monnarush
In the Brooder
- Nov 6, 2016
- 53
- 33
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Good evening. Just wanted to tell my first broody hen experience. I have a silkie hen named Storm, I did not know if she was a rooster or hen until she became broody earlier this month. (she is 6 months old now)
One day my husband did not gather the eggs and I did not get to tend them until very late the next day and I did not check for eggs. The next morning I checked for eggs and tided up the coop and found Storm sitting on 4 eggs that i presume her and the other three girls contributed to. Of course it was at the back corner of the coop and easy to miss in the dark of the evening before. I reached in to see why she had not came out of the coop with the other chickens and she gave me a good peck and a growl type noise and of course I pulled back not expecting this kind of reception from a normally calm hen. I told her that now I can be sure she is a good hen, but due to it being December I pulled her out of the next and collected the egg.
Every day for about two weeks she has fought me, making me take her off the nest and out of the coop. I took to closing the door every morning after letting them out, weather permitted to make her stay out in the cool fall/winter coming air. Finally today she stayed off the nest all day without me having to close the door of the coop. (no other hens had been laying so no eggs were left outside in run area out in the weather.)
Now I presume that she has been broke out her broodiness and I hope will stay that way until spring when the weather and chick raising will be more successful. I did not have a broody box built to put her in but will work on a good plan for the next time broodiness come on at the wrong time of year.
P.S. If I had let her keep her eggs what would her chances of raising chicks this time of year be? Also my rooster is new at breeding so I was also unsure of her fertility. All five are approx 6 months old.
Merry Christmas everyone! Monna in WV
One day my husband did not gather the eggs and I did not get to tend them until very late the next day and I did not check for eggs. The next morning I checked for eggs and tided up the coop and found Storm sitting on 4 eggs that i presume her and the other three girls contributed to. Of course it was at the back corner of the coop and easy to miss in the dark of the evening before. I reached in to see why she had not came out of the coop with the other chickens and she gave me a good peck and a growl type noise and of course I pulled back not expecting this kind of reception from a normally calm hen. I told her that now I can be sure she is a good hen, but due to it being December I pulled her out of the next and collected the egg.
Every day for about two weeks she has fought me, making me take her off the nest and out of the coop. I took to closing the door every morning after letting them out, weather permitted to make her stay out in the cool fall/winter coming air. Finally today she stayed off the nest all day without me having to close the door of the coop. (no other hens had been laying so no eggs were left outside in run area out in the weather.)
Now I presume that she has been broke out her broodiness and I hope will stay that way until spring when the weather and chick raising will be more successful. I did not have a broody box built to put her in but will work on a good plan for the next time broodiness come on at the wrong time of year.
P.S. If I had let her keep her eggs what would her chances of raising chicks this time of year be? Also my rooster is new at breeding so I was also unsure of her fertility. All five are approx 6 months old.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Monna in WV
