Broody hen advice

[junior67]

Ok I have read a LOT so thought I would be prepared. But now thinking I am not. Lol.

So I think Ditzy is going broody, don't think full on broody yet.... I have been trying to hatch out her eggs with no luck so I am fine with her trying to hatch some eggs.

Questions:

1. She just started today and laid today. Will she continue to lay for a few days?

2. She got off the box a few times today. Started sitting at 12. Off at 2, back on at 345, off a bit past 6 till 615 and stayed on at dusk. But when she went back on at 615 she went to a different box... She doesn't have eggs yet but should I not give her eggs if she continues to swap boxes or will she stop doing that?

3. What should I watch for? I know she will probably only get up once to eat, drink and poop. Anything I should keep an eye out for??

4. Any other advice for a newbie?

 

[mangotangolango]

Is she clucking like crazy?
Like those time bombs in movies?

 

[JedJackson]

If she's still laying then she is not broody. Give her eggs only when she has been on the nest for at least a full day and night. If she will brood where other hens lay, then make sure to mark the original eggs with a pencil, and remove any others that appear.

 

[junior67]

Is she clucking like crazy?
Like those time bombs in movies?

No. She let me pet her, just talked to me the 2nd time. No puff up. So I don't think she is fully broody yet.

But she goes in to lay is in there for about an hour then back out, has never slept in the nest box. From 12-730( dusk) she was only off for about 2 hrs total and stayed there for the night.

 

[junior67]

If she's still laying then she is not broody. Give her eggs only when she has been on the nest for at least a full day and night. If she will brood where other hens lay, then make sure to mark the original eggs with a pencil, and remove any others that appear.

Think she laid it when she first went in then just stayed. Ya I don't think she is fully broody yet. And shoot was hoping for another few eggs from her to try to hatch but she should take tomorrow off from laying with her normal lay cycle then lay Wed, Thurs and Fri. Thinking I may not get those. I was going to incubate her eggs so they are already marked. Good thing is that I can tell all my girls eggs apart and I am only hatching hers so easy to pull others.

I figured if she stays in there and doesn't lay I will give her eggs Thurs or Fri.

 

[_-Captain BRM-_]

No. She let me pet her, just talked to me the 2nd time. No puff up. So I don't think she is fully broody yet.

But she goes in to lay is in there for about an hour then back out, has never slept in the nest box. From 12-730( dusk) she was only off for about 2 hrs total and stayed there for the night.

The petting thing, my broody never growled, bit, or got upset when I pet her. So that's not always accurate but it all depends.

 

[junior67]

The petting thing, my broody never growled, bit, or got upset when I pet her. So that's not always accurate but it all depends.

Hopefully she stays nice

 

[junior67]

so she got up this morning with everyone. I brought out the food and they all came running except her. She stayed just foraging around. I stayed for a bit but didn't see her go over to the food just kept foraging. She is walking normal and acting normal. I have watched the camera since I came in and she is still just foraging. Would this be normal if she was starting to go broody? or is it something else? She has NEVER spent more than 2 hrs in the nest box and hasn't gone back in after getting out, has never slept in it. I know she isn't fully broody but all signs pointed to getting there but now the not eating the food but instead just foraging (they are in a run so not a ton to forage for besides any bugs in the ground) has thrown me off.......

I looked at the camera yesterday to see what she did when she came out but didn't watch the whole time. She did pick at the squash I had out there but it was pretty picked over and then I saw her forage then too not really go over to the food but I didn't watch the full 15 min she was out there.

 

[junior67]

Finally saw her eat so feel better. She was off from about 6-930am and is back on now. Guess we see what today brings..

 

[junior67]

If she's still laying then she is not broody. Give her eggs only when she has been on the nest for at least a full day and night. If she will brood where other hens lay, then make sure to mark the original eggs with a pencil, and remove any others that appear.

So once she has Sat for 24 hrs with just a quick break then I can give her eggs?