Broody Buff orp

[kittymuffy]

Hi, we survived the winter with 6 buffs, about 10 months old now). We covered the top of the run and put old windows on the sides so they were able to spend lots of time outside. But in the last two weeks we have a broody hen who is insistent on sitting in one of the next boxes, of course, it's everyones favorite but they are using on of the others. We tried leaving one egg in one of the other boxes but she will only sit there if only there is a new egg! SHe is beginning to sit in a nest whether there is an egg or not. Egg production has been down, her broodiness wouldn't cause that would it? Maybe it is because we unplugged the light that used to go on about 3 a m., we are now relying the the natural daylight.
Sounds like buffs are good broody hen, can you really order fertilized eggs? Thanks for any advice about little miss broody.

 

[LarryPQ]

You can buy fertilized eggs, but it is always a gamble with shipped eggs. You may want to try Craigslist first.

You can also let her sit on a golfball/unfertilized egg for a week or two, and if she is still determined, try to slip a day-old chick from the feedstore under her at night. Since first-time broodies are often terrible at hatching the actual egg, this may be your best option. I just did this with 2 broodies, and had great success.