New at this, advice??

[Luvmybob]

Well first off I want to say Hello to all!!

OK, now... I was wondering, my chickens just started to lay and the ones I want to raise (BO) don't seem too interested in the eggs...they lay and then leave the coop for their runner...

When is it normal for them to set or become broody or any advice you can let me know, because I'm planning on taking, well I was hoping to have one BO out of the coop to raise her and the other BO eggs??

I was hoping to have some broody pullets before fall, since we live in Florida cold weather won't come around until much much later in the year.

Just want some advice I guess on what to expect and is it ok for nature to do it's job instead of an incubator??

THANKS!!!
Dana

 

[my1stchicks]

My BO's have not gone broody yet and they are a year old. They don't seem to be a very broody bunch. Now my cochins went broody twice this summer.

Good luck with yours, hope you have more luck

 

[Junkmanme]

One of mt Buff Orpingtons went "broody" at about 1 year old. Sat on 6 eggs, 1 hatched.

I THINK if yours are about this age, .....If you let some eggs remain in the nest, one may decide to "stay put" and hatch them.

 

[my1stchicks]

Quote:
Thanks for the info, there is hope for luvmybob and me!!

Sure takes them awhile

 

[Whirlwind]

Hello Luvmybob,

My BO just hatched 10 chicks. She is 10 months old. She was only laying for 3 to 3 1/2 months. My DS had a BO that went

broody would barely get them raised and would go broody again. Give them more time. When they stay in the nest and

won't get out you got your self a broody. My hen only had 1 egg she was sitting on. I took it away from her (not fertile).

She sat in an empty nest. Next day someone else laid and egg. She sat on that. And so on untill I got her some fertile

eggs. It is a nature thing they seem to know when and I don't ever have a clue who is gonna go broody till they won't

stay out of the nest and get all grouchy and puff up the feathers when you try to boot them out or take thier eggs.

good luck I bet you will soon have a broody.

 

[Luvmybob]

Quote:
WOW!!! Congrads on the 10 chicks!!! Thank you all so much for your advice and well wishes!

I have a RIR that wants to go broody ( I think she's starting ) but would it be ok to let her hatch the BO's eggs as well as hers? She seems to want to sit on all of them and should I take her out of the coop to another nest alone or would she be ok in there with the other girls and roo?

I let all the chickens out of the coop and runner around 2pm to free-range until they go back in at night, but I just want to be sure it's ok to leave her nest there?

Thanks for your input, it is so helpful!!!

Also, My BO girls are about 22 weeks old so they are still fairly young and my RIR that wants to sit is 20 weeks old( she's the only 20 weeker that is laying, I have 2 more still waiting )

 

[Whirlwind]

Your broody can sit on any eggs you want her to have. The eggs my broody hatched were not hers or any of my hens but

some I got from someone On BYC.

I always separate my broodys. Do you have somewhere else you can put her. It does not have to be large. I used a small

dog carrier I bought at a garage sale. And put her in the chicken tractor or stroller as I call it. A portable cage. I used a

large live trap once. She will need a small amount of space to get up and eat and drink probably only once a day and the

do the broody poo. She will not want to spoil her nest and will hold it untill she gets up.

The problem with keeping her in with the others can be fighting over the nest resulting in broken eggs. Others laying eggs

on top of her or when she gets up and so you get eggs maturing at different rates. And if you try to get the eggs out from

under her that are fresh she may peck really hard. Also the less you disturb the eggs the better I think. Some people

candle and check the fertility and growth. I just leave them alone and let her do her stuff. My mom said they had a broody

nest set up in the run kinda looked like a little tepee. If you leave her in with the others they will get in her nest when she

gets up and she will not be happy. I have had any where from 3 to 10 layers at one time. They always want to lay in the

same nest and will wait in line to get in that nest. Sometimes the nest changes from the cool end in summer to the warm

end in the winter. So if you can put her somewhere else I would. Move her at night about 1 hour after dark, wear gloves

she will peck hard and by morning she will be all happy. I have done this everytime I get a broody cause they always go

broody in the nest boxes. Good luck and I hope this helps a little bit.

 

[ChickieKeeta]

My bo went broody at about exactly 12 months of age.