Broody hen in fall

[MarlaMac]

Hello Everyone.

One of my Black Australorps has gone broody again. She hatched eggs 17 weeks ago and I now have 2 beautiful girls added to my flock. Now, she is back on the nest and I have given her 6 eggs to sit on. Praying for girls, but it I get boys, I will hopefully find new homes for them.

A couple of questions.

1. I haven't seen her get off the nest to poo yet. Maybe she has, but I haven't seen it. She will eat the little things I bring her - poached eggs and oatmeal are her favorites. I leave water and feed next to her during the day so she has access to food.

Should I worry about her soiling the nest? Should I remove her to check on things daily, every other day? This is only day 3 of her sitting.

2. If I do have boys what are the chances of raising them in my flock? Will my current rooster harm/kill them? I currently have 8 hens/pullets and one rooster. All Black Australorps.

On a side note, I was hoping to incorporate some blues into my flock this fall, but that may be on hold with this gal going broody again. I think I have plenty of roosting space, so I may still do it, but my husband already thinks me crazy. The flock free ranges all day and returns to the coop/run only to sleep.

Edit: meant to state that it has been between 40-50 degrees here during the day and drops to 29-32 degrees overnight. I know she won't want to be off nest for long, but I don't think it would be healthy for her to poo in the nest either.

 

[Uwish]

Omg when my girl went broody she sat on those eggs sometimes for a few days and I never saw her get off (FYI she was in the house with me) so pretty sure i would have seen her get off. When she finally did she would poop BIG poops so I wouldn’t worry about that. But I’m no expert. She did great and is an incredible mom

 

[FC16]

How many are in your flock? I’ve read that if you have quite a big flock then more than 1 rooster can work, although they probably will fight sometimes but if they’re free ranging it might be okay.

 

[igorsMistress]

1. She gets off the nest even if you don’t see her do it. It’s typically not for long and if the weather is cool she doesn’t have time to languish. Unless you see her becoming thin then just leave her alone. She knows what to do by the sound of it.

2. You can successfully raise young cockerels in your flock. Mama will take care and protect them at first. However when they’re old enough their dad will put them in their place, or vice versa so you definitely need to have a plan for them if it doesn’t work out. Typically each roo would need his own coop and girls, and you’ll need plenty of room for them to spread out. My son has two roosters, father and son, on an acre of land and they’re doing fine, but they can stay out of sight, out of mind for the most part.

 

[MarlaMac]

How many are in your flock? I’ve read that if you have quite a big flock then more than 1 rooster can work, although they probably will fight sometimes but if they’re free ranging it might be okay.

Right now, our flock is only 1 rooster and 8 hens/pullets. I am thinking about adding some blues into our flock so possible up to 4 blues plus whatever hatches from our broody momma - so possibly 12 plus another 2-4 pullets unless I am extremely unlucky and get mostly males.

They do free range ALL day. The have access to our entire 60 acres although the spend their time back and forth on about 2 of those acres. Their typical day is out of the coop at sunrise, eat/drink a little in the run then off to the trees/bushes over by the house. By sunset they are in the run and by last light in the coop. Right now they use about 1/2 of the roosting space. We will be adding an open air extension to the coop late spring which will basically double our space.

I hope, if I do get some cockerels, that I can give them away. My "plan" was to keep a blue cockerel after adding blues to the flock. I find it hysterical that, like every other of my well planned out scenarios, even the chickens through a wrench or two into them.

I would love to not have to add a separate coop/run for a new "flock". Really just want one flock.

Thanks for your input.

 

[MarlaMac]

1. She gets off the nest even if you don’t see her do it. It’s typically not for long and if the weather is cool she doesn’t have time to languish. Unless you see her becoming thin then just leave her alone. She knows what to do by the sound of it.

2. You can successfully raise young cockerels in your flock. Mama will take care and protect them at first. However when they’re old enough their dad will put them in their place, or vice versa so you definitely need to have a plan for them if it doesn’t work out. Typically each roo would need his own coop and girls, and you’ll need plenty of room for them to spread out. My son has two roosters, father and son, on an acre of land and they’re doing fine, but they can stay out of sight, out of mind for the most part.

Thanks for your reply. I was hoping I could keep them all together, but I realize that may not be safe for either of them. We do have lots of room for them to roam, but I am sure I don't have enough hens/pullets for two separate flocks, nor do I desire two separate flocks.

I guess we will cross that path when we get there.