hello from qld

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chookin

chookin

In the Brooder
6 Years
Jul 14, 2013
10
0
22
Hi all,

I got 4 ex-battery hens about a month or so ago and they've been a bit of a different experience to the last time I had chickens.

Granted, it has been a few years, but last time I always had eggs ready in the morning and I never had a hen stop laying early etc. But this time I'm getting eggs at any time of the day and my egg count has dropped from 4 per day in the first week to 2-3 a day since. I don't really mind as I'm not a big egg eater, but its made me do a lot of research trying to understand my new chickens, and everything I search brings me here, so thought id jump on and say hi and thankyou.

I do have a couple of questions though. One particular hen hasn't been laying for at least a week (I've witnessed the others laying so am certain of this) and for the last few days has been staying in the nest box or nearby. I find that she comes outside first thing in the morning, but when I do my midday check she is on the nest. I am assuming she is broody, but should I just leave her or try and get her out of it?

Also, my daughter's kindy is having the chicken hatching soon (19-30 Aug) and I was considering getting a few more chickens from them. If I leave my broody alone, would she take on some chicks or is it too far away and she will be over it?

Sorry for the long winded intro..

Thanks in advance :)
 
Hi
:welcome from Adelaide

I guess it's up to you if you leave the broody hen or not. But if she's eating and getting up to move around she'll be fine.
I think it's possible that broody hens will take care of other chicks, but I've got no clue how long this broody thing lasts. Sorry. :lol:
 
welcome-byc.gif
Is your broody sitting on any eggs? If not she may give up after a week or so. I don't think she will stay broody long enough to mother the chicks from school. s long as she takes time to eat , drink and potty she's not harming herself so no reason to try & break her.
 
No she's not sitting on any eggs and she does get up to eat etc, so I will just leave her alone. Thanks for your help. I will just put the chicks elsewhere when I get them :)
 

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