- May 15, 2009
- 1,997
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Hi sweetcheeks! I'll try to answer all of your questions. If I miss one just post it again.
My hen is a Buff Orpington. She went broody 2 weeks after she started laying eggs. I tried to 'break' her the same way you did with your hen but she was so persistent she was breaking my heart. I spoke with the neighbor down the road and she said 'let her have babies'. I thought hens only went broody in the spring but now I know I was incorrect. My neighbor gave me fertilized eggs and when I got home I went out to the coop and gently laid 8 of them in front of my hen. After she screeched at me like a cornered coon she started cooing. I was facinated and couldn't leave the coop. I sat on a feed sack and watched her. In a minute or 2 she ever so gently moved those eggs with her beak towards her body and in minutes had them all safely under her. She started to cooo more and I thought I was going to cry.
I never candled the eggs so I'm not sure what is going to happen. The chicks will be mutts but she will be happy and that's all that matters.
One day there was an egg pushed out of the nest box and there was a hole in it. The egg was bloody so something started to develop but something happened to it. I think she sensed it and pushed it out. Her box is on the coop floor well padded with wood shavings. She rarely gets off the nest and I do give her scratch mixed with just a few laying pellets. Sometimes a few treats. I read that scratch was best so her poops will be more solid plus it has been cold here and scratch helps keep them warm.
I decided not to seperate her from my other 3 girls. I posted a question on here tonight to see what everyone had to say about seperating her or leaving her with the group. Ridgerunner said that there are risks using either method but he prefers to let everyone mingle together. I've decided to let her raise them among the other hens. She's a big girl and I know she will do her best to keep them safe.
I'll update in a few days. Hopefully she will hatch a few babies and protect them and everyone will be happy.
My hen is a Buff Orpington. She went broody 2 weeks after she started laying eggs. I tried to 'break' her the same way you did with your hen but she was so persistent she was breaking my heart. I spoke with the neighbor down the road and she said 'let her have babies'. I thought hens only went broody in the spring but now I know I was incorrect. My neighbor gave me fertilized eggs and when I got home I went out to the coop and gently laid 8 of them in front of my hen. After she screeched at me like a cornered coon she started cooing. I was facinated and couldn't leave the coop. I sat on a feed sack and watched her. In a minute or 2 she ever so gently moved those eggs with her beak towards her body and in minutes had them all safely under her. She started to cooo more and I thought I was going to cry.
I never candled the eggs so I'm not sure what is going to happen. The chicks will be mutts but she will be happy and that's all that matters.
One day there was an egg pushed out of the nest box and there was a hole in it. The egg was bloody so something started to develop but something happened to it. I think she sensed it and pushed it out. Her box is on the coop floor well padded with wood shavings. She rarely gets off the nest and I do give her scratch mixed with just a few laying pellets. Sometimes a few treats. I read that scratch was best so her poops will be more solid plus it has been cold here and scratch helps keep them warm.
I decided not to seperate her from my other 3 girls. I posted a question on here tonight to see what everyone had to say about seperating her or leaving her with the group. Ridgerunner said that there are risks using either method but he prefers to let everyone mingle together. I've decided to let her raise them among the other hens. She's a big girl and I know she will do her best to keep them safe.
I'll update in a few days. Hopefully she will hatch a few babies and protect them and everyone will be happy.