It's in the water!!

[SecondChanceRanch]

My 1st time with a broody chick and babies was realized 2 weeks ago. It was amazing and so exciting! We now have 2 adorable peeps.

Then one of my bantams started sitting. I let her because I felt bad. I figured 2 out of 10 eggs from my hen.... I let the bantam have 7 out of the like 16 eggs she hoarded. And ALL 7 are developing! Now I'm getting a bit nervous.

THEN yesterday I found another bantam has been sitting on who knows how many eggs!!! She's been collecting them inside the mower bag. (We don't use it)

So what was amazing, then cute, is now tolerable (I think). I have no idea what's going to happen space wise. Does broodyness become contagious?

LOL

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Yes, broody behaviors are contagious.

Bantams will go broody repeatedly, even in the dead of winter. It best to get something figured out for easy breaking of them, or a good use or market for all the chicks, especially the roosters, because you will be overrun if you let them all set. Currently I'm breaking most of my bantam flock for the third time this year by blocking off all the nests.

 

[SecondChanceRanch]

Yes, broody behaviors are contagious.

Bantams will go broody repeatedly, even in the dead of winter. It best to get something figured out for easy breaking of them, or a good use or market for all the chicks, especially the roosters, because you will be overrun if you let them all set. Currently I'm breaking most of my bantam flock for the third time this year by blocking off all the nests.

Oh, my! You're right I need to do something.

 

[drumstick diva]

They just want to be fulfilled as mothers - maybe just let them have a couple eggs each.

 

[SecondChanceRanch]

We felt SO bad when we realized that, but we had been collecting the eggs. We reduced her set to 7. She had 6 yesterday!