Hi again! For those of you that 'know' me you may remember I bought 3 girls to start my laying flock at Christmas and they have now been laying for nearly 2 months . Part B of my flock building was buying 2 older (1-2 years) done it before Silkies to let go broody and that is working out great - I have one mama with 4 chicks and 1 broody sitting on 7 eggs due a week today . The best laid plans and all that have started to go a bit pear shaped - Mabel my Sussex appears to be broody bless her she has only been laying for 7 or 8 weeks. We have a shelter in the run that has a nest box in it and that is where she always lays (the other 2 happily lay in the coop where we moved them to), I didn't think anything of her being in there a few times as I've not spent a huge amount of time there in the last few days but 2 nights ago I forgot to go back out to lock them up (they were refusing at 9 when I went down - too early apparently!) until late - I did a quick look and saw chickens so locked up and went to bed but didn't realise she was missing until my son came in panicked yesterday morning saying that she was gone! Luckily no issue overnight with predators! Last night I went down and carefully checked and she wasnt' there and was on the nest so I picked her up and carried her to the coop where she slept but straight back onto the nest this morning and been there all day. When I went to look at her she did the broody puff up thing at me. Not sure if she has laid an egg or not but she did yesterday and I found an extra hidden one then as well.
What should I do? I have no issues with her being a mummy if that is what she wants. Is she too young? Should I try to break her (I have a cage front where the nest is so can lock her out if need be)? Is it an issue allowing young ones to be mummies? I have a neighbour with an incubator so if there is an issue like leavign the nest I could have a plan B. not sure what is best!
What should I do? I have no issues with her being a mummy if that is what she wants. Is she too young? Should I try to break her (I have a cage front where the nest is so can lock her out if need be)? Is it an issue allowing young ones to be mummies? I have a neighbour with an incubator so if there is an issue like leavign the nest I could have a plan B. not sure what is best!