Broody Hatchalong!

[Anne02]

It depends on how long. I'm homeschool too so I'll be able to keep a close eye on Ivy!

Ooh, fun! I don't think she was off for too long, the eggs were still warm to the touch.

Ivy is being good.
She has straw on her face. View attachment 2572536

Oh, silly girl!

Another question/comment for anyone still online :

I just went outside to check again and now my Black Australorp is sitting on the eggs!! Big Bertha is walking around outside eating bugs and Eddie is just guarding the nesting box! Is this normal for chickens to "take turns" or are they all just trying out broodiness. I wanted to see if she was just laying another egg on top of them all but I took an egg from the nesting box over and she quickly scooped it underneath her and puffed her feathers over it. She was also giving me some light growls.

Sounds like they're all considering being broody!

And how many eggs can I give her. I want to make sure I at least get some so I would like to put in a lot.

She's a Buff Orpington, right? My Buff sat on 9 eggs easily, and she probably could have fit up to a dozen.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

How big is she? A pic would help. What breed again?

She's a BIG ol Buff Orpington, very fluffy too, and my sweetest bird.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Yeah I'm pretty sure they want to brood

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

I stuck her in the chicken tractor with 4 eggs - the only ones not under the other chicken - and she immediately started arranging them under her

I think I will go take some eggs from the other chicken (with gloves )

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Okay, I took the eggs from the Australorp and put them in with the BO in the chicken tractor. The australorp was pissed but I left her with a golf ball and a few fake eggs to keep her happy until I have more eggs to give her. The BO is very happily sitting on the eggs now and has starter feed and water. IM SO EXCITED!!! I only moved out to the country around 6 months ago from the suburbs. I would never have dreamed of this back then. This might be one of the most exciting things that has happened with the animals since I moved !!!!

(p.s. I gave her 12 eggs, I hope that isn't too much)

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Sorry for all my excitement and questions but just one more: I have had eggs in an incubator for 10 days now. Would it work to give those eggs to my other broody hen?

Edit: Nvm, I shook a bag of cracked corn too loud and she leaped off the eggs and came running - my bad

 

[MGG]

She's a BIG ol Buff Orpington, very fluffy too, and my sweetest bird.

Oh she's beautiful!!!

Okay, I took the eggs from the Australorp and put them in with the BO in the chicken tractor. The australorp was pissed but I left her with a golf ball and a few fake eggs to keep her happy until I have more eggs to give her. The BO is very happily sitting on the eggs now and has starter feed and water. IM SO EXCITED!!! I only moved out to the country around 6 months ago from the suburbs. I would never have dreamed of this back then. This might be one of the most exciting things that has happened with the animals since I moved !!!!

(p.s. I gave her 12 eggs, I hope that isn't too much)

I bet she can cover that many. I don't see any sticking out in the pic. I would go with 10 eggs just to be safe, but if 12 seem to be working that's fine.

Sorry for all my excitement and questions but just one more: I have had eggs in an incubator for 10 days now. Would it work to give those eggs to my other broody hen?

Edit: Nvm, I shook a bag of cracked corn too loud and she leaped off the eggs and came running - my bad

They might be a bit too far along for her to accept. You could try it though.
Lol! If they're truly broody they'll go back on.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Oh she's beautiful!!!

I bet she can cover that many. I don't see any sticking out in the pic. I would go with 10 eggs just to be safe, but if 12 seem to be working that's fine.

They might be a bit too far along for her to accept. You could try it though.
Lol! If they're truly broody they'll go back on.

Thank you so much! Also only the australorp left the eggs. So im still good with the other hen!

 

[Anne02]

Thank you so much! Also only the australorp left the eggs. So im still good with the other hen!

That's great! And Fudge hasn't gotten off anymore, just for a few minutes around 1:00. I'm glad she can actually take care of herself, my last broody would NOT MOVE off of the nest, I had to pull her off once or twice a day so that she would eat.

 

[WallacetheKhakiCampbell]

Bad news, my hen got bored and left her eggs entirely. I put her back with my other hens. I will continue to leave fake eggs in the coop until someone ACTUALLY commits.

But, while I was away I got a cream leg bar, an olive egger and a mottled java from my local breeder