Can a 6 month Buff Oprington be broody?

[Ridgerunner]

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They certainly have that reputation. Do you have experience in how many eggs Mom2Cool could put under a 6 month old broody Buff Orp?

 

[Mom2Cool]

Ridgerunner no you hadn't made yourself out to sound like a critic & actually I think it's I who is just not articulating myself very well here. LOL I think I was sleepy with my last few postings last night....


What I really was meaning to say is that within that article it was *they* who contradicted themselves with in one paragraph they're saying the chicks are with the flock from day one & then later she says that she separates the hen from the rest of the flock.

I'd really wanted to allow her to just be left be but I'm just a bit worried that our coop is to small. If I thought I could wall off a section for her I would do that & frankly it would be easier than setting up the old & right now open coop that I have to move her to. hmmmm now I thinking maybe some netting? I'll have to run this by hubby... Anyway it was I that was not sounding right not you.

And I don't mind saying the girl as far as I can see has *still not left that cubby.....

this would now be day 3 . I wished I would have thought of this netting idea earlier because I just received my first group of eggs in the mail today. I'd planned on using 2 different incubators originally & I have like 42 eggs coming all together because well 50% hatching rate with shipped eggs then I'm a novice etc.

Ok off to figure this all out. & now I'd just received them in the mail & so they're suppose to be "fresh" so I should be able to let them come down to temp with the ccouple I'd brought in this morning & so how long can I allow them to sit? I know I have to turn them from the start....

 

[Mom2Cool]

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They're normally cute birds but with a group of chicks behind them I imagine it being a special sight. I'm starting to seriously consider just netting off a small corner of the coop. This way she's still in with the flock & yet separate. I would hope this way she'd have some protection & yet they'll still be in with the flock & so I'd think it would be easier to re-introduce them. Is this a realistic thought or will this turn ugly? I'd love the opinion of people with some Buff Orpingtons. I do have that 1 black Austrolorp in there too & at the start when I introduced the BO's she was a bit of a beotch. they've all basically accepted each other now but again I'd just love some thoughts here. The next group of eggs aren't going to arrive I know until next Monday so I have time to figure it all out now over the weekend.

 

[Mom2Cool]

Ok so it's been not quiet a week from the day that little pullet/hen started sitting on that nest & the rest of them all seem to just leave her be. I do think I'm just going to try leaving well enough alone & leave her in that nest.

Now I know this is really a question for the "egg hatching" section but I'd started here & so I'll ask just 1 or 2 more here if you all don't mind.

I'd gotten eggs the other day in the mail & so I didn't feel I was set up with her yet & I'd put them in the incubator, can I switch them out from the incubator to under her? I do have some eggs coming this week but I don't know if I'll get them tomorrow or Tuesday etc & so I thought maybe I should just use the ones from the bator that technically should already have a start on the others. Or should I just start fresh with the ones coming? BTW mailed eggs are enough to give a person high blood pressure worrying if they're gonna shake em up or crush them.... Anyway the next question is about how many eggs can I slip under the little darling?? Maybe like 8 to 10 eggs, is that an ok number? Ridgerunner how many eggs did your hens use to sit on? Oh & you say that I should be doing all the slipping of new eggs under her at night?

Today was the first time I'd seen her come off the nest really & she did give herself a real nice break, but then went back to it. I would like to know what you think and I thank you for the advice I really do appreciate it.

 

[camalianus]

It depends of the size of the hen. 12 will be an average # for an orp. I remember my grandma putting 18 or 20 under a big and proven good broddy and mother hens. If you have had the eggs in the incubator you might candle them and put under your hen the one that are developing.

 

[Ridgerunner]

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I agree. As she is a 6 month old and it is her first time, I'd put a few less than the maximum under her for her to hatch. But as soon as the hatch is over, I'd give her a few extra chicks to raise, slipping them under her the first night the incubator chicks are dry. I just think she'll do a better job than a person.

I'm sure you know this, but don't let the eggs cool off too much when you are taking them from the incubator to the hen. If you candle, you might candle them, mark the ones you select and put them back in the incubator to stay warm. Then, when you are ready for the switch, take them straight from the incubator to the broody.

You don't absolutely have to candle, but it is a good idea. I'll put a link here, but you can get good info by doing a search for candling. This link is to the learning center with this site.

I've never candled as I have yet to hatch chickens in this modern age. I will next year if I get a broody hen. For you, the eggs will have just started developing and it could be difficult to tell which are developing. If you do candle, don't toss any you are not sure of and try to select the best to put under the broody. The best means not only the ones you are pretty sure are developing but the ones that so not show any shell weaknesses, such as lines that could be cracks.

I'd want to get the eggs under the hen as soon as possible. She is much less likely to lose electricity, overheat, or cool down than an incubator. And do make the switch at night.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-candling.html