7 year old is broody for the first time! HELP?!?

[Tarheel Chick]

Ok, we are 5 days into my 7 yo Easter Eggers first ever broody session. She, aka Tessa, is the only chicken that I have at the moment. She is sitting on her own infertile eggs at the moment and she is not giving in! So, I found some fertile eggs and plan to help her help herself. I know she is lonely. I had planned on picking up a few chicks this spring, but none of the local places had any easter eggers. So, I guess she felt she needed to take matters into her own toes. If anyone has any pointers PLEASE pass them my way!

 

[emmalou1]

Good luck! I have my first ever broody right now too and she is less than pleasant. We don’t have any fertile eggs either so I am trying the ol switcheroo and got her some day olds to raise. Last night was introduction night but she had kicked them out this morning.

 

[Tarheel Chick]

Oh no! This may be a dumb question but .......how long has she been broody?

 

[emmalou1]

Oh no! This may be a dumb question but .......how long has she been broody?

She started acting kinda broody the last two weeks of May and has been sitting since 5/28.

 

[Tarheel Chick]

Good Luck and have hope!

 

[Tarheel Chick]

Does anyone have any advice or pointers?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Does anyone have any advice or pointers?

If she's your only hen, just sit back and enjoy the journey. Make sure she is eating and drinking and if she isn't, gently remove her from her nest twice a day up until 24 hours before hatch day. My EE had to be removed from the nest or she didn't want to leave!

 

[humblehillsfarm]

Actually, I would recommend having a plan B just in case she quits being brooder, or god forbid, something happens to her. Either be okay with ditching the eggs, or have an incubator at the ready.