how long

[fil76]

today I noticed 1 of my birds I think it is broody how long should I wait to make sure it is properly broody before getting eggs
cheers fil

 

[Orpingtons43]

today I noticed 1 of my birds I think it is broody how long should I wait to make sure it is properly broody before getting eggs
cheers fil

I always waited a day or two before I set my hens with eggs just to make sure!

 

[azygous]

You'll know she's ready to stick the nest if she plants herself on it and remains, come hill or high water.

 

[fil76]

will they use a different style nest box or the same nest box
cheers fil

 

[fil76]

unfortunetly came of false eggs after 2 day
cheers fil

 

[theoldchick]

Some broody hens are really flaky when I comes to setting on a nest. In my flock, the dominant hen can really torture a lower ranking hen who decides to brood in the most favored nest box. (I have 16 nest boxes and 8 hens so they have plenty to choose). She'll snatch them by the neck feathers and pull them out of the box. I have no idea why my broody hens all chose the same nest box. But the lower ranked hens will abandon the nest after a few days.

 

[chuckachucka]

For the future, I would wait a few days to be sure a hen is serious. My hens usually start practice sitting by sitting for a few hours at a time. They do this for three to seven days before sitting all day, at which point they will stop laying eggs. They sometimes lay one last egg the following day after sitting all the day. I know its not always practical but if you are able to observe a broody, and she does not get off the nest more than once a day for half an hour or less, for a minimum of two days, then it's a safe bet she will stay sitting on eggs. Not guaranteed though, but I've never had a broody quit after that. Depends on the breed sometimes.

 

[chuckachucka]

Some broody hens are really flaky when I comes to setting on a nest. In my flock, the dominant hen can really torture a lower ranking hen who decides to brood in the most favored nest box. (I have 16 nest boxes and 8 hens so they have plenty to choose). She'll snatch them by the neck feathers and pull them out of the box. I have no idea why my broody hens all chose the same nest box. But the lower ranked hens will abandon the nest after a few days.

That's really interesting. My top hen never bothers the others if they are sitting.

 

[theoldchick]

I think if my broody hens would chose another box they might be fine. I don't know why this hen does this as she is easy to get along with when she's outside. She doesn't pick on anybody and shares her food. But I guess she's OCD when it comes to nest boxes.

 

[fil76]

unfortunetly came of false eggs after 2 day
cheers fil

yes it was the most popular nest box I think if it was another box it might of been ok
cheers fil