1st time with a 1st time Broody

[Ivyblaze]

Question:

To separate her or keep her where she is? She is a Black Australorp and I made sure she was good and broody before I gave her fertilized eggs today.

1st time broody...been in the same place for 2 weeks solid so she is happy there. She has made her nest on the ground behind one of the nest boxes in between that at a pallet in the coop with the other hens. They don't seem to be bothering her. Will they hurt her babies? Will moving her cause her to quit sitting? Will moving her cause huge problems with the pecking order?

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

 

[HEChicken]

Hmmm....well, normally I would suggest sequestering her but if she has been sitting 2 weeks already and the others aren't bothering her, perhaps it will be okay to let her continue to sit where she is. When my Sultan brooded recently, she did so in a place where it was difficult to move her. I waited until the chicks hatched, then moved both her and the chicks to a small run of their own where the others can't get to her. That seemed to work out okay in my situation.

 

[Ivyblaze]

ok. It seems she even has a "babysitter" for lack of a better term when she gets off to eat another BA friend comes over and sits for her and when she comes back she moves for her to sit again. I have even caught this one bringing her things. I decided to give her fertilized eggs because she was not giving up lol

 

[HEChicken]

That is so sweet of the other BA! I don't think I've ever seen another hen do that. I don't have the heart to let them sit on infertile eggs either - I always give them at least 3 eggs to try to hatch.

 

[Ivyblaze]

That is so sweet of the other BA!  I don't think I've ever seen another hen do that.  I don't have the heart to let them sit on infertile eggs either - I always give them at least 3 eggs to try to hatch.

I've heard of it in theory but had never seen it til now. It's funny when she gets off the eggs no one messes with her cause she walks around puffed up with an attitude but still coos at me so maybe they will be ok if I leave them in there. The dh says to otherwise it would disrupt everyone and they won't accept the chicks but he's not the chicken lover in the family. I'm just not sure what is the right thing to do. I've had chickens for years and this bunch has been together for over 2 years now so dynamics are pretty set. Never have I had one go broody til now lol. I'm very excited! But very nervous too.