Hatching with 2 broodies

[chicky68]

this is probably the most informative site I have ever found

 

[lizgarf]

Thanks Liz,
I really appreciate all the input...
Well, she stayed off the eggs all day yesterday after I moved her. She wasn't having any of it even thou her new spot had it all!
Oh well, she probably knows best. So I let her out of her broody pen and she went right back to her old spot in the nest box. So much for trying to help.
Had to start over on the eggs and decided to give her about 10 new eggs to sit on. I guess that means that today would be day 1. Anyone else just starting????

So I figured a way to enclose the whole nest box in and give her some space below to stretch her legs and relieve herself. I peeked in this morning and the other hens are trying to get in but no can do. The first time she went broody I let her stay in the nest box things went south pretty fast. I don't really know what happened but there were some real shenanigans going on in there. None of the eggs hatched that I bought from the feed store,(no roo then) and some of the eggs got cracked and some actually ended up on the lawn outside the coop!To this day I cant imagine one of these chickens carrying the eggs thru the coop door and placing them on the lawn. All I know is that it had to be a chicken because we don't have predators in the coop. I read that they can carry and roll them. Like I said before, it is like a circus in there when one goes broody.

While I was working on her nest area I heard a loud noise and all the chickens sounded the alarm call. What ever got my little mottled cochin banty came back to try and score again. No luck, but today I want to make that run even more secure, fort Knox style. These predators (bobcat I think) are really determined.

I am so glad that the thing with your Reggie turned out alright, it is really hard when someone you love hurts another you love. So glad that didn't happen and you found Lucy safe and sound. She was most likely scared for a while and maybe hid. Smart girl...That's a good thing.
Thanks again team broody for all your love and support, this is the best thread on BYC!

I shall be checking in often with updates because there is never a dull moment here on this crazy chicken ranch!
Marie

Sounds like you've been working hard over there! Do you have another nest area for your other hens to use?
With my broody hatch, it worked out pretty well, until I came home one day to find a crushed egg, and the other eggs dirty, and one egg on the ground. (I think that my two eggs that did hatch were the ones that did not get dirty, and so I didn't try to clean them at all.) I couldn't figure out what happened, and then a neighbor told me that she found a dog in my yard, scaring the hens in the coop. She collected the dog and called the owner - he had gotten out of its yard several blocks away, a total fluke! After that, I set up a cat carrier with some eggs in it, and the other hens figured out to use it instead of the broody nest.

I'm really lucky that my dog is a herder, not a hunter. I realized how unique she is when my neighbor's dog killed one of my hens, withing seconds of making it into the yard. Unfortunately, Reggie does like to chase, and Lucy doesn't know these fine differences between dog breeds. I'm really glad she made her way back, unscathed, and it was a good reminder to me of the importance of keeping them Reggie separated.

 

[tommysgirl]

this is probably the most informative site I have ever found

We aim to please

You will probably find that whenever you google a chicken question that the top hits are usually from BYC. On this thread we try to be helpful on a vairiety of topics. We just happened to all have broody hens at the same time when @coops gone crazy started it last fall but we don't limit ourselves to broody talk.

There are some rumors that some of the breed threads can be a bit cliquey and unfriendly to newcomers so be careful out there,

but here we just want to be friends.

Photo courtesy of BYC User Barred for Life

 

[chicky68]

Too cute!!!

 

[16 paws]

Sounds like you've been working hard over there! Do you have another nest area for your other hens to use?
With my broody hatch, it worked out pretty well, until I came home one day to find a crushed egg, and the other eggs dirty, and one egg on the ground. (I think that my two eggs that did hatch were the ones that did not get dirty, and so I didn't try to clean them at all.) I couldn't figure out what happened, and then a neighbor told me that she found a dog in my yard, scaring the hens in the coop. She collected the dog and called the owner - he had gotten out of its yard several blocks away, a total fluke! After that, I set up a cat carrier with some eggs in it, and the other hens figured out to use it instead of the broody nest.

I'm really lucky that my dog is a herder, not a hunter. I realized how unique she is when my neighbor's dog killed one of my hens, withing seconds of making it into the yard. Unfortunately, Reggie does like to chase, and Lucy doesn't know these fine differences between dog breeds. I'm really glad she made her way back, unscathed, and it was a good reminder to me of the importance of keeping them Reggie separated.

Reggie sounds like a really good boy! I could use one like that here. But I think 6 dogs are enough-too-much at times.

I know people think I am crazy for having that many but it really wasn't a choice when I heard how badly the 3 were abused that we took in. When you hear stories about hanging dogs it is time to act quickly and get them out asap.

Well on a lighter note sounds like you had some ruckus in your nest box also. I made another nesting spot for the girls. It was so funny to see Cousteau, my polish punk rock rooster get into the nest box. He called all the girls over and proceeded to show them all how to buckle down and nest. The bedding was flying over his head and he was really trying to act like he was going to lay an egg in there! These chickens are too funny. Better than any TV show and cheaper than therapy as they allow you to really get out of your head and try to figure out their little world.

Here is a picture of Cousteau, I don't know if I am spelling it right but I named him after Jacque Cousteau.
PS,
Guess what? When I just went to check on Penny there were 3 eggs by her she wasn't sitting on. So I put them under her thinking that maybe she just changed positions. Then I noticed Daisy Mae had broken into the enclosure I made around her!Two other hens must of been in there also.I wasn't about to put my hand under her and try and take them out after all that moving around yesterday. So now she has 13 eggs under her (I think)!
I made it now so NOBODY can get in there....If all those chicks hatch I am in big trouble!

Marie

 

[16 paws]

Hey Marie I will giving my two broody girls their eggs on Saturday and Sunday so you will be a day or two ahead of me. My first broody ever was last summer and I tried moving her off the nest and giving her golf balls before I gave her real eggs. For 3 days she was a possessed thing and kept heading back to her original nest in the coop so I gave in and let her stay. She has successfully raised two clutches in there. It sounds like you have secured your girl's nesting area so it should be all drama free from here on in.

I had a hard time believing that they could pick eggs up and carry them too but you are right it is a circus when the broodies come to town.
She probably is but she is being quick about it and you don't see her. My two current broodies are stealthy as can be about when they get off the nest but I assume they are.

Welcome to the thread this is THE place for support and hand holding and shared cheering!

Hey tommysgirl,
That is great, we can follow along with each others progress.
Glad to hear your broody raised a couple of clutches in her nest box. What size is the nest box?
As for drama free please read my recent post, a little more drama...
How did you keep your other hens from going in there? Two other hens were sitting on Penny yesterday morning....
Marie

 

[tommysgirl]

Hey tommysgirl,
That is great, we can follow along with each others progress.
Glad to hear your broody raised a couple of clutches in her nest box. What size is the nest box?
As for drama free please read my recent post, a little more drama...
How did you keep your other hens from going in there? Two other hens were sitting on Penny yesterday morning....
Marie

Hi Marie, the nest box is about 12 by 12 and it sits right between two others of the same size. There are no full dividers between any of the boxes just a 1 X4 that acts as the Wall for the boxes. It is covered and the one on the right side of it is also. I wasn't able to keep the other girls out but since I had marked the eggs it was easy to tell which ones weren't hers and I just took em out when she was off the nest or else I lifted her up and grabbed the eggs that weren't marked quickly once every day or two.

In my current broody situation they are side by side in a different coop. I installed a third box and put a wine box under the elevated coop and the other girls seem to be using those for the most part. But there are only 6 total hens in there so that helps. I installed the new box in front of the box the two girls are sharing. The red one is the broody and the silver grey uses the box under the coop now so both broodies are happier now.

 

[Teila]

Good Saturday morning Team Broody!

What a busy thread we have .. how wonderful! Having said that, while I read all the posts, I'm thinking I might just have to give up on replying to all individually and start doing the group-hug thing! lol

Lots of bubbies in the near future I see ... very exciting!

How scary for you Liz; glad the outcome was a good one

It is amusing that the one thing I seem to read over and over again, is nest box 'fights' .. what is it with these gals? Dusty is the only girl laying at the moment, Tina is still not there yet, Tammy and Blondie most definitely not there yet and Cilla is still playing mumma. They have 4 nest boxes in 2 coops and while they were separated, Dusty quite happily laid in the ranch coop but as soon as I took down the divider, she wants to lay in the chateau coop which just happens to be where Cilla & Co sleep! Why? lol

After two days of torrential rain it looks like it might be a nice day today, at least until the possible storms predicted this afternoon. The sun is out which will certainly help with drying out the soggy run. A nice long free range is definitely looking good and of course, a photo opportunity .. watch this space

 

[Teila]

Play time in the garden .. Blondie & Tammy:


Tammy, Cilla & Blondie (and Mr Garden Gnome)


Tina and HER watermelon:

 

[lizgarf]

Play time in the garden .. Blondie & Tammy:


Tammy, Cilla & Blondie (and Mr Garden Gnome)


Tina and HER watermelon: