I think she's broody - what to do?

[henrietta101]

I have a 6 month old Australorp (plus a New HAmpshire x RIR plus Isa Brown). My Australorp has been sitting all day, all night in a nesting box, only occassionally coming out to have something to eat. She wont even wander around the yard anymore. This has been going on for 5 days. I am thinking she is broody? What shall I do about this? We dont have a rooster. About a month ago we were devastated by the death of one of our New HAmpshire x RIR. We did not get another chicken being concerned about introducing a hen of a different age and potential conflict. The hens left get along famously. The australorp is a quiet, sweet hen. The ISa is a little anxious but gentle. The other one is the dominant hen but is pretty harmless. She gives me a peck if i take too long to put her feed in.

1. Is my Australorp broody?
2. Should I get her a fertile egg? And if yes could i end up with problems with the rest of the flock?
3. We are going away in a month for 12 days. If an egg is the answer, would this be a bad idea considering we are going away? We are getting neighbours to look after them. Do they come inside at night? Or can they stay out with their 'mummy' Australorp.

 

[Stephanie739]

I would look for fertile eggs from neighbors or the local area on Craigsist and put them under her, 8 or so. My australorp just hatched 5. She is a great mom. I didn't have to do anything.

 

[Stephanie739]

The babies are of the flock now, even at less than 2 weeks of age. Its very cute.

 

[Stephanie739]

I'm not sure where all the babies are in this picture. I only see the black one. They will wander several feet from the mom, and none of the other chickens hurt them. The big rooster acts like the dad.

 

[Mrs. K]

If you can't get eggs, and with eggs you do have the probability of several roosters. See if you can get chicks, it is getting late, but some places will still have them or be able to get them. At about 21 days, give or take a few days, you can slip them under her in the dark.

The advantage of chicks, is you can get the sex and number that you want.

However, hatching out eggs is fun!

This is the EASIEST way to add to your flock. There will not be the introduction issues that others have trying to combine hens and non-flock chicks. The broody hen, will protect the chicks from the layers, until they all get used to each other.

The hen takes all the care of them, so your trip won't be a problem, other than you might miss them while you are gone.

MrsK

 

[tgblldog70]

if you cant find any fertile eggs I will be more than happy to send you 6, my roo is an EE and my hens are Isa Browns. they make some really interesting looking chicks everyone of them is different its a riot. let me know.

 

[Red Barn Farms]

if you cant find any fertile eggs I will be more than happy to send you 6, my roo is an EE and my hens are Isa Browns. they make some really interesting looking chicks everyone of them is different its a riot. let me know.

You really have some pretty chickens!

 

[BlossomSilkies]

You can slip a chick under her. I did this recently with my broody blue laced red wyandotte. I picked up a chick (was about a 3 week old) from the feed store (a black australorpe) and put her in the next box with my broody. Worked beautifully, see...

1st Day



Couple weeks later

 

[tgblldog70]

Thank you let me know if would like some. Come July my Buffs and silvers should start laying and Rocky has already been doing his love dance on them so I know they will be fertile eggs also.

 

[henrietta101]

Wow I just saw all the replies. Thank you. What beautiful photos, and how kind of you to offer fertile eggs. We are going on holidays for 12 days soon so my husband told me to wait till we get back, and if she is broody still then we should follow up. I like the idea of chicks because we live in the city and so a rooster would mean very cranky neighbours. I feel so excited about hte idea of having Henrietta with her own chicks from looking at the beautiful photos. Hope she is broody once we get back. And thanks for the tip about the hen looking after the chicks so we can introduce them. We lost a darling hen about four weeks ago so we are keen to build up our numbers anyway. Losing her was very hard so this will be some joy.

Thanks for the posts.