First, let me say I've had chickens for about 5 years now, have raised chicks (day olds in the mail or local breeders, not incubated at home) every spring for the last 3 years. I decided I wanted to try to hatch some fertilized eggs this year, and literally the next day my Buff Orpington goes broody. So much so my hand is now a mess from her pecking me when I was trying to get eggs the other day. So at the suggestion of an experienced chicken friend I picked up a nice rabbit hutch see if I could get some eggs hatched from her. I transferred her to the hutch at night, with dummy eggs in place in a nice nest in the interior area of the hutch. She sat on them readily, a full 24 hours, so I ordered the fertilized eggs, which will be here tomorrow.
This morning, she was up and about, nervous. Wouldn't go back to the nest. I checked on her for about 90 minutes and she was still prancing around. I'm incredibly concerned now, as the eggs are on their way, and my broody buff isn't so broody! One of my australorps was also showing broody signs, so I could try her instead if I come home later and my buff is still prancing around.. but I'm so concerned for those little eggs on their way! I don't have an incubator, I took what I was going to spend on an incubator and got the hutch to try to let nature do its thing, but now I'm really worried.. any tips?
The hutch is near the main coop, (outside of it though) with a large separation wall between them. The articles I found were conflicting if I were to leave the hen near the main coop, or to completely take her away from it, and set the hutch in the garage, shed, etc. Maybe I should move it?
This morning, she was up and about, nervous. Wouldn't go back to the nest. I checked on her for about 90 minutes and she was still prancing around. I'm incredibly concerned now, as the eggs are on their way, and my broody buff isn't so broody! One of my australorps was also showing broody signs, so I could try her instead if I come home later and my buff is still prancing around.. but I'm so concerned for those little eggs on their way! I don't have an incubator, I took what I was going to spend on an incubator and got the hutch to try to let nature do its thing, but now I'm really worried.. any tips?
The hutch is near the main coop, (outside of it though) with a large separation wall between them. The articles I found were conflicting if I were to leave the hen near the main coop, or to completely take her away from it, and set the hutch in the garage, shed, etc. Maybe I should move it?
