How long are they broody?...

[lolita117]

I have 2 hens that are broody, and I don't mind the decrease in eggs. I'm not selling many and just feeding them back scrambled and dogs are getting lots of yummy eggs too. But I'm wondering how long a brooder will stay broody if left alone? Will they eventually get over it? I took their eggs the first few days, but now they are just sitting on wooden ones (not that I have a rooster to make chickies with). Just wondering if anybody can help me out.

 

[sourland]

Some will quit shortly after 21 days. Others wil set on and on and on and on and -----------------------------------------------------------------------

No telling how long some of those girls will try.

 

[lolita117]

That works. What's strange is I have a lot of pure breeds but I'm first chicken to go broody was a black production. The 2nd one ended up being a white jersey giant.

Some will quit shortly after 21 days. Others wil set on and on and on and on and -----------------------------------------------------------------------

No telling how long some of those girls will try.

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

That works. What's strange is I have a lot of pure breeds but I'm first chicken to go broody was a black production. The 2nd one ended up being a white jersey giant.

If you dont want to buy fertilized eggs then remove them EVERY day and try and keep them locked up AWAY from the nest boxes, this is usual the quickest way (unless they figure out how to make a nest on ground...but never heard of that happening)

 

[Birde]

My silkie went broody & her sister didnt. The sister kept laying eggs & for months my silkie sat. It took my hubby building a new pen & me taking all the eggs & giving her a new home. She is now on a high protein diet & enjoying dust baths again. I was worried about her health. She now lives with all her babies.

 

[lolita117]

I removed their eggs, now one is sitting on a wooden one and one is sitting on nothing. I'm not worried about making them spot unless I have 15 to go broody and take up each box and not leaving room for the ones that don't. I'm not selling my eggs to well (haven't got a sign up yet) So until I get my sign up and start selling more, the drop in production is a welcome.

If you dont want to buy fertilized eggs then remove them EVERY day and try and keep them locked up AWAY from the nest boxes, this is usual the quickest way (unless they figure out how to make a nest on ground...but never heard of that happening)

 

[milakegrl]

I have a broody silkie in with two other muttly hens. Silkie has stopped laying and collects the eggs from the other two. We are taking the eggs out everyday but she's still sitting....on the ground. These three have never used their nest boxes, have always layed their eggs on the floor of the coop. Right now they are outside (enclosedin fencing) due to the introduction of the new chicks I hatched this spring. Any advice?? Dark space with a fan, is what I'm hearing....I'm worried.