I think I have my 1st broody(new update 4-30)

[wekiva bird]

I think I have a Broody Blue Rock. She has been hiding in her nest box for 3 days. Some of the other hens get in the nest box with her. Bell 's sitting on 3 eggs. I make her come out to eat ,drink, and go to the bathroom and dust about 30min. Then she wants to get back in the her nest box. Should I let her sit on the eggs and add a few more eggs for her hatch? and should I move her to a different area? I worry about when hatching time the others will kill the babies.

 

[kingpartyof5]

We have our first broody, too! My black Astralorp began sitting yesterday. She is very feisty already. I placed some food in the nest box with her and there is a nipple waterer just outside the nesting box. I have not made her get off the nest, I am afraid she won't go back. I haven't had a chance to see how many eggs she is on, but I plan to peek in a day or two.

 

[wekiva bird]

Do you have a rooster?
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[purelypoultry]

I always move my broody hens to their own cage/pen. Several issues could develop with leaving her with the rest of the flock. Forcing her off to drink and eat might eventually cause her to stop sitting on the nest. When I move her to her own broody area, I put food and water close to her. This is all advice based on the fact you actually want her to be broody, lol.

 

[lady feathers]

You don't have to move her off, she will do it on her own even if you don't see her doing it..... as to leaving her in the coop. Some people do (momma will prtect them) and some people don't. I think sometimes it depends on wether or not you know she is a good momma and if you think at some point you may have to intervene/take over!

 

[kingpartyof5]

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Yes, we have an EE roo. When cooking, I notice that most of the eggs are fertile, so we just may get a few chicks from the 14 eggs she pulled into her nest.

 

[isabellapalomino]

we have a broody hatching today, when she first went broody, we had to move her to a different place because the others were laying eggs in the nest box she was in. i only let her of the nest for 10min in the morning at first and she has now learned. she also comes of the nest by herself in the after noon to dust bath and only stays of the eggs for about 10 min. this way the eggs have a much less chance of cooling down.

 

[wekiva bird]

Found a egg that was broken to day under her will this mess up the other eggs ?
thanks, everybody

 

[wekiva bird]

found 2nd egg broken today.

 

[speckledhen]

Oops! She may be breaking them herself, especially if the shells are not hard enough, Robin. I've had to remove a broody to clean her and her nest and eggs up one time when one broke somehow. She stayed broody. Bacteria from broken eggs will contaminate the nest and could kill chicks so I'd clean her up. My own black Rock, Emily, is definitely broody. Preparing the broody pen underneath Zane right now for her.