Broodies BOTH Quit Today!!

[speckledhen]

Sounds like a good plan. Hope she snaps out of it soon. I almost had a broody die and she was only on Day 20 or so of her very first bout of broodiness, sitting on nothing. Had to provide emergency measures with vitamin E capsules squeezed into her beak and water by syringe, etc. They can really go overboard.

 

[rooster-red]

Iris stuck with her last batch until they were 10 weeks old!

She had 2 chicks hatch today, still sitting on 16 more eggs.

 

[speckledhen]

That Iris is a treasure, Lee!! And to think she went to live with you before she even acted broody once. I do have a picture of her hunkering down in a nest like she's guarding babies, though. Has Hazel ever gone broody after that first time?

 

[rooster-red]

Quote:
No, Hazel is waaaayy too active to think about being broody again.
Thats alright, she did her duty well that one time.

Those two are the only hens in my flock that have ever been broody, and Iris is averaging 3 clutches a year (by her choice, not mine)

Iris has her routine down pat now.

She is let out of the dog crate twice a day for about 15 minutes each time.

First thing she does is takes a huge broody poop (she always holds it in until we let her out)

Then comes the stretch, left wing and leg first, then right wing and leg.

Then the fluff up.

Then the dirt bath.

Then the shake out followed by the preening session,

Then back to the eggs.

You told me I wouldn't want to get rid of her, and of course you were right.

 

[speckledhen]

Yep, that's our Iris, dedicated mama! Hazel always struck me as the goofy one. I think when I picked her up to hand her to you, she was cackling in my ear, LOL. Warms my heart to know that I picked the perfect home for those girls. Thanks so much for loving those ladies like you do.