My minorca is trying to hatch a golf ball

[Cindilou]

So, (it's like I'm on here every day) last night I noticed one of my girls was in the box (yay!) but it was late and she just started laying less than a month ago so I went to put my hand in there to give her a pet and check for eggs and she growled at me and pecked at my hand. I pulled the golf ball out (you know, the "lay here!" reminder ball) and she moved it back under her with her beak. Seriously, broody already? I left her and went inside for the night. When I came out this morning to have our Saturday chicken free range time she was out and about and I gave a sigh of relief. When free-range backyard time was over she went up to the box and sat on my EE's egg and the golf ball. I took the EE's egg and brought it inside. No roosters here to make babies. I'm assuming this is broody behavior. I took her out of the box and put her in the run and she went straight back up...should I get her some eggs? Try and break it? This is crazy, I thought I would have plenty of time before one of these girls went broody.

 

[ScissorChick]

Definatly broody

It's up to wether you you want to get fertile eggs for her to hatch, or break

the broodiness.

Good luck with whatever you choose

!

 

[Cindilou]

Thanks.
I'm not sure what we'll do yet. My mom is all, "oh, she just wants to be a mom! Gets her some eggs!" I'm all, "I don't know where to put more chickens" I live in a smallish lot. (My mother owns this house that I rent from her.)
We'll figure it out.

 

[ragerkid2]

Before you get her eggs make sure you know she is 100% broody. She should not get off the nest but once or twice a day to poop eat and drink. I would let her go a couple days to see if she is "broody" or not.

 

[Cindilou]

Thanks, I'm going to look up the threads on here on taking care of broody chickens and breaking broodiness some more. I don't have a separate area for her as of now which is one of the reasons I'm not 100% on getting her eggs yet plus I have 2 college finals this week. Busy, busy!

 

[Cindilou]

Just went out to check on her and she is in the run but it looks like she is making a nest of feathers and hay around the ball. Probably going to wait it out and see how she is in the next few days.

 

[Happy Chooks]

She's not ready yet. When she's fully broody, she will stay on the nest all day (except for a food/water/poo break) and all night.

I have a girl that puffs up, screeches, pecks me, and has even plucked her belly clean, but she has yet to stay on the nest at night.

 

[Cindilou]

So if I just wait it out she will either go back to normal or be full on broody?
I just got back from some errands and she is in the box protecting her ball and screeched at me.

 

[Cindilou]

Me again.
Since my bird is only half broody (only spends half the day in the box) should I be concerned that there is no laying from her. Some eggbound issues or is she just going through some hormone changes that are not full on.
Thanks

 

[ragerkid2]

She probaly is not laying eggs