One of my appenzeller spitzhauben hens decided to make a secret nest and go broody. We'd thought we lost her for a while until I see her hop out of the well to help herself to food and water one morning.
The well is just a wooden decorative one with a spout in the middle. No water or anything at the bottom, just dirt and dead leaves. The well is about four feet deep and the open space around the spout is pretty narrow, and then a roof over top makes it an awkward space for a human to try and squeeze into.
So I can't reach her or the eggs.
There are so many eggs, though I do think she tossed one from the nest since it's on the opposite side of the well from her now. It's hard to believe she can actually fit so many under her. All are appenzeller eggs (well, appenzeller/oprington mixes would hatch from them, but they were laid by an appenzeller).
The roof and high walls should keep them safe from the wind/rain. But it's not predator-proof and I can't reach them to move them. No clue how the chicks would even get out should they hatch.
I'd heard appenzellers weren't a very broody breed, but my girls seem to disagree. And they always want to do things their way instead of sleeping where I want them or nesting where they're meant to.
I'm glad she's not gone. And it may be nice to get some more buff oprington-looking chicks with crazy hair. But really? What am I supposed to do to help you miss?
Ideas for now-
Set up a temporary lid for during the night to keep predators out of the well.
Set up a permanent lid once the hen is moved out to keep chickens out of the well.
Find a way to safely move the eggs/chicks/hen out of the well.
Find a way to get food/water in and out of the well.
The well is just a wooden decorative one with a spout in the middle. No water or anything at the bottom, just dirt and dead leaves. The well is about four feet deep and the open space around the spout is pretty narrow, and then a roof over top makes it an awkward space for a human to try and squeeze into.
So I can't reach her or the eggs.
There are so many eggs, though I do think she tossed one from the nest since it's on the opposite side of the well from her now. It's hard to believe she can actually fit so many under her. All are appenzeller eggs (well, appenzeller/oprington mixes would hatch from them, but they were laid by an appenzeller).
The roof and high walls should keep them safe from the wind/rain. But it's not predator-proof and I can't reach them to move them. No clue how the chicks would even get out should they hatch.
I'd heard appenzellers weren't a very broody breed, but my girls seem to disagree. And they always want to do things their way instead of sleeping where I want them or nesting where they're meant to.
I'm glad she's not gone. And it may be nice to get some more buff oprington-looking chicks with crazy hair. But really? What am I supposed to do to help you miss?
Ideas for now-
Set up a temporary lid for during the night to keep predators out of the well.
Set up a permanent lid once the hen is moved out to keep chickens out of the well.
Find a way to safely move the eggs/chicks/hen out of the well.
Find a way to get food/water in and out of the well.