My First Broody...Rooster Question

[cheeps]

So I have my first ever broody hen, Bertha the dark cornish bantam hen. I think she's got about 16 eggs under her. She's been seperated with her rooster, Butch, for about a month in a small coop that is raised off the ground. He's a pretty friendly rooster, however the past two days he has tried to attack me when I stick my arms in to feed or water. Is he just being protective of her? If so, that's fine, but that's got me wondering about letting chicks hatch around roosters. Have ya'll ever had trouble with a rooster hurting the chicks? Does Butch need to move before Bertha hatches her clutch?

 

[debilorrah]

He is being protective and you need to make sure that he knows YOU are boss. If he does it again, holler at him and push him HARD. Don't smack him, just shove him back while you are hollering. If it keeps up let me know and we can talk in PM.

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

First of all: CONGRATS!

Yes, your rooster needs to be moved before your hen hatches out chicks.

 

[920utlaw]

I dont know the answer to your question, my guess would be that hes being protective. Just wanted to say thats a beautiful hen.

 

[cheeps]

Quote:
Thanks! She's a funny little bird...I had never seen a cornish in person before till we went to a local show. When I saw them I had to have them!

 

[sourland]

I'm concerned that she has too many eggs. If she can't cover all of them, they will periodically become chilled, and none may hatch. Hope I'm wrong, but I would be tempted to remove some.

 

[Cackling Hen]

Quote:
I agree my bantam cornish can handle maybe 10-12 but I only let her have 8 this is her second time being broody she is a year old Such a good mama Good luck and I would not let rooster around the babies I had a horrible roo that attacked my babies it was awful.

 

[cheeps]

Quote:
Awesome advice...hubby mentioned that. I hate it when he's right! should I remove some from the outskirts of the nest? Or does it matter?

 

[Mrs. Fluffy Puffy]

Is your cornish a standard or a bantam?

 

[babsbag]

My bantie sat on 12 until hatch time. Then she decides that she has too many and kicks 3 eggs out of the nest. I grabbed them and candled them, one was clear. The others I stuck in my incubator. After she hatched out a few chicks I gave the eggs back to her and they both hatched. I think that 12 was really pushing it for her. I think next time 8 or 9 is the max. Do you have an incubator you could put the extras in?

I have a blue laced red cornish, she was not my broody. But the funny thing is I was told she was a Wyandotte when I got her, but she didn't look like any I had ever seen. A few months ago I saw a cornish at someone's house and said, "that is what I have, what is that?". Glad to know my gal isn't just a funny looking Wyandotte. She lays an egg for me about every other day and she is real sweetire. Some of the eggs my broody hatched were hers.

Good luck with your girl.