First time broody....not very good at it...how long til.......

[NellaBean]

I have a large fowl cochin who went broody last week. She just isn't very darn good at it. I keep finding the eggs out of the nest. I don't think it is on purpose...I think she just doesn't notice she isn't on them anymore. But she really really wants to be broody. How long til I can just slip her some chicks? I have a hatch due on the 4th and will be buying some more TSC chicks this week of course. Could I slip her some chicks now even though she has only been broody for a week?

She is one of THREE Broodies i have right now. All large cochins. I have been taking the eggs out from under the other two, hoping they will break....last time I let one sit on eggs, she gave up on day 19 and they all died. I wouldn't mind just giving them chicks and letting them raise them.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

IMHO, worst case scenario: they all refuse the chicks and you end up raising them yourself. You were planning on doing that anyway, weren't you? Give it a try unless you really wanted something out of the eggs under them.

 

[drumstick diva]

Worst case scenario - broody could attack the chicks and or kill them.

 

[they'reHISchickens]

I was assuming there would be supervision during the adoption process, or at least peeking through the window!

 

[rancher hicks]

I have read many things about broody hens. They like privacy. When I'm sure a hen is broody I move her at night to a pen for just that purpose. Away from others, w/ her own water and feed. I visit her to make sure all is well but don't linger. I don't keep checking the eggs or pestering her.

If you leave her w/ the other hens when she gets up to take care of business another hen may get in the nest and lay another egg. If in the mean time she comes back and there is someone else in her box she may just move to another box or give up.
I've had 4 broody hens none more than a year old and all hatched theirs fine. I will admit to leaving one in the coop as there were plenty of nest boxes and hers was the highest. She hatched 2/2. In the dead of winter too.

I see many nest boxes I consider too big and airy. A hen should not be able to stand and walk around in a nest box. They should be dark and private. I've reached into a nest box at night to ended up pokeing the poor bird. If you have windows, face the box so the sun or light does not shine in the box. If I have a blk Aussie in the box I can barely see her.

All the best
Rancher

 

[NellaBean]

The hen who isn't that great at it is in a 4x6 shed, all by her lonesome. I removed the rooster and other two hens to the main flock yesterday. There is a covered litterbox in there, but she is laying in front of it, between the box and the door. That is where she would always lay her eggs.

She is a relatively docile hen......I think this is her first time as a broody as she only recently started laying. I think where she is laying is just now 'nest-like' enough, so the eggs roll out from under her when she gets up to eat/drink/poop.

I do have the option of creating a better nest for her and moving her onto it. If she can manage to keep eggs under her then, I can either give her eggs from the bator that have already started or slip a few chicks under there. I guess I'll just have to wait and see!