I have an Isa Brown who has been sitting on the only nest that the feathered clan will lay in for about two weeks now.
Other than when Ethyl or Lucy -- the two big Delawares that use their size to get their way with the other hens -- push her out of the preferred nest, this little girl has sat in the nest 24/7. She forces the other hens to lay with her in the nest. She spreads herself out flat like broodies do, and she fusses just like a broody when you rummage underneath her bottom to steal the eggs.
So we figured to quit fighting it, and bring her inside so that she could sit on some eggs in peace, and the other hens could get their favorite laying nest back.
I set her up a really nice nest inside a dog cage in the back bedroom. I put water and food in there, and a nest just like the one she's been sitting in 24/7 outside. The nest has 8 nice eggs that she can sit on and hatch.
Then I brought her in this afternoon.
And where is she as I write this?
Perched on the rim of the nest, bottom up in the air. Her bottom is no where near that nice collection of eggs we gave her.
What gives?
She's been dogged determined to brood -- up until the time of the move.
Other than when Ethyl or Lucy -- the two big Delawares that use their size to get their way with the other hens -- push her out of the preferred nest, this little girl has sat in the nest 24/7. She forces the other hens to lay with her in the nest. She spreads herself out flat like broodies do, and she fusses just like a broody when you rummage underneath her bottom to steal the eggs.
So we figured to quit fighting it, and bring her inside so that she could sit on some eggs in peace, and the other hens could get their favorite laying nest back.
I set her up a really nice nest inside a dog cage in the back bedroom. I put water and food in there, and a nest just like the one she's been sitting in 24/7 outside. The nest has 8 nice eggs that she can sit on and hatch.
Then I brought her in this afternoon.
And where is she as I write this?
Perched on the rim of the nest, bottom up in the air. Her bottom is no where near that nice collection of eggs we gave her.
What gives?
She's been dogged determined to brood -- up until the time of the move.