Broody??

[Mom2Munchkins]

A few weeks ago, I had some chickens given to me, and they just free range and usually go back to the duck pen to sleep at night. I would usually randomly find eggs here and there but I figured they were just hiding them from me. Well yesterday my two year old found a nest in an overgrown flowerbox right in front of the house next to the drieway! I was shocked. Anyway, no one was on the nest or anything, so I grabbed 10 of the eggs, and left one, so that maybe whoever was laying there would keep doing it. I threw the eggs in the incubator and went out this morning to see if there was a new egg in there, and a hen has been sitting there all morning. What's goin on here. Maybe she has been sitting on those other eggs awhile? We had some heavy heavy rain Sunday, so maybe when we had all the rain she got off the eggs? Hmmm, I am just curious here, I can't see her staying on those eggs with no roof over her. I have never had a broody chicken.

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

Well, now she's off the nest, so nevermind I guess LOL

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

Broodies leave their nests once or twice a day, of course, to get a quick bite, drink, and poop. After that, they return to their nests. Perhaps what you have is a hen just experimenting. Although, I do have some hens that will act broody for a few hours then randomly get off the nest. Why? I'm not sure. Some birds are just weird like that.

Do you know what breed your broody-in-question is? Some breeds are more prone to 'unlocking' that mothering instinct than others.

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

She is just a black hen, mutt probably. But she is a smaller breed, the eggs are a bantam size.

 

[pgpoultry]

It seems to me that some hens will do the "Shall I be broody or shan't I?"for a few weeks sitting eggs or just sitting for hours then leaving before becoming definitely broody. Wait until they sit all night before giving fertile eggs for her to hatch (Assuming you WANT chicks!)

Sandie

 

[Mom2Munchkins]

Thanks! I just can't see her staying there... There's no roof over her, and the kids run by 500 times a day, just not a peaceful place. LOL

I had some cat carriers in the barn so I went and got them and put shavings and a marked egg in them and put them alongside the duck pen, so maybe they'd lay in there and quit hiding their eggs, but today is day 2, and still no action in there. LOL