Broody Violet wants to be a mama... in DECEMBER!

[rungirl]

This is Broody Violet... I have never hatched out eggs before but she's been determined for over 3 weeks now. I'm thinking about giving in and getting her some eggs, but I'm not sure about doing it in December... in Ohio! She's a BO, but I think I'd rather have more EEs or maybe even some real Ameracaunas or Marans. (I love color!) I don't even know where I'd get the eggs. I don't know any breeders. Where should I start? My plan is to put a dog kennel out in the coop with a cozy nest box and see if she'll sit on it with a fake egg first. Then slip the real thing under her and let her try. I could add a brooder light for extra warmth later if necessary. What do you think? Any ideas on where to find some nice fertile colorful eggs?

Lisa

 

[Chickie15]

Well for eggs, I'd look locally because of the cold. Try searching on BYC for breeders. Your hen is gorgeous though!!

I hope you find some eggs for her soon! Merry Christmas!

 

[Silkie-Feet]

LET HER HATCH SOME EGGS. i have a hen due to hatch a clutch of 11 eggs thursday. my chickens know how to give me a christmas present. i have a heat lamp on mine though. since im in Ky, that last snow was a breeze for my broody.

 

[Judy]

No heat for mine. I haven't seen the babies under mama during the day since they were a week old, and it's not unusual for me to watch for an hour. We had a cold snap with highs in 40's and lows in teens with wind chills in single digits, and I have a very airy coop. Even with the north door covered in plastic there is lots of breeze in there. I had another broody raise chicks one winter that was colder than this. I wouldn't be at all afraid to let a broody hatch in an Ohio winter.

Now if you can just find some eggs....

 

[vtgirls]

I am letting my broody buff bantam cochin set on 7 eggs right now - 6 belong to the big hens and just one is hers. She gets out of the nest box in the coop ONLY if another hen climbs on top of her to lay. We tried moving her with eggs and she wouldnt set for days, as soon as we returned her to the coop she went right back to broody. We decided to hold up a few eggs and put them under her - so now she is due on New Years Day. I think I might have chicksickles if I left her in our litle coop so once they hatch I will move them to a temporary home with a heat lamp at one end.
My biggest concern is this:
When eggs are in an incubator you are supposed to go on "lock down" for 3 days. Should I put something in front of her box for the last 3 days so the other hens don't come in to lay and disturb her eggs?
I am also concerned that the chicks might fall from the nest box and freeze before we find them - obviously I intend to check her regularly that whole day but cant stay out there the whole time - nervous new chicken mama (me!) wants it all to work out - 3 little boys are earnestly hoping for Butter's Babies!

 

[happymorrows]

My broody buff just hatched 2 eggs and has one more to go! We'll see how the little ones do though. They should do well since Mama is pretty committed to them!

 

[rancher hicks]

She looks so determined, let her go.

I got an EE and she's not in a heated coop and I'll be surprised if she hatches anything. I've got some eggs in the bator but don't know that I want her to have them, if she will. I'll pull her when it's time and if there's nothing there then move her to another place so she'll hopefully give up.

hate wasting a month on her though.

Rancher