Blimey - its catching my other hen has gone broody!

[busylizzie]

Is being broody catching? I have 4 x 6 month old hens and one has (today) successfully hatached out 4 (at the last count) chicks......and today one of the others has gone broody! Not sure I can cope with more babies...but I suppose if i give her some (maybe 2-3) they will not be here for 3 weeks and the new ones might be ready to go into the main coop - what do you think?

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Something is certainly up this year with Broody hens.

I've 5 setting on air at the moment that I can not break! That makes me 19 all together this year, mine are all BBS Orpingtons, with the exception of 2 Light Brahmas. I hatched out chicks in the Spring from them but not setting eggs this late in the year under them.

 

[JessHall]

I have herd that broodiness is triggered by the increasing length of days. I guess that would be a bit opposite considering we're coming into fall and days are getting shorter

Maybe she's a breed that is really inclined to go broody, what is she?
There are a few things you can do, but they may or may not work. You can try and break her up by taking her eggs away, covering her nest, moving her to another coop, or you could just let her be a mommy

Maybe you can move her in with your other hen and let them have their babies together until they are big enough to go into the main coop. Good luck and post pics of the babies!!!

 

[busylizzie]

The new broody is a black sussex breed......My thoughts are:

Option 1 - give a few of my sisters mixed breed eggs to sit on
Option 2 - get some of the eggs i would love in the future....silkies/frizzles for her to sit on
Option 3 - give her the three chicks (hopefully 3 if they all hatch....1 hatched at present) from the incubator and let her raise those.....but would that work????????????????????????????

Would have to persuade DH to build another nursery area though