First time broody questions

[5 Points Wingfeather]

This is our first time with a broody hen. I have some questions.

1. She has spent at last two straight nights on eggs and I haven’t seen her come off once—even when I offered the others mealworms. I’m assuming it’s safe to consider her officially broody?

2. She’s 7 months. Is that too young?

3. Its February and in the upper 30s? Is that ok?

4. She’s somehow stealing eggs so I would like to stop that. I am thinking of putting her and the box with eggs in it in a wire crate in the coop with others. That way she can be with the other chickens but she can’t steal any more eggs. I will of course put food and water in there also. Will this work?

 

[fin-dachickmasta]

1. Yes.
2. No not to young.
3. Is she keeping them hot to the touch? Will it get much colder?
4. Most likely not going to work. Mark the eggs and remove the ones that are not marked.
I hope this helped!

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

Very helpful. The only thing I don’t understand is why the crate idea most likely would not work.


@Ridgerunner @MysteryChicken

 

[MysteryChicken]

Very helpful. The only thing I don’t understand is why the crate idea most likely would not work.


@Ridgerunner @MysteryChicken

I mark eggs, remove any unmarked. Move hen, & chicks, or just take the chicks, & raise in the brooder.

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

If I just mark the eggs, do I need to be concerned about her food and water? It’s outside the coop (probably 10ft away from her) but I haven’t seen her out eating or drinking

 

[preciouschick]

1. Yes.
2. No not to young.
3. Is she keeping them hot to the touch? Will it get much colder?
4. Most likely not going to work. Mark the eggs and remove the ones that are not marked.
I hope this helped!

thats what i am doing with my first broody silky. She lets me pick her up, place her in the next box, mark the eggs she can keep.I am using a crayon. It gets rubbed off so i check everyday when i check for eggs. Pencil rubbed off even faster. She does run out everyday for food n water or snack. Sometimes i just dont see it. I even put stuff infront of her nest box.

 

[aart]

If I just mark the eggs, do I need to be concerned about her food and water? It’s outside the coop (probably 10ft away from her) but I haven’t seen her out eating or drinking

They may only get off the nest to eat/drink/poop once a day.

The only thing I don’t understand is why the crate idea most likely would not work.

It can work, if it's big enough to give her room to poop away from her nest/feed/water.


I put her in the broody enclosure with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.

Lots of space helps for re-integration.

 

[5 Points Wingfeather]

Last question: what do I mark the eggs she’s sitting on with? What will last 3 weeks but not harm the chicks

 

[3KillerBs]

Here's a fabulous article for you: https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rst-turkey-strut-to-weaning-the-chicks.76878/

 

[fin-dachickmasta]

Very helpful. The only thing I don’t understand is why the crate idea most likely would not work.


@Ridgerunner @MysteryChicken

The hen wants to leave the crate and go back to original nest to incubate the eggs that she thinks are still there. I hope this makes sense! Gook luck!