I found where my missing hen has been hiding this past week; in the woods( near the coop) hiding under some brush on a nest full of eggs! In fact there are so many eggs she can't even cover them all with her body! So I guess she didn't get "booted out" as I previously suspected. The poor hen wants a brood of her own, but unfortunately none of the eggs are fertilised ( no roosters). What do we do now? I guess we have to take away all the eggs? If we take away her eggs, will she try and integrate with the other hens again? Will she ever be accepted back into the flock, and if so, how do we go about re-introducing her?
Yes take away her eggs. You can reintroduce her to the others in the evening. Once the others have went in to roost. Place her on the roost near another one. The other chickens won't even know she is there. Another option is to get someone on BYC to send you some fertilized eggs and let her sit them! She obviously wants some babies of her own and keeps laying hoping one of the little buggers will grow!!!! What a gem to have a broody hen.....I am jealous!
Aw, poor baby!!! Well at least you found her!!!! That is good!!! Congratulations!!!! I hope she does well being back with the flock!!! Chrissie
Your have to let us know how many eggs are under her. Boy it looks like she has a lot. I'm glad she's ok. What kind is she? I have some RIR eggs I could send you. Hint Hint.
She's a Redrock Cross, and I will let you know in the morning how many eggs there are! I hope she'll be okay if I re-introduce her at night. I just worry about the morning when the others all see her in there ( we have a light on a timer set to go on and off )that they don't attack her. Will this happen?
They might try to get their bluff in on her and play king of the castle but she will be fine. She is about the same size as the others right? They will chase each other to get the "Pecking" order in line but then they will be fine. By the way, if you need to send her my way, she can be broody on the eggs I have!!!!
