For a little over a week now, one of my hens has been 'broody'...........
As I 'still' am not sure if I actually 'have' a roo (another story altogether!) in my little flock, I didn't know if the eggs she was attempting to hatch were, actually 'fertile'!
So, I was at a loss as to what to do....................attempt to break her up, or purchase some 'hatching eggs', and let her sit on something that might actually
turn into a chick or two!
In the mean time, I have been gently trying to break her up.............taking off the nest, removing eggs, etc......and now each day she seems to stay out with the other
girls longer and longer.
When she's out, each day she seems to scratch around longer, accept treats more and more, etc.......today she even took a dust bath!
But when she goes back in the coop, she go directly to a nest box......whether there are eggs there or not..........and she 'will' stay there all night, vs roosting with the
others.
Is it possible to break up a broody so easily?
I have NOT attempted the wire crate/raised off the ground method.........just removing her from the nest a couple times a day, removing eggs, etc.
Also, would it be cruel to let her brood a couple of our eggs for the 21 days........even though I don't know if I actually have a roo......on the outside chance that she may
be able to hatch a couple chicks???????
As I 'still' am not sure if I actually 'have' a roo (another story altogether!) in my little flock, I didn't know if the eggs she was attempting to hatch were, actually 'fertile'!
So, I was at a loss as to what to do....................attempt to break her up, or purchase some 'hatching eggs', and let her sit on something that might actually
turn into a chick or two!
In the mean time, I have been gently trying to break her up.............taking off the nest, removing eggs, etc......and now each day she seems to stay out with the other
girls longer and longer.
When she's out, each day she seems to scratch around longer, accept treats more and more, etc.......today she even took a dust bath!
But when she goes back in the coop, she go directly to a nest box......whether there are eggs there or not..........and she 'will' stay there all night, vs roosting with the
others.
Is it possible to break up a broody so easily?
I have NOT attempted the wire crate/raised off the ground method.........just removing her from the nest a couple times a day, removing eggs, etc.
Also, would it be cruel to let her brood a couple of our eggs for the 21 days........even though I don't know if I actually have a roo......on the outside chance that she may
be able to hatch a couple chicks???????
