Hevxxx99 · « **Reply #39 on:** June 14, 2016, 07:31:30 am »

Output is related to input and as hoodies eat comparatively little, they don't necessarily produce a huge poo every day, so don't worry about it. As long as she has the opportunity to get off the nest to eat, drink discharge and poop, she should be fine. It may be necessary to lift her off the nest to do this, or she may do it herself, but be sure she does or she may soil the eggs. They seem to become too dreamy for their own good sometimes.l had a broody who starved herself to death when I first kept hens: she never left the nest.

Broody hen - The Accidental Smallholder