Hi I'm new here, my name is Jeni. Looking forward to learning more about my chickens.

[N F C]

Hi, thanks for joining us.

 

[Grannys Backyard Chicks]

Hello Jeni ! Glad you joined the group. Everyone is so knowledgeable and willing to help.

 

[TwoCrows]

@Jenion put curtains on your boxes. It will help protect her while she is in the box. There are 2 boxes here. See the slit down the middle? Hen slips in, nobody bothers her. You may need to keep them peeled open a bit while the hens are getting used to going through. Keep some fake eggs in there to lure them in.

 

[Jenion]

UPDATE on Black Betty: Definitely broody, I decided to give up the fight and let nature take its course. I had given a friend the most wonderful Roo named Big Daddy and a couple other Black Ameracauna's a while back. I asked her for a couple fertilized eggs from them and slipped them under her this morning. She became instantly protective over them and hasn't left the nesting box since. I put some food and water in there for her as well. We will see if I get some beautiful peeps out of it. It will be extra special because it'll be a piece of Big Daddy is back home again.
Her friend Lucy Loo the Welsummer sat in front of her box for a while. Protecting her and keeping her company for a while. She even laid an egg inside her box too! Betty didn't roll it under her with the other eggs. But how sweet!

 

[DobieLover]

I put some food and water in there for her as well.

That's not a good idea. She will get off the nest every day to take care of herself. If you put food and water in there that increases the chances she will soil the eggs by not getting off that nest. It's best for her that she leave the nest every day. And if you haven't done so already take a pencil and mark a circle around all of the fertile eggs you put under her and check that nest everyday to remove any eggs that are added to her clutch. Even though they're not fertile you don't want them in there.

 

[Jenion]

The food is inside the coop but she does have to get off the nest to get it. It's a big 8x10 coop and on the other opposite wall the nesting boxes are on. Yes, I will definitely be checking and removing any extra eggs. She's the only one who lays blue eggs so it will be easy to spot. Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

She's the only one who lays blue eggs so it will be easy to spot.

But she won't be laying any eggs. She's gone broody. You don't want somebody else to lay eggs in her nest when she leaves on her broody breaks. That's why it's so important to mark the eggs and check the nest every day.

 

[Jenion]

Yes, the rest of my hens lay brown eggs. She and the eggs she's laying on are blue and yes, I have marked them.