Broody

[micstrachan]

So Cashew is only my second broody. Strange behavior indeed! I’m considering getting her a couple chicks. Or putting a fan on her. LOL I had to put her on the roost after dark, otherwise she wouldn’t stay there. She wanted to sleep in the corner of the coop floor sitting on... nothing but bedding. Apparently she thinks she can hatch chicks out of thin air!

I had taken her from her spot and walked her across the yard. She was in a hurry to get back. Too cute! But she’s getting thin...

 

[cavemanrich]

Do you have fertile eggs that you can give her? I think having chickens hatch out chicks is the BEST.
They then raise and protect them. This way,,,,,,,, less work for assimilation into flock.

 

[micstrachan]

No fertile eggs here. Not sure I can chance a rooster, either. But my local feed store has salmon faverolles and ameraucanas (among other breeds) chicks available tomorrow! They were on my “some day” list.

 

[micstrachan]

Oooh, and black copper marans! My brooder became a bunny cage, so I’d need to figure something out. And shouldn’t I move her a couple days before getting the chicks if I do this?

 

[cavemanrich]

I'm not an expert on raising chicks,,,, But do consider myself kind of good on trickery
I would let broody sit on unfertile eggs, and when you are ready, switch out eggs with baby chicks. I would do it in the darkness of the night. In the morning,,,, broody happy as a LARK

 

[micstrachan]

Yes, that is what I’m thinking. But I’m not putting tiny chicks in the main coop with her; I’ll have to move her. Thinking of setting up a brooder of sorts in the house and seeing if she’ll sit on eggs there. If so, I think she might need to be rewarded with chicks.

 

[micstrachan]

I just put four chicks under Cashew. She seemed to accept them. I’ll check again before I go to sleep. They’re all on the floor of the main coop underneath Cashew. I’ll be sure to be there when the big girls get up in the morning and move Cashew and crew into the little cage I have set up in the coop. I tried moving Cashew and eggs into the cage beforehand, but it was a no go. She was very upset and wanted out. I hope when she realizes she’s a mom the move into cage goes ok.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, and feed store was already out of the Marans and Ameraucanas. Got Salmon Faverolle, California White, Buckeye and Barred Rock. Barred Rock seems a little darker than other Barred Rocks and white patch on top of head is teeny tiny.

 

[cavemanrich]

Stuff goes fast,,,, Will they get more of your desired soon? (Marans and Ameraucanas)

Barred Rocks and white patch on top of head is teeny tiny.

I'm not totally sure,,,, but a white spot on the head is a Determining Sex Link for MALE...
But I'm also not sure which breed of chickens at this moment.

 

[BlueBaby]

A broody will even sit on fake egg's, and they won't go rotten.