Broody?

[Birdsong 82]

I think a after 4 or more yrs of chicken mothering I think I have a broody. Fluffed up. Still in nesting box at roosting time and all day. When she got out to eat and another slipped into a box she shoved herself back in the box while the other was still there. Neither was happy about it. But my biggest clue is she let me touch her without freaking and running. She’s always been one of my most skidish girls. When I pets her she get made a low sound and fluffed a little more but stayed right there What do y’all think?

 

[cleoandtheflock]

You have a broody
They sit in the nest box day and night protecting their eggs they screech when you try and touch them and they are all puffed up to keep the eggs warm
They leave the nest box twice a day to eat and drink and do a big smelly broody poop
Which is a giant goose like poop they do because they hold it in all day to not ruin the eggs

Do you have roosters if so are you going to let her sit

 

[Trish1974]

Sounds like you have a broody! I'm jealous! I can never get one when I want one...

 

[Anime2lover]

View attachment 1753914 I think a after 4 or more yrs of chicken mothering I think I have a broody. Fluffed up. Still in nesting box at roosting time and all day. When she got out to eat and another slipped into a box she shoved herself back in the box while the other was still there. Neither was happy about it. But my biggest clue is she let me touch her without freaking and running. She’s always been one of my most skidish girls. When I pets her she get made a low sound and fluffed a little more but stayed right there What do y’all think?

I currently have two broodies nesting. They are acting the same.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Have a beautiful rooster with a awesome attitude. My husband says no but I would like to. Worried about ending up with another rooster as mine refuses to share (he has plenty). I would have a home for 2 but I’m not sure how all this works

 

[sourland]

She's broody.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Sounds like you have a broody! I'm jealous! I can never get one when I want one...

I’ve aways kinda did want one and didn’t. My 14 that are laying use only 2 of the boxes we have and she’s taking over one. So everyone is all in a fuss. Kinda like having 14 sisters and one bathroom

 

[Birdsong 82]

Anything I need to do for her? Or just let her do her thing?

 

[Shadrach]

Anything I need to do for her? Or just let her do her thing?

First, how many eggs is she sitting on?
Are the eggs fertile, as in do you have a rooster?
If you need to touch her, keep your hands low, well below head height. You should be able to slip your hand underneath her without too much drama.
How many new additions can you cope with? That will give you the maximum number of eggs you allow her to sit on.
The hen should get off her nest and preferably away from the nest to eat, poop, drink and very important, dust bath. Some hens will do this automatically, others need some encouragement or need to be lifted off the nest and carried to a place where you feed them etc.
A warning. The poop from a sitting hen is one of the most foul smelling things on this planet. Keep an eye on the poop. It can give you an idea if the hen is getting enough to eat.
When the hens here leave the nest, the usual routine is eat a bit, poop one massive pile, drink and eat a bit more, go for a bath and a chat with their mates and then come back and eat some more. A healthy sitting hen will eat about two thirds of what they would normally eat when producing eggs. So, weight your hen now. Ideally you do not want her to lose weight while sitting. If she won't eat enough when she leaves the nest then put food in with her. If her nest is secure from rats in particular you can leave the food with her 24/7. if not, i take it away at night.
I try extremely hard not to touch the egg! The hen knows which way up and at what temperature they should be. She's better than any incubator as long as you don't interfere.

 

[Birdsong 82]

First, how many eggs is she sitting on?
Are the eggs fertile, as in do you have a rooster?
If you need to touch her, keep your hands low, well below head height. You should be able to slip your hand underneath her without too much drama.
How many new additions can you cope with? That will give you the maximum number of eggs you allow her to sit on.
The hen should get off her nest and preferably away from the nest to eat, poop, drink and very important, dust bath. Some hens will do this automatically, others need some encouragement or need to be lifted off the nest and carried to a place where you feed them etc.
A warning. The poop from a sitting hen is one of the most foul smelling things on this planet. Keep an eye on the poop. It can give you an idea if the hen is getting enough to eat.
When the hens here leave the nest, the usual routine is eat a bit, poop one massive pile, drink and eat a bit more, go for a bath and a chat with their mates and then come back and eat some more. A healthy sitting hen will eat about two thirds of what they would normally eat when producing eggs. So, weight your hen now. Ideally you do not want her to lose weight while sitting. If she won't eat enough when she leaves the nest then put food in with her. If her nest is secure from rats in particular you can leave the food with her 24/7. if not, i take it away at night.
I try extremely hard not to touch the egg! The hen knows which way up and at what temperature they should be. She's better than any incubator as long as you don't interfere.

She is eating and drinking and taking a quick dust bath a couple times a day but right back at it. Every time she leaves another hen jumps in her box There was 9 under her! I had to take 4 cause that’s 2 many ( we just got 10 pullets a month ago). It didn’t seem to affect her though