If they want to be Mothers... UPDATE! I HAVE CHICKS! NOW WITH PICS!

[bigdaddyabc]

Well, I went out to lock them up for the night and there were the eggs, lying bare in the nest. I put them under a couple of hens for the night so they wouldn't freeze. I guess as DarkMatter says I will just see what transpires and let nature take its course. I just figured that as nest crazy as a couple of them have been for a couple of days they would be all over those eggs, literally!

Worst that can happen is I lose 18 eggs, but since I am getting 16-20 a day, it isn't that big of a deal. Hopefully

I will get 2 or 3 of them to go broody in the next few days and hatch out these eggs. I sold my bator after I hatched my first batch. My work responsibilities just won't allow me to be here as much as I need to. It was a struggle this summer, really. I will keep you "posted" HA!

 

[bigdaddyabc]

MORNING UPDATE:

As of this morning, Keilbasa is back on the nest! I gave her another egg as a reward, she pushed it under her, clucked a quick thank you and went right back to being all broody and nest loving. Hilarious girl! The BSL from yesterday is also back, but in another nest. So, I moved eggs and put them under her. She pushed them under herself, kinda sighed and sat there giving me the stink eye. The third nest might get inhabited by Butch. I know, not a great hen name, but there is a story. She seem sto be interested, so I gave her 4 to start and we will see. Cross your fingers folks!

 

[MuranoFarms]

I had a first time momma take a whole week to get the "sit ON the eggs" thing right!

First she was on the nest, then on the ground in front of it (she's a silkie so their nests are on the floor) then in the nest with the eggs in front of her...get the idea? It took several days of me putting her back on the eggs, but she got it and set the whole 3 weeks. Give her time....she should catch on.

 

[bigdaddyabc]

I wrote my morning update at 11 am or so, but it took me a while to get to the computer. As of 3 minutes ago (roughly 3:30) she hasn't budged. Now I just need a "volunteer" for the other 8 eggs I would like to hatch. I am hopeful that one of the other girls will see her and the box with the eggs and get the idea too. I would put them under Keilbasa but if I did she would look like a cartoon sitting on top of a stack of eggs like a hilltop perch. If all goes well I will be seeing new baby chicks on the 21st!! YAY!

 

[bigdaddyabc]

Weeeellllll, CRAP! After sitting the nest all day, making two in a row (I thought we had something here) tonight I got home and found Keilbasa in another box sleeping and her eggs cold in the nest. Guess that does that. I brought them in and am boiling them for egg sald or I will feed them to the girls. Either way I am a little sad. I will set another nest of 6-8 of the collection tomorrow and try again. One of these dang birds is going broody, so help me!

 

[Kittymomma]

Quote:
One of the biggest problems I have when letting hens brood in the main coop is that they often get back on the wrong nest after their daily trip to poo/eat/drink/dustbath. If you can't be home during the day so you can put them back on the right nest you may have better luck putting your broody girl in a large dog crate. It works really well, especially if you have room in the main coop for it--keeps you from having to deal with integration issues later.

 

[bigdaddyabc]

I could imagine that is the case here except that it isn't like she missed by a hole, or that it wasn't the one DIRECTLY in front of the door when they go in. She moved 4 to the right and up a row. Crazy chicken. Funny enough I DO have a large dog crate and it will easily fit in my coop. GREAT idea. It would hold a nest box or two, food water wood chips, the whole nine yards. I will consider that tomorrow. I have to see how far back the dang thing is stored. If not, I am going to put 8 eggs in a nest and see if one of them gets to work. I guess we will continue the battle another day.

 

[Kittymomma]

The phrase "bird brain" came to be for a reason.

Mine never seem to miss by just one spot either, it's more like whatever is handy and doesn't have another hen in it is good enough regardless of wheather or not there are even any eggs in the box or not. Best of luck and keep us posted. I don't have any broody girls right now so I'm making do by reading about those that do.

 

[bigdaddyabc]

By George I think I got it! So, having re-read all the posts here, and gleaning some great ideas, I went out this morning and built a house within the main coop for my mommies to be. It is plenty big for them to walk around a little if they want and has an area for food and water. I can clean it out easily too. I put two nests in it and two hens. I put 8 eggs in one nest, and a couple in the other. Keilbasa sat right down in her box, but the other hen was a bit restless, and avoided the box. I then remembered reading that silkies like to nest on the ground. I moved the eggs over to the area that didn't have a box or "nest, just a big pile of wood chips. She tucked those eggs and plopped right down. If she keeps it up I will give her a few more later today as the other hens lay for the day. Keilbasa was far better after the silkie settled in too. I now have an empty nest just in case another girl goes broody in the next day or two. I will get some pics up pretty soon. Thanks for all the good info! It is why I LOVE BYC and BYC'ers!!!

 

[Kittymomma]

How are the broody girls doing?