New Broody

[Donal2308]

I've a new broody hen. She's a White Leghorn cross. I don't know what breed the cross is, but she looks like a WL, but never had the yellow legs. She's about 18 months old and has just gone broody. The other hens are coming into the nest box and laying as normal. I've left her with 8 eggs, but she's not sitting on them properly. In the mornings, the eggs could be rolled out from under her and she makes no effort to bring them back under. Sometimes she's just standing over the eggs and not sitting on them. I'm going to destroy the eggs next week, because they've been cold too often now.

She's also losing condition, even though I see her coming off the nest to eat and drink. She's clucking like a broody and has pecked at me when I put my hand into the nest to take out the extra eggs.
So, the questions. Is broodiness more progressive as time goes on. Is she likely to know what her job is if I leave her at it? Also, is it normal for a new broody to lose condition like that? Also, should she be moved to another isolated nest box so the other layers don't disturb her every day to go in and lay their eggs beside her.

Thanks for taking the time to read this. Best regards from Ireland.

 

[Sussex19]

Is broodiness more progressive as time goes on.

Not really, in my opinion; it might take a while for a hen to decide if she really wants brood, but it sounds like your hen is further along then that.

Is she likely to know what her job is if I leave her at it?

Possible, but I wouldn't count on it.

Also, is it normal for a new broody to lose condition like that?

It sounds fairly normal, some broody hens aren't as good as others about coming off the nest to eat and drink, which isn't such a bad thing as at least it shows that they are committed.

 

[Sussex19]

Also, should she be moved to another isolated nest box so the other layers don't disturb her every day to go in and lay their eggs beside her.

This is a personal decision, most people do, I don't.
With her standing on the eggs, could it be that its hot weather, and she doesn't want them getting to hot?
Best of luck with her!

 

[Mrs. K]

A lot depends on your nest set up. My own, is a long 4 ft rectangle separated into 4 nests that really only hold one hen comfortably. I have seen two in there but not often. However, my neighbor has a shelf, and they all lay on the shelf together to lay their eggs. Eggs roll all over.
So if you have an area like that, then I would separate her, but only lock her in the new place a couple of days. I will tell you that moving a broody hen does not always work, and sometimes they go back to what they think is a proper nest.

I will also tell you, that I have had a hen go broody, I immediately stick eggs under her, to have her quit, but them 2-3 days later, get serious and I am out of hatching eggs. So now, unless I have a proven broody hen, I WAIT 3-4 days to make sure they are serious before marking eggs and giving them to her.

Broody hens are not as predictable as machines, where is why a lot of people on here have incubators. I don't, but I am not above buying chicks either.

Mrs K

 

[FC16]

I have a white leghorn cross too, was told she was a leghorn, she looks exactly like a white leghorn but doesn’t lay white eggs mine has never gone broody, but from what I’ve read white leghorns very very rarely go broody, and when they do they’re often no good at it. From what I’ve learnt on personal experience if they’re young or not a ‘good broody’ it’s not a great idea to let them do it. I was curious too if they get better the more they do it, but I was told its not necessarily how that works.
However if you can ensure she’s still eating and drinking, and have nothing to lose you could always give it a go I suppose

 

[Donal2308]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm still watching her to see how it goes. When she's standing over the eggs, rather than sitting, I've felt the egg surface and they are cold. I think I'll destroy the eggs that are under her and wait a couple of weeks, see how she goes. I generally use an incubator, so I think I'll get that going anyhow.

 

[Sussex19]

I think I'll destroy the eggs that are under her and wait a couple of weeks, see how she goes.

You could try candling them, just to be sure.

 

[Donal2308]

Yes, true, will do. I'll report back.