I want to be a mom

[Doc1960]

I have hens that were dumped on my property. I have adopted them and took them home to where my house is. I’m not sure of the age but looking they look to be a year old maybe a little older. I have one chicken that always goes out to the henhouse and lays in a nest box. I have another hen that just started lying about a week ago. But she lays in another nest that’s outside of the henhouse. When they go to bed at night the hen that just started laying goes into the henhouse, gets up on the nest box and starts tucking eggs under her like she’s gonna sit on them. Of Course there’s not but a couple eggs in there because I just haven’t gathered them for a day or two to just watch . My question is, does this indication she’s ready to start sitting and if so and I decide to let her. How long should I let eggs sit out in the nest with them getting off during the day? Do I need to take them out and store them in a dry warm carton and then put them all back or just leave them? Never had a sitting hen before so I am clueless? Oh and for the record I’m addicted to this group already.

 

[azygous]

I assume you have a definite broody? Okay, here are the rules.

The broody is in charge of the eggs, not you. She will carefully take note of the current weather, air temperature, and the progress of her developing brood. She will get off the nest to dirt bathe, eat, and drink, and according to her assessment of the temperature of the day, she will adjust her break from her nest sitting duties according to how warm or cold it is.

On very warm days, the eggs will cool at a much slower rate than on very cold days so she will indulge herself on those warm days by lingering in a dirt bath or gleefully annoying her flock mates with her obsessive mutterings. On cold days, she's off and back on the nest before you will even notice.

Chickens have been around for many thousands of years, so their instincts for perpetuating their species is finely honed. Trust your broody. Few will go flaky on you and let you down.

 

[aart]

Collect eggs daily and store on the counter until you're sure she's definitely broody.

Here are my go-to signs of broody hen.
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

​

 

[Perris]

you don't say whether or not you have a roo. If not, you'll have to get hatching eggs for her, ideally from somewhere close enough to collect in person, and of a breed that suits your environment and management style.

 

[Doc1960]

Sorry yes

you don't say whether or not you have a roo. If not, you'll have to get hatching eggs for her, ideally from somewhere close enough to collect in person, and of a breed that suits your environment and management style.

I have Roosters!

 

[Doc1960]

Collect eggs daily and store on the counter until you're sure she's definitely broody.

Here are my go-to signs of broody hen.
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

​

Thank you! I have had lots of company over the pat few days so late on the thank you’s!

 

[Doc1960]

Sorry Im late on this! yes I have Roosters!

 

[Doc1960]

I assume you have a definite broody? Okay, here are the rules.

The broody is in charge of the eggs, not you. She will carefully take note of the current weather, air temperature, and the progress of her developing brood. She will get off the nest to dirt bathe, eat, and drink, and according to her assessment of the temperature of the day, she will adjust her break from her nest sitting duties according to how warm or cold it is.

On very warm days, the eggs will cool at a much slower rate than on very cold days so she will indulge herself on those warm days by lingering in a dirt bath or gleefully annoying her flock mates with her obsessive mutterings. On cold days, she's off and back on the nest before you will even notice.

Chickens have been around for many thousands of years, so their instincts for perpetuating their species is finely honed. Trust your broody. Few will go flaky on you and let you down.

Sorry im late on the Thank you’s! Been a busy weekend!