Broody... what to do??????

[momofdrew]

Ok this weekend I thought my Minny was going broody she had laid an egg and refused to move Hermione sat with her...someone suggested I move Minny and egg and put her where she wouldnt be bothered...which I did and she freaked and stopped sitting... abandoning the egg...

now 4 days later she is doing it again...this time there are 2 eggs under her and Hemoine is cuddled up next to her...They share nests on occation...If I go near Minny makes nasty mean noises this time

like I should totally leave her alone...what is a mother to do????

I need help here everything I read about incubation is by machine where can I find info by bird??? do I need to candle the eggs or leave her go to it I know she will provide the right heat and humidity and will rotate the eggs...do I just leave her out in the coop and hope for the best... We have 4 birds 1 roo and 3 hens...Minny's nest is right by the door where I collect the eggs...I am afraid my going into the coop will disturb her...but I dont want her to freak out again...

 

[Chicken Woman]

I had the same issue and moved my broody to a x large dog kennel and put in the garage where it is warmer.
Sometimes when chicks hatch the other hens will eat them. That has happened to a friend of mine.
Her kennel is big enough to have a nesting box and her food and water.

 

[momofdrew]

should I give her a day or so I dont want her to abandon the eggs this time...I have a xl kennel too but my barn is colder than her coop I would have to put her up in the house here in the room with the puta...would that disturb her too much???

 

[Chicken Woman]

Has she lost any tummy feathers ? Somtimes they will and that might help you to know. I don't know that my hen will stay with them to hatch them but thought I would give her a chance.
Is there room for the kennel in the coop ?

 

[momofdrew]

no room... coop is 4'x3' and the run is 4'x 10'

 

[swtangel321]

IMO, I'd mark the eggs she sitting on with a pencil and leave her alone !!!

I would candle around day 10-12 to make sure the eggs are good, wouldnt want anything exploding under her, EWWW !!

 

[L*A*G*]

i agree.
Quote:

 

[Mom 2em All]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am eavesdropping on this thread.
I have a 6' X 3' coop and I have one broody in there on eggs, and another broody behind a board in the chicken yard. I have not really figured out a way to seperate them from the nonbroodies, and dont know what to do either.

The weather is about to turn extremely cold and even nastier than it is now.

Can I seperate the two broodies and keep them together? It would require them to both be moved, and I would possibly have to even bring them inside to give them their own area.

 

[Chicken Woman]

It's also tuned very cold here in Montana in fact a 20 degree drop in one day. I am moving my broody into my laundry room this morning as it will continue to be very cold for at least a week.

My DH won't be very happy as I already have 7 in a brooder box that are 8 days old in there. He thinks my coop is coming into the house which is kind of true !

Not sure what else to do ?

 

[momofdrew]

Minny now has 4 eggs under her she growls at me if I put my hand in there...I was able to mark the eggs...our temps are hovering around 20 with a windchill in the single numbers and the sun is out... SHould I try to bring her in or leave her alone???? she seems fine... the other birds are free ranging through the snow...It seems they have moved a lot of the shavings around to build up around her... is that unusual??? she is on the shavings on the floor with about 4-5 inches of shavings under her...they build their own nests and dont use the ones I built for laying eggs I am just rambling here I guess I am nervous about having babies...