How not to break a broody....

[KikiLeigh02]

My DH was supposed to put a broody Buff Orpington in a wire bottom cage in the run to break her. It's just too hot & humid right now to even think about letting her sit. He put her inside the building with the almost 5 week old chicks.... She was in the wire bottom cage tid-bitting for them this morning. Poor girl. With them being so old would it be ok to try to give her a couple and see how it goes? Or would it be better to just move her broody bottom back outside?

 

[chuckachucka]

I would try it and see if she takes to them and they to her. It is very unlikely at their age but you never know. Try putting them together and keep a close eye on them for a little while. If it doesn't work you will have to break her.

 

[sourland]

I'd give it a try.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

I built a pen under the nesting box table for integration/hospital/etc., I put her in there yesterday afternoon, and then gave her a couple little cuties last night (1 Bielefelder pullet & 1 Sage Egger pullet). She seems pretty content so far, we'll see how it goes! The chicks were already roosting in their grow-out pen, so I may let them out this afternoon when I can keep a really close eye on them. I think they'll roost with the big birds if she (and the other birds) lets them.

 

[aart]

 

[Chickassan]

I'd do it. If she's ever going to be crazy enough to adopt big babies and stop being broody now would be that time.

 

[KikiLeigh02]

Well, she was back to being broody this morning. I put the chicks back in with their hatch mates, they probably would have been fine but I won't be able to keep a close eye on them today. Broody is back in the wire bottom cage in the run. Oh well, it was worth a shot!

 

[KikiLeigh02]

She is being super persistent. The weather has cooled off quite a bit, I think I may let her try to hatch a few. I have some on Day 10 in the incubator so she wouldn't have to sit much longer. I have a secluded spot in the coop for her to brood, but she is at the absolute bottom of the pecking order. Does that normally work out for the chicks when you let them integrate with the flock?