strangeanimal
Songster
2 broodies , I was glad they were broody and were set apart in a for broody hens built coop , I just make ' broodycoops ' so they have some area to walk in and can be set in all peace and quite , few days ago one in the flock became broody and I tried to break her using the broodycage , that was already on my mind yet wasn't sure untill a member here with lots of experience in that also recommanded the cage to use for a breaker . She did break but today it was just same old , back to the cage , no comfort at all , and have done it exactly how that member does : the cage up , so not on the ground I used 4 wooden palls for each corner of the cage to put it high and from the ground , she lays an egg , yippie , she is sitting on it with that glare , remove the egg she just goes back to sitting flat on the metal cagewire as if she is on a nest ! now this is not the only broody ( unwanted broody ) , I see today this morning no eggs ! and what else do I see ? 2 hens sitting against eachother like two lovedoves with that same glare , not moving if you come near them unless ... you want to take the eggs they have been stealing and had layed themselves , one is already that broody she hisses and growls and once your hand gets too close she already attacks , the other one too but her pecking is less painfull because she does it as a small warning , not a big , now I assumed the rest was free ranging , and they did , how nice to meet a broodyclub under a bush ! same story , all broody hens , so I have now 9 broody hens on ONE day ! only 3 are just acting like usual , the leghorns ... now my question : what to do now ? the weather has apperantly changed into official summer/spring and I have only one cage that is not even breaking them , they really seemed to have made up their minds like ' nope , you will not have me laying your eggs for consumption , I will lay my eggs untill I have a clutch and i sit on it or simply ' I did steal enough , I am going to raise them !!! ' .
One broody did seemed to be less broody so I think this one is still easy to break but the rest of them is doing what the birds in the trees do . What can I do ??? they don't even sit on fertile eggs and I did plan a hatch this summer but not now already ( still looking for the right eggs ) , they can't all be broody because I'm only going to have two hatching , but not the eggs from our own roo and hens , I'm looking for eggs on ebay and forums to hatch the breeds I like for the new flock . The flock is also going to disappear as I have putted a lot on sale and few for free plus a few as meatbirds for our family since they have decided my coop had to be sloped because the area is expanding in houses ... so I end up by that time with only my small backyard where I have my fruits and vegetables and a small run , also it has become an issue they free range so therefor their broodiness is NOT wanted at all since the most of them will leave and I have been limited in my chickens and run , the run can only take up 5-7 chickens , however 7 is already given the guidelines too much for their area ... really need some help in this because if they are sold being broody I'm gonna have clients buying chickens that won't lay yet ... All input welcome !!!
One broody did seemed to be less broody so I think this one is still easy to break but the rest of them is doing what the birds in the trees do . What can I do ??? they don't even sit on fertile eggs and I did plan a hatch this summer but not now already ( still looking for the right eggs ) , they can't all be broody because I'm only going to have two hatching , but not the eggs from our own roo and hens , I'm looking for eggs on ebay and forums to hatch the breeds I like for the new flock . The flock is also going to disappear as I have putted a lot on sale and few for free plus a few as meatbirds for our family since they have decided my coop had to be sloped because the area is expanding in houses ... so I end up by that time with only my small backyard where I have my fruits and vegetables and a small run , also it has become an issue they free range so therefor their broodiness is NOT wanted at all since the most of them will leave and I have been limited in my chickens and run , the run can only take up 5-7 chickens , however 7 is already given the guidelines too much for their area ... really need some help in this because if they are sold being broody I'm gonna have clients buying chickens that won't lay yet ... All input welcome !!!