HELP! Eggbound

[Yay Chicks!]

Glad she's okay and that you seem okay with having a broody

 

[erinnyes]

Yep, she's definitely my first broody. None of my other hens have ever sat on the nest longer than it took to lay an egg in it. I've only had chickens since around August, though. I may let her hatch an egg or two if she stays broody, but mostly I'm not worried about egg production so her being broody doesn't bother me, even if I don't hatch eggs yet. With the weather still being on and off freezing, I'm wondering if now might not be the best time to let her hatch chicks. Should I wait until spring for that?

 

[new chick 203]

I would post that question under the hatching section. I've one had a broody twice. I wouldn't be that enthused about her doing it this time of year, but it all depends on where you are and what your set up is. I've found that being broody is hard on the hen. Mine was so dedicated that I would have to go out and hand feed her because she wouldn't leave the nest. I would also have to take her off the nest a couple times a day so she could poop then she would run right back. Also, I find it's easier if you can put her some place where she isn't pestered by the other girls wanting to lay their eggs in her nest (if you leave her with them, mark the eggs so you know which are the fertile ones). the first time she went broody I tried for 6 weeks to break her of it and then gave up and got her eggs. She lost allot of weight during the whole thing. when it happened again I just got her eggs right away rather than go through the whole drama.