Choosing a Broody?

[3KillerBs]

My first attempt at letting a broody hatch didn't work -- she didn't graft to the nest when I moved her (in fact, it was the easiest broody breaking I've ever done).

Now I have 2 broodies who have been occupying boxes quite tightly for almost a week. Both 9-month pullets.

Mocha, the Mottled Java, is on her second broody cycle. She defends her nest with great determination -- biting viciously when I try to get eggs.

Black-Yellow (known by her band colors for lack of a name), one of the Blue Australorps, is very dramatic with all the puffing and fluffing, but doesn't bite.

Mocha has been sitting tightly on her golf balls and usually just one or two eggs she manages to get.

Black-Yellow has been a more determined egg collector with up to 6 on a given day.

I think I'd find Black-Yellow easier to manage, but I suspect that Mocha would defend her chicks with the same vigor she defends her eggs.

Any thoughts on how to choose?

Should I move one of them to the maternity ward but leave the other in the boxes in case the first breaks from the move?

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I would attempt to move both, and see how they go. If both do good, I'd go with Mocha, and leave Black-Yellow broody for an emergency backup.

 

[DobieLover]

What does the maternity ward look like?

I'm very partial to my Australorp. She's like yours and is rock steady and an EXCELLENT mother.
I had a nutty biter and I broke her. I had another that went a bit too far and tried to flog my face when I reached in to grab the baby bottle. THAT'S not happening.

I personally think that the ones that aren't nutso about defending the nest from YOU are thinkers and make better mothers and will be easier for you to manage during the incubation. That's my 2 or 3 or 4 cents. I kinda lost track on how many cents I put in...

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

What does the maternity ward look like?

I'm very partial to my Australorp. She's like yours and is rock steady and an EXCELLENT mother.
I had a nutty biter and I broke her. I had another that went a bit too far and tried to flog my face when I reached in to grab the baby bottle. THAT'S not happening.

I personally think that the ones that aren't nutso about defending the nest from YOU are thinkers and make better mothers and will be easier for you to manage during the incubation. That's my 2 or 3 or 4 cents. I kinda lost track on how many cents I put in...

Good point.

 

[3KillerBs]

I would attempt to move both, and see how they go. If both do good, I'd go with Mocha, and leave Black-Yellow broody for an emergency backup.

What does the maternity ward look like?

I've had to replace the plastic mesh with wire, but this is what it looks like.

Just a little shy of 2'x4' -- so room for one broody with her feeder and waterer and enough room to get off the nest and poop.

I'm probably going to put a little scrap wood on the sides of the nest end to make it feel more enclosed before I set it up.

 

[DobieLover]

I've had to replace the plastic mesh with wire, but this is what it looks like.

Just a little shy of 2'x4' -- so room for one broody with her feeder and waterer and enough room to get off the nest and poop.

I'm probably going to put a little scrap wood on the sides of the nest end to make it feel more enclosed before I set it up.

You can also just drape an old bath towel or two over one end and tuck the nest in there. I find that really makes my ward more inviting. In fact, I draped the towel last night and someone went in and collected the three ceramic eggs that had gotten scattered all over in there, tucked them into the corner and made a little nest and laid her egg in there with them.
Once the broody grafts the towel can be entirely or partially moved to improve air flow.

 

[junior67]

My first attempt at letting a broody hatch didn't work -- she didn't graft to the nest when I moved her (in fact, it was the easiest broody breaking I've ever done).

Now I have 2 broodies who have been occupying boxes quite tightly for almost a week. Both 9-month pullets.

Mocha, the Mottled Java, is on her second broody cycle. She defends her nest with great determination -- biting viciously when I try to get eggs.

Black-Yellow (known by her band colors for lack of a name), one of the Blue Australorps, is very dramatic with all the puffing and fluffing, but doesn't bite.

Mocha has been sitting tightly on her golf balls and usually just one or two eggs she manages to get.

Black-Yellow has been a more determined egg collector with up to 6 on a given day.

I think I'd find Black-Yellow easier to manage, but I suspect that Mocha would defend her chicks with the same vigor she defends her eggs.

Any thoughts on how to choose?

Should I move one of them to the maternity ward but leave the other in the boxes in case the first breaks from the move?

I have had 3 broody's over the last 6 weeks.

Ditzy was my first. she hatched 1 egg and 1 hatched in the incubator the same day. She would puff up when I pet her but let me pet her and get any eggs that may have been laid while she was out of the nest or if someone went in with her (think only once or twice this happened the 4-5 weeks she was broody). She defended the chicks more by calling them away and maybe chasing another hen but not really a ton. but enough that the chicks thrived and are now part of the flock at 6 week old (were from very early on but they are 6 weeks old now).


Fajita was next. She would puff up quite a bit and let me pet her and check under her as well. She hatched 1 baby on Friday. She will defend that baby quite a bit by chasing others off. She never went to bite me or anything and let others come in her box. she would bit the older chicks if they went to climb in her box at night but let the other hens climb in to lay the couple times they tried.


Then Nugget who would puff up big time, growl etc. I thought she was going to bite me but she never did. She let the older chicks (they are 10 weeks old now) climb in her box and sleep with her at night. I had to resort to going out and taking them out and putting them on the roost for about a week. She allowed the other hens to sit in her box to lay (again only happened a couple times) she allowed me to check for eggs under her (some laid while she was out). None of her eggs developed so I gave her chicks. OMG NO chicken/chick best go near her chicks!! She will chase, jump, bite etc. if the others chickens get near her chicks. The other day she was outside with hers and Fajita is still at the hang in the coop with hers faze so she was in there. Well Fajita went into a different nest box that the shavings in front of it are lower (I had boosted them up in front of her box) and the baby couldn't jump in it (I saw on my camera) so was peeping and Fajita was calling it and got out and back in once. Then Nugget came FLYING in the door from outside and attacked Fajita because the baby was peeping loudly! So she even attacked Fajita for Fajita's baby crying out!!!! Nugget is fine with me touching her babies though. I mean she will call them away but has never attacked or bitten me or my husband.

that probably doesn't help you but some experience on how my broody's were on eggs and with chicks

 

[3KillerBs]

Both girls have been sitting tightly for a week so I've got the maternity ward set up and will put Black Yellow into it. The idea that I'd like to be able to handle my broody without bleeding is good and she seems to sit more tightly -- getting back into the same box after a break instead of switching boxes.

But I'll hold off on breaking Mocha until I'm sure Black-Yellow (who deserves a name if she's a good broody), is good on her eggs.

 

[3KillerBs]

Black-Yellow didn't graft to the nest in 2 days so I let her out this morning. I'll move Mocha in tonight -- with long sleeves and gloves.

 

[junior67]

Black-Yellow didn't graft to the nest in 2 days so I let her out this morning. I'll move Mocha in tonight -- with long sleeves and gloves.

Good luck!!!