Broody White Jersey giant

[chickenlady08]

I have just discovered on Sunday that one of my WJG is broody. I thought she was hurt Sunday evening when I went to close the coops up and collect the eggs. I reached in to pick her up and she pecked at me aggressively. I remember when I had a RSL go broody last summer that is what she did also. My 1st broody hen had a horrible time with being left alone and when I moved her to her own coop she refused to sit on the eggs. The other hens kept coming in and laying eggs and then crushing the other eggs she was laying on. I had her seperated with hardwire cloth and she had food and water in with her. But the other girls eventually pulled the hardwire cloth down and went back in there with her.

What I need to know is that is I tried to move this new Momma now do you thing that she would keep laying on the eggs where she has just started laying on them?

Please help me do the best and safest thing for her and her eggs.

thanks so much!

 

[lauralou]

They do tend to want to return to their chosen nest. What I usually do is to move them to the broody house as soon as I notice that they are broody. I keep them locked up in there for a few days until they get settled, then I give them eggs to sit on.

Or maybe you are asking if moving her will break her of her broodiness? It never has with any of my hens. For whatever that's worth...

 

[rancher hicks]

This is my advice. If you move your broody do at night, and in the dark. I use a flashlight to see but not to bright. Select a place that is private w/ enough room for her to get up and eat and poop and stretch. I have a kiddie pool and put the nest w/ very deep bedding on the floor as the chicks will need to get in and out easily. In my case it was this past Feb and it was cold so I put a red light pointed at her and the nest but not to close. I have a wooden apple crate laid on it's side so she has some covering over her head. In your case you may want to use an animal crate or make a next box specifically for her since JG's are large birds. Make sure she has food and water but leave her alone. Change the water of course but they like privacy and they seem to zone out. I've had 4 broodies and they are different. Two were very aggressive and protective of the chicks so you may have to wait for her to get off the nest to see what's going on. Don't worry if you don't "see" the chicks for a few days. Don't interfere unless you see trouble. Not all broodies make good mothers. 3 out of 4 did not hatch all the eggs and 2 lost chicks. They are very instinctive more or less, some more, some less. Relax and less her stress.. : )
All the best
Rancher

 

[barred-rocks-rock]

Separate Her but put her close to the coop in another cage. Mark all of her clutch with a pencil or something like that and take out all the new, unmarked eggs.