Encouraging a Broody-ish 7mo old BO

[bobbi-j]

I had a hen stay out of the coop last night... I suspect possibly on top of hay stack ? And then showed up this am... Would this be broody behavior ? Also I have bantums and Americannas hens was hust given 2silky roos that look to be teen agers...
At what age can roos breed ? And will they breed hens not of there breed ?

I would not count a hen as broody until she has been consistently on the nest for at least three days and nights in a row. Most hens will not go broody or hatch on the late fall to winter, but they don't always follow the "rules". Every bird is different. Roosters will breed hens of different breeds. Many roosters start breeding around 4-6 months old. I don't know if they will consistently fertilize every egg at that stage or not.

 

[Magicque]

Thank you so much ... Lol found a huge !! Cluch of eggs min of 2 doozen ! And a different hen than the one that had gone missing was on it ! ( There WAY..... ON TOP OF HAY STACK ) SHE. Was not leaving nest for LOVE nor $ ! I picked her up was blown away at all the eggs !
I need to see how to. Candle ? And I think ? One of my hens is a rooster !?? I'll take a photo today

 

[Redhead Rae]

Sounds like she is broody. Hens don't need a rooster or fertilized eggs to go broody. If you don't have a rooster, the eggs won't be fertile and won't hatch. Doesn't stop a hen from going broody and sitting on them though. You can candle the eggs to make sure (research videos of what fertile/developing eggs look like when candled) before trying to break her or getting hatching eggs for her to sit on. You can also get day old chicks and put them under her after dark.

 

[Redhead Rae]

Just candled the eggs again and all 10 are still developing and wiggling! Hopefully we'll have some fresh hatched babies by Saturday or Sunday!

 

[Magicque]

Just candled the eggs again and all 10 are still developing and wiggling! Hopefully we'll have some fresh hatched babies by Saturday or Sunday!

 

[Magicque]

I tried to candle mine... Could see through the brown eggs... But not at all... For blue and green eggs !??

 

[Magicque]

Sounds like she is broody. Hens don't need a rooster or fertilized eggs to go broody. If you don't have a rooster, the eggs won't be fertile and won't hatch. Doesn't stop a hen from going broody and sitting on them though. You can candle the eggs to make sure (research videos of what fertile/developing eggs look like when candled) before trying to break her or getting hatching eggs for her to sit on. You can also get day old chicks and put them under her after dark.

 

[Magicque]

I exchanged the 20 eggs she was sitting on... ! Wow !!! For a dozen FERTILIZED ones

 

[Redhead Rae]

I tried to candle mine... Could see through the brown eggs... But not at all... For blue and green eggs !??

Green or dark brown eggs are sometimes hard to see through. I find them easier to candle if you shine the light through the air sack that forms on one end. I used to use a maglight to candle my eggs, but I went ahead and bought a proper candling light. it works SOOOO much better.

 

[aart]

but I went ahead and bought a proper candling light. it works SOOOO much better.

Which light did you get...can you post a link?
I've found the key to candling is doing it in a windowless room so it's really dark.