Hen trying to go broody but we don't have a rooster

[new2chickenlife]

Ok I moved her tonight. We made a make shift nesting box with a ledge so little peeps do not fall out. At dark I carefully lifted her out and put her in on top of a pile of golf balls and plastic easter eggs

She absolutely didn't make a peep or even move just settled in on top of the pile. How long should I wait before getting some eggs? Also dumb question....will I end up with lots of roosters? We really are not supposed to have any according to our covenants. Thanks for all of the help. Also, when do you switch their feed? We do not have a separate place but I tucked her in under the other nesting boxes. Do you think that will be ok?

 

[galanie]

If you want her to have eggs, you only need wait 3-4 days to be sure she's serious and will set. Then get them as soon as you can. You don't want her sitting on them any longer than necessary because it is hard on them. She can eat the same food she always has but when the babies hatch, it's best to just let her eat the same food the chicks do. She'll need the extra boost anyway and you don't want the chicks eating layer food because of the calcium in it. I just feed everyone chick food when I have little ones with oyster shell in a separate feeder for the hens that need it.

Your chance of getting a rooster from each egg are 50/50. You could end up with a lot of roosters but it's more likely you'll get half of each, hens and roosters.

 

[Glasshen]

I would say if she stays where you put her today you could proceed with eggs or day old chicks. If you use eggs, they are usually 50 percent male. If you get chicks some talented people are able to tell the sex, so you could get all females, or at least a much better percentage.

How exciting!

 

[new2chickenlife]

If you want her to have eggs, you only need wait 3-4 days to be sure she's serious and will set. Then get them as soon as you can. You don't want her sitting on them any longer than necessary because it is hard on them. She can eat the same food she always has but when the babies hatch, it's best to just let her eat the same food the chicks do. She'll need the extra boost anyway and you don't want the chicks eating layer food because of the calcium in it. I just feed everyone chick food when I have little ones with oyster shell in a separate feeder for the hens that need it.
Your chance of getting a rooster from each egg are 50/50. You could end up with a lot of roosters but it's more likely you'll get half of each, hens and roosters.

Ok so she stayed on the new box last nights but did not go back to it today. We moved her again tonight back on it. She was back in the orginal nesting box. Does it take a few days to see if they are serious? I havent gotten the eggs yet.