I think she's broody....hoping so!

[trudyg]

One of my black sex links has been in the nest box since last Thursday (this is day 5). I know there are 2 ceramic eggs and at least one real one under her (I am hoping there are more than that!). She won't let me look under her, but pecks me. Growls if I get too close to her. I took out a large wire crate and rigged it around her so no one can get too close, she has food and water right there and no one else can eat it---so I should be able to tell if she's eating, drinking and pooping. That always worries me, I've had some broody before but knew no fertile eggs and kept pulling her out, she got so thin and puny.

Is there anything else I need to do? She got scrambled egg, green beans and fermented mash this morning. They all get fermented mash every morning and then have layer pellets available all day. I've been wanting chicks and would love to have some hatched here. Was not expecting a sex link to go broody. I will definitely be looking for a poop tonight, if it's not there maybe she's not broody and is sick instead. Cross your fingers for me! I've got such a good rooster and she's a gentle hen, would make great chicks.

Any ideas how often a broody comes out to poop and eat? I would love to cordon off a larger area for her so I could put in a pan for dust bathing and also for roominess if we actually get chicks. Don't want to disturb her more than necessary. I'm giddy with excitement, can you tell?

 

[igorsMistress]

How exciting!

I've only had one broody. She would come out in the late afternoon to eat and drink, so only once per day. Even though there was food and water right there she still still went out to the yard to spend time with the flock.

Good luck!

 

[lily7grace92]

It sounds like she is indeed broody. You are doing everything right for her, and I really wouldn't worry. She should come off the nest once a day, but sometimes really dedicated hens will stay on the nest for days at a time. (I had one that didn't get off the nest for four days, and then had another who always got off once a day) I hope you end up having some baby chicks running around! It's so exciting!

 

[chickens really]

Broody so move her to a Brooder pen on the fake eggs and then swap them for real fertile eggs. I never have had an issue.

 

[steve232]

Yes sometimes sex links do go broody. I had a black sex link go broody for me last spring and she hatched 7 babies for me. She was a good mother and later on in the summer she went broody again but I didn't give her any eggs that time. Good luck with your mama wanna be. Mother hens and babies are so much fun to watch.

 

[Stacyoung13]

One of my black sex links has been in the nest box since last Thursday (this is day 5). I know there are 2 ceramic eggs and at least one real one under her (I am hoping there are more than that!). She won't let me look under her, but pecks me. Growls if I get too close to her. I took out a large wire crate and rigged it around her so no one can get too close, she has food and water right there and no one else can eat it---so I should be able to tell if she's eating, drinking and pooping. That always worries me, I've had some broody before but knew no fertile eggs and kept pulling her out, she got so thin and puny.

Is there anything else I need to do? She got scrambled egg, green beans and fermented mash this morning. They all get fermented mash every morning and then have layer pellets available all day. I've been wanting chicks and would love to have some hatched here. Was not expecting a sex link to go broody. I will definitely be looking for a poop tonight, if it's not there maybe she's not broody and is sick instead. Cross your fingers for me! I've got such a good rooster and she's a gentle hen, would make great chicks.

Any ideas how often a broody comes out to poop and eat? I would love to cordon off a larger area for her so I could put in a pan for dust bathing and also for roominess if we actually get chicks. Don't want to disturb her more than necessary. I'm giddy with excitement, can you tell?

Check under at night to see how many eggs she has. Good luck

 

[trudyg]

So today I went into the coop and she wanted out of the cage, so I opened the door (I only put the cage so the others wouldn't eat her food and leave her having to go out and get it, and I'm giving her eggs and other hi protein). So out she goes and, hours later, is still out. It's warm here today, up in the 80's, but not incubator warm. Is she done, do you think? I plan to leave the eggs until tomorrow and, if she's not back sitting on them, pull them out and toss. there were my 2 ceramic eggs and 6 more, so I"m disappointed at this development.

 

[trudyg]

This morning she was back in the nest on the eggs. Will continue to watch and wait and hope.