is it broody time?

[chickenbottom]

of corse i collect my eggs daily and by the clutch i mean she will sit on her eggs or lay eggs until she thinks its enough and through the time she will stop laying i read that

 

[dancingbear]

So...you collect eggs daily (like most of us) and she's not gathering a clutch. Of course she isn't gathering a clutch, there's nothing for her to gather.

Somehow, I think we have failure to communicate.

No matter, when she gets really broody, you'll know, because she won't get off the nest except a daily break. Whether there are eggs in it or not.

 

[chickenbottom]

no i understand what your saying just sometimes she doesnt get off the nest at all that day and i wont collect the one that is under her so she had one under her all night then the next day which was today she had two eggs in there both of corse hers and she sat on them for a little while then didnt go back to it at all

 

[dancingbear]

Thanks, I was confused! That makes sense now.

 

[JerseyGiant]

I looked through all the posts on broody hens, but I didn't see any that addressed my problem. I have Jersey Giant hens, they will be two this April, and a faithful hard working Rhode Island Red rooster. I have checked the eggs and all the ones I looked at were fertile.
Now the problem.
I have two hens that act like they want to set. They are on the nest for 3 or 4 days without fail-day/night, then they will abandon it for days. Of course I have to remove the cold eggs and then here they go again. One finally quit altogether and the other is setting on golf balls. I took the eggs away to see if she means business this time.
Any ideas on why the peculiar behavior? Is it just the breed? Are they too young?
I don't bother them, they are free range with a hen house and nesting house, plenty of feed, etc.
I would rather have fresh chicks from these hens without using an incubator or buying from the local farm store.
Any help appreciated.

 

[chickenbottom]

Quote:
well im not familer with these bird types and sorry it has taken me a long time to reply but it does sound like they want to but dont want to just watch and see what they do and if they sit more than 10 days they might just stay put until hatching time

 

[flakey chick]

Once they start to go broody, you should isolate them from the rest of the flock. My guess is thta they would stay broody without the distractions of their flock mtaes. At 2 years old they are plenty old enough.

 

[JerseyGiant]

Thanks for the help.

She did it!
One of my faithful Black Jersey Giant ladies did us proud. She managed to set on a dozen eggs to completion. I saw three little heads poked out from under her today.
May 1st chicks. I'm hoping that all dozen hatch out.
We have so many predators that I've got to get busy sectioning off a part of the coop for mama and chicks. They are free range and I've lost several to hawks, coons, possums, cats, etc., these last two years even though the land is heavily fenced. I'm worried about them, but I can't watch them 24/7. I've thought of a dog, but that's future.
Wish her luck!

 

[astabuffalorp]

Hello All, This is my first post and not one I've seen an answer to anywhere. I'm really "backyard" and urban at that. All I have is Buffy (guess her breed) and Asta (Australorp). They are both almost exactly one year and Buffy has gone broody. No rooster here and one nest box shared between them. Buffy is brooding Asta's eggs. I took the nest away after Asta laid one day and Buffy just set herself up in a cozy corner. How long will this go on? It's been about four days. Asta seems to just get into the nest on top of Buffy until B can't stand it and gets out of the nest. Many thanks for any advice.