Broody Hen

[gummylick]

I noticed one of my hens stays in the cubby side of the quail hotel, where all the ladies lay the eggs and I usually scare her off to collect eggs. I've never had poultry before so I didn't put 2+2 together until yesterday. I checked and sure enough, she'd gathered 3 of the eggs and was sitting. I collected because I was still a bit shocked, but I think I wanna see what happens.

I checked today and she's already got one she's sitting on. I am considering leaving her with today's eggs and seeing what happens. Would I just pick up tomorrow's eggs and clean around her as normal?

 

[sourland]

Mark the eggs you want her to incubate, and remove any that are added to the nest.

 

[gummylick]

Can I let her sit on tomorrow's too? Is there a food starting number? A max? She's standard size Italian.

She has a bestie that hangs out in there with her alot, hopefully it goes well.

 

[Nabiki]

Can I let her sit on tomorrow's too? Is there a food starting number? A max? She's standard size Italian.

She has a bestie that hangs out in there with her alot, hopefully it goes well.

I wouldn't let her have more than 6-8. She won't be able to cover them well otherwise, and she will try.

 

[Susan Skylark]

Can you physically separate her from the other birds too, if you get babies they might get aggressive!

 

[gummylick]

Can you physically separate her from the other birds too, if you get babies they might get aggressive!

Looking into possible outside separate living area - small prefab hutch/coop or something for temporary housing. I do have a brooder in garage I can move her and the chicks into, though.

This is how it starts, isn't it? I swore my quail hotel was gonna be enough.

 

[gummylick]

Follow up video of the missus: