Half Broody?

[Ellie]

My cochin has been sitting in one of the nests and if you go near her she puffs up and screeches.... an odd chicken noise I have not heard before.

I think Aha! I can buy some eggs (lost my roo) to put under her as I have been waiting for a broody hen. Next thing I know, she is out and dust bathing. Then later, back in the nest and screeching if I go near.

Now, bed time, she is in the nest. VERY unusual... they all are up on the roost at night.

Do you think she is going to be broody? Is she, or do they have to stay on all day to do that?

Ellie

 

[Marlinchaser]

Mine only got up for a couple of minutes at a time, grabbed a drink a bite to eat and right back on the nest. She might be thinking about going broodie, but I think if she is spending quite a bit of time off the nest you would be wasting your money buying eggs to put under her.

 

[silkiechicken]

Keep an eye on her to see how long she leaves the nest. My broody who sits like mad, will go out every two or three days and do a frantic dust bath. As soon as she hears the cats being fed, she will run screaming from the nest, chases off the cats, eats their food, drinks their water, tips it over, runs to the dust bath screeching all the way, plops down, does a spasm bath of about 3 minutes, and then bolts back screaming to the nest... I really needed to get it on video...

Give her a few more days to see if she sits tight. If she does, then you can get eggs, I'd get local eggs though or have a back up incubator in case she gives up.

 

[Ellie]

Silkie, that picture has me laughing out loud.

She did indeed make loud screeching noises as she ran over to the dirt for a dust bath. But she was out at least an hour.

Unfortunately, I go back to work tomorrow and won't be able to watch and see if she is out during the day...... dang it. I may have my mom come over and check.

Ellie

 

[akcskye]

Maybe some golf balls to see if she is truly going to 'stay' broody first?

Then if she sits on them, replace with fertile eggs when she's dustbathing?

Mine did the same thing yours did, then the first night, got off the nest.

The next day, she was back on the nest and more eggs were laid and she never left, except about 1/2 hour each day, until the babies hatched.

 

[Ellie]

This is encouraging. I have fake eggs in the three nests that I keep in there.

She is in a different nest this morning but never the less in a nest. Odd behaviour.

Ellie