Broodiness in Bielefelders

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Coop de Grass

Coop de Grass

Crowing
5 Years
Jun 30, 2015
986
642
272
South Brunswick, New Jersey
:loveDoes anyone have any experience with broodiness in Bielefelders? I have a hen who has been sitting in her nest box for two days. Today she came out for a snack and went right back in.

I haven't been able to find any info on this, and I sure could use the info if it is out there.


I took these photos yesterday. Schnitzel barely fits into the nest box, but has chosen this one even tho she used to use the crate next to it!

I am not sure if I should risk putting ferlized eggs under her. I love my Bielefelders. I have two hens, and just hatched a roo and a pullet.

700

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:)
 
I have three bielefelders and a couple of bielefelder/cream legbar crosses. Two of the bieles are trying to go broody on me all the time. One of the crosses does the same. If I kick them out of the box, they will usually stay out for a day or so. However, one of them is pretty persistent. She hatched a few chicks for me last year and is finishing up a hatch right now. She's a great momma.
 
@texasmomma Thanks! How many eggs did you put under her? I have no rooster ( well, he is 4 weeks old!) So I am wondering how many eggs are in a clutch.

Also, do you have photos of your Bielefelder/Cream Legbar crosses? I just received 6 Olive egger eggs and 6 Cream Legbar eggs. I would love to see that mix.

frow.gif
 
The first time we put 7 under her and she hatched 6. All of them were pullets. This time, I put 11 under her. She ate one of them a few days before she was supposed to hatch. No clue why, but I figured it was the way of a broody hen. 11 seems fine under her. She's got 9 eggs under her right now and 4 chicks. I would say that's about her limit.

I'll see if I can get some pics tomorrow. We've had a lot of rain, so they aren't very clean. Even though my legbars don't have large crests, I get crosses with a decent size crest. They look like bieles with a crest, ftmp. Some lay an olive egg and others lay a brown egg.
 
barnie.gif
Sorry to hear about the broody.

We've had a little trouble with ours. She smashed an egg last night and the chick inside died. Today, she smashed a chick. My 7 yo was quite sad.

I put a chick into the incubator to dry off and rest before he went in with the rest; I was afraid he would get smashed as well. Not sure what I'm gonna do with the boys this time. I have plenty. I'd really like to find some new blood for diversity, but that may have to wait until next year.
 
@texasmomma So sorry about your chicks
hugs.gif
Schnitzel is still hanging out in her nest box. I removed the fake egg that was in there for a week as the only egg. I can't believe that she was hatching one egg!
he.gif
She is still in there, being broody... My attempt at building a coolerbator is a flop because there is a short in the thermostat - and I've got 12 eggs! I have 7 in the Brinsea mini advance, but what should I do with the rest? Is it worth risking them under the Broody?
 
Coop de Grass said:
@texasmomma So sorry about your chicks
hugs.gif
Schnitzel is still hanging out in her nest box. I removed the fake egg that was in there for a week as the only egg. I can't believe that she was hatching one egg!
he.gif
She is still in there, being broody... My attempt at building a coolerbator is a flop because there is a short in the thermostat - and I've got 12 eggs! I have 7 in the Brinsea mini advance, but what should I do with the rest? Is it worth risking them under the Broody?
Click to expand...

Yeah, it was quite traumatic last night. She was better today. I tossed the incubator chick in with the rest of them last night and he's doing just fine. I tend to be a gambler, so I'd try them under the broody. I like incubating with them way more than with the incubators. I stress a lot less. If that broody has been sleeping in the nest box, she's probably ready for some real eggs. Make sure she gets up to poop and eat once a day.
 
@texasmomma Funny things is that I removed the fake egg, and she kept getting into that box until yesterday, when she climbed into the box on the floor that 3 other hens use to lay, and sat on the fake egg in there! I am wondering what is going to happen when the others try to lay. Sometimes they line up out side, sometimes they climb over eachother...
lau.gif


I now have the Brinsea Miniadvance going, and a Farm Innovators 4250 purchased at a local co-op - only 6 eggs in that one. Maybe I should put two under her just to see what happens!
hu.gif

Oh well, at least I don't have to wait 9 months, just 21 days!
 
Watching this thread.
Would love to start some broodiness in this breed.
Keeping an eye out for future flock potential.
 

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