New Hen in the House

[TJKeller]

You can't tell if fresh eggs are fertile by candling them, have to open them up and look at the yolks.
View attachment 2117229

Best to use fake eggs as bait.

She may lay until she's truly broody.
These are my go to signs of a broody bird:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

Oh thank you so much! Yes to all! I’ll try to open one of her eggs to see if fertile. Will be getting some fake eggs to use instead of her old ones.
Really appreciate the advice! Thank you!

 

[TJKeller]

My pleasure! She might lay more or she might not, depends on hormones. You could always collect eggs from the other hen for a few days and put those under her. She won't likely care. I would make sure they're fertile first.

Good idea! Thanks again so much! More to try. Stay tuned

 

[TJKeller]

You can't tell if fresh eggs are fertile by candling them, have to open them up and look at the yolks.
View attachment 2117229

Best to use fake eggs as bait.

She may lay until she's truly broody.
These are my go to signs of a broody bird:
Is she on nest most the day and all night?
When you pull her out of nest and put her on the ground, does she flatten right back out into a fluffy screeching pancake?
Does she walk around making a low cluckcluckcluckcluckcluck(ticking bomb) sound on her way back to the nest?

If so, then she is probably broody and you'll have to decide how to manage it.

Bullseye! Granted I now only have 1 egg she’s sitting on but maybe I’ll get a chick out of it. Thanks again!

 

[TJKeller]

Bullseye! Granted I now only have 1 egg she’s sitting on but maybe I’ll get a chick out of it. Thanks again!