first time broody

[hoping4better]

I have a barred rock mutt that just went broody last night. She has puffed up and growled at me for several days, but just decided to stay in the nest last night. So far she has set on her golf balls since then except to get some food for a quick second.

She was hatched last november, so this is her first time and she is young, but she seems REALLY defensive with her puffing and growling every time I check for eggs.

What should I expect? Should I expect she'll be a good momma and giv her a bunch of eggs??? Or should I just give her a couple and see how it goes?

I REAAAALLLY want to give her a bunch of eggs. I recently have lost 5 chickens to attacks (pretty certain they're the neighbors dogs) and would LOVE to bring my flock back up to where it was. I also LOVED the little chick luffy butt stage.

So, advice??

 

[hokankai]

I would "test" her broodiness by giving her a few days to see if she means business. Try taking her off the nest to go outside and see if she goes back to the same nest on her own. Try taking putting her on the roost and seeing if she goes back to the nest. We didn't let our girls hatch their first two times going broody and just broke them, but my BO went broody for the 3rd time and I finally gave in and gave her eggs and she means serious business!

 

[Ridgerunner]

How valuable are your eggs? What is the downside of giving her several eggs, say a dozen? If she is a good broody, you are ahead in the game. If she is a bad broody, are you really that much worse off whether she has 3 eggs or 12?

Most hens do fine their first time. Some don't but most do. I'd risk a dozen eggs after she spends two consecutive nights on the nest.

I don't know how much experience you have with broodies. This link may help. If you do leave her with the flock, be sure to give her all the eggs at the same time, mark them, and check under her daily to remove any other eggs.

Isolate a Broody? Thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=213218

Good luck and enjoy the experience.

 

[hoping4better]

I just stuffed a dozen eggs under a half bantam barred rock. They fit with a bit of room to spare, but the fit seemed awkward. She's been VERY protective today and REAL greedy with any eggs that were laid today, so I figure she'll figure out just how to arrange them just fine. They're mostly green ones from our green egg laying barred rock with a pea comb.

I pulled a dozen eggs from the fridge that are a week or so or less old. They're all DEFINITELY fertile. They sat out all day to come to room temperature.

Fingers crossed and marking the calender!!!

Hopefully we'll get some

in 21 days!! Can't wait