Newbie with first time broody, I'm confused!

[MydearWatson]

Hi! I have done a search on breaking broodies and have gotten a ton of info, which has been great! But I'm still confused! LOL.

I have 4 hens and a rooster. Only 3 of the hens are laying (they are 6 months old) and I have two nesting boxes. I noticed about 4 days ago my Silkie/Wyandotte mix sat in the nesting box a lot. Yesterday it dawned on me that she had gone broody! Duh! So I got her out and collected the very warm eggs (they were laid that morning and she had been sitting on them all day). I dont want baby chicks now since I feel it is too late in the season and these babies wont make it outside and I cant have them inside. I read I should take the nest away so I did. She just sat in the other nest.

My question is, how do I discourage her yet, give my other girls a place to lay? If I leave just one nest will they kick her out to lay? Will they start laying on the coop floor? I'm not sure what to do. I want to break her since she isn't taking many poo or food breaks; but I dont want to mess my other girls up. Also, can I still eat the eggs that were hot? Do they go bad in that high temperature?

Help!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The traditional method is to put the broody in a cage suspended to allow it's bottom to cool. Keep a little food and water in the cage and in a few days she's broken and commences laying.

 

[stoopid]

If you're lucky, that may work. But since there is Silkie blood in there, it may never happen.
That is all Silkies want to do. Eat, poop, and be broody. Good luck!

 

[MydearWatson]

thanks so much for your help!

I have no cage to suspend her in so that wont work for me. What if I take the nests away after I know the other girls have laid? will she then roost with the rest of her family at night and her bum will cool then?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Good luck breaking a bird with silkie in her. You do know she will keep the babies warm, right? (If you don't give her too many for her to cover)

 

[MydearWatson]

Yes, I know she will keep them warm but it is so cold here. I cant imagine she will keep them warm until they are fully feathered, will she?

 

[Jackie B.]

Stick a bag of frozen peas under her! That will cool her down. If she's plucked our her breast feather I'd wrap the frozen peas in a towel as to not burn her bare skin. Good luck!

 

[elmo]

Sometimes you just have to let them get it out of their systems. I have one hen like that. She will happily sit in an empty nest for 3 weeks.

If you don't have a separate pen to put your Silkie in while you try to discourage her from going broody, then you can just let her do her thing in with the rest of the flock. Keep taking her off the nest and shooing her out whenever you go in to feed and collect eggs. I weigh my persistent broody frequently to make sure she isn't getting too thin. Normally, they can lose 30 percent of their body weight while nesting.

If you collect eggs daily (and don't miss any days), there shouldn't be any problem with her sitting on them for this short period.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
As long as you only give her 2 or 3, she'll keep them warm until they are fully feathered. My babies raised under a broody feather out much faster than those raised in a brooder. If they get cold, they'll run under her for warmth.

 

[MydearWatson]

Well, her nest isnt empty anymore. She has one egg in there now. It is either hers or her biological sisters. Thinking might just try to let her sit on it and hope it hatches. It might be one weird looking baby, a Partridge Silkie/Wandotte/Blue Orp!

This being her first winter, I just hope she stays strong while doing all this work, she is our favorite girl. Can I expect her to sit on the egg for at least 21 days? Will she continue to sit if it doesnt hatch?

Thank you for your patience with me, I am SUCH the novice!