I want her to set eventually, but not now!

[frankenchick]

Ok, maybe it's my bad. I chose the NH because they sometimes will go broody, and I want that eventually. Of course, Mrs. Batty is broody now . . . which is weird because there's no roo around!

I let her sit in the box until afternoon, then put her in the 10x10 pen outdoors so she can get water and food. She doesn't leave the box, otherwise.

Is this the thing to do? I don't want to discourage her, because I would like to hatch eggs in the spring, but that's a long way away and she's stopped laying. What to do?

She climbs into whichever box has the most eggs/golfballs and sits on them!

 

[silkiechicken]

Well, you don't need a roo to get a broody. I assume you want to break her. Try getting her bottom wet and putting her in a open bottom wire cage or blocking off all nesting boxes. Else, give in and get her a chick or eggs!

 

[frankenchick]

Do the eggs have to be real? I'm not sure how having chicks going into my first winter raising chickens would work. I don't want the babies to suffer because of the learning curve there.

 

[silkiechicken]

Oh, by giving her eggs... I ment giving her fertile ones so she can hatch chicks! If you give her fake ones she might sit for months... Up to you!