I've got a buff orpington hen that's about 2 years old. She's gone broody before, and I broke her because I didn't need more chicks. However, this time, I am actually in need of some chicks due to gradual losses in the flock. But...I didn't decide I needed chicks until she had already been broody for about 3-4 weeks. I've just been going out every day to pull her from the nest box and setting her out to range with the rest of the girls and remove the eggs from the box she sits in. She would voice her discontent at the situation, drop a few major land mines, chase a few bugs, hit the feed bucket, get a drink, generally wander for a couple hours, then would gradually make her way back to the same nest she's been sitting on.
Yesterday I made the decision that I'd like to go ahead and let her raise some chicks. But, I worry that she won't be healthy for another three weeks of broodiness. She's lost some weight already, I think - her breast muscles feel smaller than normal.
Is there a point where you are better off breaking them and going for a hatch next time she goes broody? I've thought about trying to sneak some chicks under her, but nobody in the area has any day olds. I've tracked down some fertile eggs I can put under her, though.
Yesterday I made the decision that I'd like to go ahead and let her raise some chicks. But, I worry that she won't be healthy for another three weeks of broodiness. She's lost some weight already, I think - her breast muscles feel smaller than normal.
Is there a point where you are better off breaking them and going for a hatch next time she goes broody? I've thought about trying to sneak some chicks under her, but nobody in the area has any day olds. I've tracked down some fertile eggs I can put under her, though.
