Broody or not ???

[RoosterML]

Looks like a false alarm. Went in this morning and an egg in the nesting box and she was out and about. Poor girl was just trying to do her job and here I am taking her out of the nest box .
She must of went back onto the roost well after dark as I did not find any poop in the box. All I can say is oops, even with it not being the optimal time of year I was kinda excited.

 

[aart]

Looks like a false alarm. Went in this morning and an egg in the nesting box and she was out and about. Poor girl was just trying to do her job and here I am taking her out of the nest box .
She must of went back onto the roost well after dark as I did not find any poop in the box. All I can say is oops, even with it not being the optimal time of year I was kinda excited.

Ehhh.....you're not the first. I still do it on occasion, I always feel a bit bad too.
It's even worse when as you're carrying the bird to the roost and she drops the egg on the floor.

 

[RoosterML]

It's even worse when as you're carrying the bird to the roost and she drops the egg on the floor.

That's just wrong, I'm sending this post to the chicken Police.

 

[tcfoster]

Well glad it was a false alarm! Now you'll know what to look for next time though Happy New Year!

 

[RoosterML]

Well I do have a Broody now!! My Buff Orpington. Two eggs under her and when I went to move her she did the growling and pecking. She is fluffed out nicely. Should I let her go or what?? Kinda eggcited!! I think I will just leave her with her flock mates. Go figure my Incubator is set to hatch the 21st and now this will put her hatch around the 27th.

 

[aart]

Should I let her go or what?? Kinda eggcited!! I think I will just leave her with her flock mates. Go figure my Incubator is set to hatch the 21st and now this will put her hatch around the 27th.

Exciting to have your first broody....but...with the bator chicks could be a difficult integration. I'd suggest you have 2 separate areas one for the broody and one for bator chicks. Think ahead.

I'd keep taking the eggs from under her....

Two eggs under her and when I went to move her she did the growling and pecking.

Most birds will do this.

.....until you see these signs...

Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, doesn't she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck sound on her way back to the nest?
If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

 

[RoosterML]

@aart she did spend the night last night in the nesting box. I just figured she had to lay an egg.
Why take the eggs from under her? Is that just a way you let the broody right it out without hatching?

 

[chickens really]

I'd let her hatch and raise them. I'd block her off so no one else keeps adding to the nest though.

 

[chickens really]

Or you could take the incubator eggs and give her those. Less work for you..

 

[RoosterML]

Or you could take the incubator eggs and give her those. Less work for you..

3 of the eggs in the incubator are hers!! Good idea something to think about.