- May 10, 2015
- 25
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- 107
Rather as the title - my first time with a broody, and I am at a loss as to what to do.
She went broody maybe five weeks ago - I did not recognise it as first (dull me!) but then did, so we got her fertile eggs, which she sat on, in a separate coop/nestbox. Well, not that simple. We put 6 under - by day 3 only five were visible - she ate it?? Then last weekend she had a fright from a lot of loud noise next to the coop/nestbox, and the next day I found two eggs pushed out of the nest, one empty, the other cracked open with a small chick inside - but obviously not going to survive. By the afternoon, another two had been thrown out. So she was down to one. Then, this morning, that one was outside as well, empty shell with just some yolk on it - so presumably eaten it.
So now we have her still 'dob,dob, dob' ing around, going into the normal nestbox and sitting there, swearing at us when we move her - because she has nothing to hatch! She is spending time out, so not as broody as she was, but still goes back within half an hour maybe, so it is still there.
Any advice on what to do? Hubby says tough, she'll get over it. She has now been broody for five weeks or so, so I am worried that she will just quit - but I am wondering whether it is worth getting another batch of eggs for her. I am also worried that she is going to push out the others to sit on their eggs, and maybe eat them!
Confused - help, please!
She went broody maybe five weeks ago - I did not recognise it as first (dull me!) but then did, so we got her fertile eggs, which she sat on, in a separate coop/nestbox. Well, not that simple. We put 6 under - by day 3 only five were visible - she ate it?? Then last weekend she had a fright from a lot of loud noise next to the coop/nestbox, and the next day I found two eggs pushed out of the nest, one empty, the other cracked open with a small chick inside - but obviously not going to survive. By the afternoon, another two had been thrown out. So she was down to one. Then, this morning, that one was outside as well, empty shell with just some yolk on it - so presumably eaten it.
So now we have her still 'dob,dob, dob' ing around, going into the normal nestbox and sitting there, swearing at us when we move her - because she has nothing to hatch! She is spending time out, so not as broody as she was, but still goes back within half an hour maybe, so it is still there.
Any advice on what to do? Hubby says tough, she'll get over it. She has now been broody for five weeks or so, so I am worried that she will just quit - but I am wondering whether it is worth getting another batch of eggs for her. I am also worried that she is going to push out the others to sit on their eggs, and maybe eat them!
Confused - help, please!
