First Time With A Broody

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VAChix

VAChix

In the Brooder
Jul 29, 2016
8
5
17
Spotsylvania Virginia
My broody OE has been on eggs since Monday the 17th and I'm expecting chicks around the 7-8 of May. She's been sitting 9 solid days with no poop. I was getting a bit worried because how can any animal go that long without defecating? I've been hand feeding her in the mornings while she sits. So I changed tacts this AM. I brought out some ground buffalo from last night's dinner and she came right off that nest. Ate a few bites and she had the grossest, stinkiest broody poop. I mean, wow! Nasty. But I know she has to feel much better and I've learned how to get her off the nest. So, win/win. While she was up I looked at the eggs, they all look great and clean. There are 9 in total. Most are from my sex link hens. One leghorn, an EE and one of the OE eggs. I'll keep y'all posted. Anyone else have a broody on eggs at the moment?
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VAChix said:
My broody OE has been on eggs since Monday the 17th and I'm expecting chicks around the 7-8 of May. She's been sitting 9 solid days with no poop. I was getting a bit worried because how can any animal go that long without defecating? I've been hand feeding her in the mornings while she sits. So I changed tacts this AM. I brought out some ground buffalo from last night's dinner and she came right off that nest. Ate a few bites and she had the grossest, stinkiest broody poop. I mean, wow! Nasty. But I know she has to feel much better and I've learned how to get her off the nest. So, win/win. While she was up I looked at the eggs, they all look great and clean. There are 9 in total. Most are from my sex link hens. One leghorn, an EE and one of the OE eggs. I'll keep y'all posted. Anyone else have a broody on eggs at the moment?
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Unless you're watching her 24/7, she might be sneaking off the nest, doing her thing and getting back on it when you're not looking. Personally, I'd quit hand feeding her just to make sure she does get off the nest now and then.

I have a broody I just set on Monday. She's out in the coop in with the main flock. Fortunately this year she decided to set in an out of the way corner and not the favorite nest box like she did last year. There is still one hen who likes to leave a donation every day, but I just pick up the broody, grab the unmarked egg and put her back down. One advantage to her being in the coop and not in a cage is she can get up to eat, drink and do her business as she pleases.
 
I have her in a large dog crate because I can't keep her in with general population as they all insist on laying in my goat house and the goats have no discretion when it comes to stepping on eggs. The crate was unsoiled for 9 days.
 
Look how cute! I've got a Wyandotte (BLR x SL) on a dozen ee eggs that should hatch in 2 weeks. I know someone who's got some SLW eggs that are supposed to hatch on the same day. My plan is to buy about 6-10 of those and give them to her also. I'm hoping for a large hatch!
 
I forgot to add- LOVE using those dog crates for broody hens. I used one last year for a game hen and I plan to isolate her in it again as soon as she decides to set...last year she hatched eggs in early September. Hopefully she won't wait so long this year.
 

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