Hi. I'm new with a few questions:]

[alisonharrismusic]

I thought I had an egg-bound silkie, but once I took her off the nest and brought her inside, she started acting much more like a normal chicken. She is not laying, but she is sitting on the eggs that the other chickens (different breed) lay. I watched her get on the nest and she scooted the other chicken's egg under her. Her vent looks healthy, although it is "breathing" (going in and out) and clean. There is no poop stuck around it or anything like that. Egg bound or broody?

Thanks for your thoughts on this matter!!

 

[Laurieks]

Woot! Huge coop = lots of Chickens!

We have a few banty mix hens who will go broody when they have at least 6 eggs in the nest. I thought they were all that way.
If I take them all they find a place to hide them and 'stealth hatch', so I always leave 1. Golf balls will work too. We had some nice marble eggs but DS hid them somewhere when he was little & now can't find them.

When I want them to go broody for hatching shipped eggs I leave 5 or 6 eggs then swap them out for the special ones. I couldn't bear to toss the original 6 so I gave them to another broody.
I hatched Salmon Faverolles because they're pretty & hardy & good winter layers. http://www.mccallumsflock.com/bantamfaverolles.htm
I bought Barnevelders for the same reason. They are hilarious; they run to us hoping for treats. http://community.webtv.net/hotwalker05/Christineschickens (she now has Javas as well but might not have any for sale yet)
Yes, hatching might not be in your plans, but I had to pass this along just in case

from Northern Calif!

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Glad to have you here!

 

[cococrisp]

Quote:
Thanks! The little pig in your avatar is adorable!

THanks for all the helpful information everyone!