@ChooksNQuilts
I didn't mean to criticise you or your suggestion at all. I know it often works to graft chicks onto a broody and it can be a great compromise. I just wanted to clarify the circumstances under which it is best to try it, so that other people reading this understand that it will...
If you decide to graft young chicks onto a broody it is best to let her be broody on a nest of sacrificial eggs or golf balls for at least a couple of weeks before trying to swap the chicks for the eggs. There is also a chance that a first time broody will not accept chicks like that as it is...
Good to hear that you have confirmed she is broody and not sick. Good luck breaking her. I hope she isn't too stubborn! They are funny when they are broody..... it so changes their personality.... and it is wonderful to watch them hatching and raising young chicks.... best chicken TV ever...
To break a broody you are essentially trying to prevent her from maintaining a slightly higher than normal body temp. The broody buster cage does this by putting her in a cage with no bedding and air flow underneath to cool her underside for a few days. Standing on a roost at night in winter...
No reason why the OP can't buy some fertile hatching eggs to set as many people do.
I would be wary of putting a bird in a broody buster cage in winter. Certainly need to make sure she has a good roost to stand on as it would be too easy for her to get frost bitten toes in a wire cage if it's a...
Agree with @staceyj Not all broody hens will display all the signs of broodiness but will display at least one or two. The other thing to look out for is a great big disgusting smelling broody poop. Broody hens hold their waste to prevent soiling the nest and usually do just one horrific poop a...