My first broody hen

[miquwid]

Hello I have my first broody hen she is an Amber Sex Link. She decided to lay some eggs in my rabbit hutch that needed to be fixed and then decided to sit on them. So we scrambled like crazy to fix it up around her broody growling self before night fall. We got it all set. I put food and water in there for her otherwise she would have to climb fences to get back to the coop and run to get food and water. This was yesterday she has not moved off those eggs since and she growls at us every time we check. She actually through a hissy fit yesterday when we got too close. I love her timing, I was counting on getting rabbits and found another rabbit hutch on craigslist and was going to put it in that area but not anymore LOL. So now that she took over my rabbit yard I guess I will hold off on that.

I hope that I am doing the right thing for her. Let me know if there is anything I can do to make her more comfortable.

In the picture the hutch has two separate compartments so she is setting outside the nesting area.

Thanks

 

[AmericanMom]

Hello I have my first broody hen she is an Amber Sex Link. She decided to lay some eggs in my rabbit hutch that needed to be fixed and then decided to sit on them. So we scrambled like crazy to fix it up around her broody growling self before night fall. We got it all set. I put food and water in there for her otherwise she would have to climb fences to get back to the coop and run to get food and water. This was yesterday she has not moved off those eggs since and she growls at us every time we check. She actually through a hissy fit yesterday when we got too close. I love her timing, I was counting on getting rabbits and found another rabbit hutch on craigslist and was going to put it in that area but not anymore LOL. So now that she took over my rabbit yard I guess I will hold off on that.

I hope that I am doing the right thing for her. Let me know if there is anything I can do to make her more comfortable.

In the picture the hutch has two separate compartments so she is setting outside the nesting area.

Thanks

You say there are two separate compartments? Its good for them to get up and move around, my concern is the food and water is too close?? I usually try and put the broodys food and water atleast 4-5 feet from her, that way she can get up, stretch eat , drink and poop well away from the nest..

Just a thought... But love the idea of the rabbit hutch! we raise rabbits also

 

[andiejones]

I have at least three broody hens and am thinking about chicks now. Keep posting with the results of her and possibly the chicks.

Love urban farming too

Andrea

 

[miquwid]

Okay thanks I will move the food n water!

I wan't sure I wanted more chicks but since I'm unsure of how long she has been setting, I just through my hands in the air. lol

 

[miquwid]

Nothing this morning right but when we got home tonight and went to lock up there was chirping! So far we see 5 chicks!! Not sure how many eggs she was sitting on. So we also did the math that she had been broody a week earlier than we had originally thought. Our calculations said next week was the hatch LOL. Oops she had been sitting on eggs for a little over a week without proper protection sneaky little girl.