Picking up eggs is always a better option than having them shipped, hands down, no question, period! I'll do without if I can't find what I want within reasonable driving distance. Drove 3.5 hours, one way, for a rooster a couple years back.Hello all! I have a question and I'm hoping this is the right thread for it. I have a year old Brahma hen that may be going broody. I've had chickens for two years now and never had one go broody before, so I'm not completely sure she is. Last night, instead of roosting, she sat in the nesting box with three eggs tucked under her (not all hers). When my SO pulled two eggs out and sat them in front of her, she immediately tucked them back in, then started picking at her feathers on her underside. Probably too early to tell, but I've never had a chicken act like that before. I've had a couple ducks go broody and hatch eggs, but I don't know how differently their behavior is from a broody hen.
Which brings me to my question. Has anyone had any luck with slipping shipped hatching eggs under a broody hen? I don't have any roosters, so their eggs aren't fertile. If she does go broody, I'd like to give her some fertilized eggs to hatch. I've looked around and nobody nearby has fertilized eggs for sale. The closest hatchery, Meyer, is about and hour and a half away (I'm in NW Ohio). If I ordered eggs from them, I could go pick them up rather than have them shipped. I'm guessing that would be a better option than shipping eggs for a broody hen?
I'm probably jumping the gun, but I'm just curious
As for your hen, it sure sounds to me like she's ready to set, particularly if she's normally docile & easy to handle, then starts pecking at you if you try to take eggs from under her. Last broody I had drew blood; had to wear heavy leather work gloves.
