Broody Pullet(s)

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Guess a lot of people are going through this =p
(This isn't currently a "concern".)

So I have a flock of 14 (1 cockerel, 13 pullets) that are 6 months, going on 7.
*edit... they're almost 6 months. I keep mixing up the ages.

My Austra White went broody. I gave her 8 eggs, and she's been doing well. She has a designated time she takes breaks for herself, so I'm just letting her be and watching. (She first went broody about 7 days ago, and I gave her eggs about 5 days ago. *all eggs are marked and no additions to the clutch.)

Well, turns out my Splash Ameraucana just went broody today... (I moved her to the roost. Really needed to think about what to do. Was not expecting her to be there.)

I know I'm not the only person who's thought of this, but I realized I could try and split the current clutch between 2 nest boxes. Then I'm not adding in more eggs that might hatch, they should all hatch about the same time, and the second pullet will have a few days head start (fewer days on the nest.)

I'll have to think on it, but there's a possibility I'll do that tomorrow if timing lines up...

 

[Debbie292d]

Good thinking! I only incubate eggs now, but when I used to let the hens hatch, I'd put X's on the ends of the eggs so I could easily see when another hen laid in the nest and pull it.

 

[fluffycrow]

Sounds like a great plan! No one can say for sure what will happen, but a hatching period of about 16 days is unlikely to make the second pullet reject her chicks.

Seeing as they’re only young pullets, it’s nice to have a backup in case one doesn’t take to brooding and mothering immediately. I’ve personally had great success with pullets, but some have not. So far, it sounds like your girls are doing great.

Once again, no one can say for sure, but it’s possible that the girls will try to co-raise their broods, especially if they’ve hatched around the same time; co-brooding/mothering is very popular with the bantam hens and pullets here. The hens seem to love it, and the chicks get double of everything!

Don’t let looks deceive you, the primary caregiver is not the hen covered in chicks

Debbie is right to point out marking the eggs. Staggered hatches are quite the mess, and hard on all parties included. Best of luck!

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Sure would be nice if they shared responsibilities, for sure!

In the past, we've had rabbits who split parenting, and muscovy ducks who eventually split parenting.

Once again, no one can say for sure, but it’s possible that the girls will try to co-raise their broods, especially if they’ve hatched around the same time; co-brooding/mothering is very popular with the bantam hens and pullets here.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Good thinking! I only incubate eggs now, but when I used to let the hens hatch, I'd put X's on the ends of the eggs so I could easily see when another hen laid in the nest and pull it.

I put pencil marks on the ones I gave the pullet. Actually, I put initials of which hen I thought they were from. ("1 of each breed" type of flock. Fortunately their eggs are different enough that I can tell who has what most of the time.)

I'd like to incubate some eggs (my mom is like an expert), but that'll likely be for if I hatch shipped eggs, or can't have the chicks in contact with the flock. Or, if nobody goes broody.

*edited to fix typo/autocorrect

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Picture of the eggs (picture is two days old)
I take pictures if she's away from the nest and I happen to be there. They've all been moved around, so seems she's doing her best to care for them all.

(She did have more feathers in the nest. But I added extra shavings, before I added the eggs, and forgot to move the feathers to the top...)

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Moved 3 eggs over to the broody Ameraucana.
There were no eggs under her, she's been keeping that nest to herself. But she did take a break to free range earlier.

The Austra White consistently takes her break in the afternoon to have a dust bath party with the flock, so I was able to steal some eggs.

Blurry picture of the 5 she has left.

All Eggs- day 6

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Ameraucana took a break from the nest (gave her the eggs yesterday, I think this is her first time leaving the eggs?), so got a picture.
Happened to be there when she went back to... the wrong nest. So moved her over.
(I do have ceramic nests eggs in that box. I guess I'll have to remove them?)

She's very peck-y.

All eggs- day 7

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Not much of an update.
My nest boxes had 1 ceramic nest egg per box. When a broody pullet picked a box, I removed the ceramic egg and moved it to another box.

Well, the Ameraucana went into a wrong box for the second time that I've seen. Both times, it was a box that had 2 ceramic eggs.

So I removed all the ceramic eggs. Planning to try and clean them and store them for now.

The Austra White consistently goes back to her chosen nest. Maybe it's just that the box she picked is the easiest to remember? So far, she's a great setter.

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Eggs day 13

I had removed the ceramic nest eggs last week because the broody Ameraucana kept going to those boxes.
Well, didn't collect eggs in time today and found her on a nest that had 1 real egg.
I was able to remove her from the incorrect box and put her in front of the correct one to choose to go in.
I don't have high hopes for the eggs she's in charge of just because I can't predict when she'll choose the wrong nest. But maybe she'll be a really good caretaker, just a poor setter?

The broody Austra White is doing great still. I've never seen her on an incorrect nest.