Broody Batnam

[Bondo Chicks]

I have a broody bantam (Jesse). She had been trying to hatch a golf for a few days and then tried to lay on 8 regular sizes eggs. I would take off and hold her and keep her away from the nest and she goes right back. So, I gave in and gave her 2 eggs (not bantams). Did I make a mistake giving in? She's my favorite and don't want anything to happen to her. If she does actually hatch these eggs what do I do next? It will be a week on Wednesday June 3.

 

[1muttsfan]

If you have the room for more birds there is nothing wrong with letting your hen hatch a few. Are they fertile? Is she in a coop with other birds that may add eggs to the nest (not desirable) or disturb her off it?

 

[Bondo Chicks]

She is in a coop with others and I do have room for more chickens. Do I need to watch for anything else in that case? I check daily for additional eggs.

 

[Allie3513]

I went through the same thing with mine. (Cochin Bantam) First broody hatch for me. I gave her eggs and left her in the coop.
Advice from my experience:
- Other chickens will peck at her comb.

- Mark your eggs, otherwise your other layers will use her nest to lay in.. which will leave you unsure which egg has been their days, and which is fresh

- You will likely have other hens go broody, which will result in low egg supply for a while. (I had 11 hens, 5 went broody) I averaged 2-3 eggs per day for a little over a month

- I did not take everyone's advice and leave mine in the coop for mom to raise. They were on the second row of nesting boxes and I feared for the chicks falling. I was worried that by putting a cage on the floor, the larger hens or rooster would kill the chicks if possible (if not snakes, ect. I removed them and they went to brooder. (No deaths) I had already lost 1, possibly 2 from the chicks/eggs being stepped on from hens fighting over the nest.

Otherwise it was fun. I have one broody Maran who I let hatch a few eggs from the Bantam's start (I spread them out between the broody girls) . She has decided the few she hatched wasn't enough and went broody again two weeks after the last hatch. I ordered some hatching eggs and collected a few of our own and gave in again a week ago.

Good luck!

 

[Bondo Chicks]

thanks Allie3513. I'll use your suggestions. I hope she doesn't go broody after this time, I didn't say that this is her fourth time trying to brood.

That is one of the reason I gave her eggs this time.