OK--I was SO not prepared for a 25 wk old leghorn to go broody!

[cjatthefarm]

So--HELP!!

Today, April 30, she is 7 or 8 days into her brood. I am soooo eggcited!!

I learned by doing a search here that it's best to let her get 10 days into her brood before trying to move her.

I have 'curtained' her off somewhat. But, I can see no good place in my little chicken world to keep the babies and she separate and safe after they're hatched. That is, unless I move them into the brooder box, that has been removed from the inside of the coop and stored. I really thought there would not be babies for awhile!!

I would, of course, not need lamps. But is there anything but food & water & a box to duplicate the nesting box that I am not realizing?

Thanks!

 

[Happy Chooks]

A broody leghorn, you ARE lucky!

Some people separate, some let them hatch with the flock. If you don't separate, just be sure to mark the eggs so you know which ones to remove daily.

But is there anything but food & water & a box to duplicate the nesting box that I am not realizing?

The eggs silly.

 

[Mahonri]

Broody leghorns are indeed rare.


I let mine go broody in the coop.... I MARK the eggs that she started with so that I can removed the unmarked ones each day.

When she starts hatching, I put a board in front of the nesting box to keep the others out, when the hatch is very close to complete, I removed them and put them in a pet carrier and put water and chick starter at the front of the carrier. After a couple of days I let her out to roam and free range and take care of the babies... at present I have one that I just put eggs under and another that just hatched out two weeks ago... the two week olds go into the pet carrier at night with mama to stay warm.

At four or five weeks I'm going to take mama away and try and tame them down by giving them treats in an enclosed area.

 

[bburn]

I have a corner in the run that is fenced off with a gate. I was given a crate like tile is shipped in and built a small 'coop' around that. It was for my three cochins. They have been moved.

So, when my Dark Cornish went broody my plan was to move her to that at some point. After changing nest for the fourth time I decided she was going to have to move to the corner where she did not have a choice of nest boxes daily. We moved her last night after chicken bedtime. She was very unhappy and tried to get back to the big coop....we managed to keep her in the corner and get her eggs moved into the nest. We blocked the door to her coop so she would have to stay in it at least last night. This morning I went out and took the cover off the door and she was back on her nest.....but she growled at me.

So far so good. She only has two eggs under her and my other plan was to give her new eggs to sit on....but she has been doing this for over a week and I did not want her setting any longer than she had to. So....maybe two will hatch. Should be around May 18th or so. She is safe where she is and the chicks will be too.

I had a plan for a broody but would have never thought it would have been this Dark Cornish. I was planning on it being my cochin!! Goes to show......

 

[J.S. Webb]

Ive never heard of a broody leghorn. lol

 

[cjatthefarm]

Okay. I have read about marking eggs. But this girl has NOT been off the nest in 8 days. Absolutely NO ONE else has been in this box but her. I have put little piles of food in front of her, inside the box. She is eating, maybe drinking, because I also have a dish of water for her.


Are you serious? Are broody leghorns rare?

I read the chicks could be hurt by the other hens........if they weren't also broody. This made me feel that making her a place in the brooder box would be the best for the next 2-3 weeks.

I'll post pics in the morning!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Leghorns are not usually a broody breed, so yes, pretty rare.

 

[cjatthefarm]

So, I got one photo of my girl to upload. Took two others, but came up as same # of other photos already uploaded??? Camera's fault--or mine--oh well.

Since she is soooooo protective of her nest; I believe I will have my friend close up the area around her nest box. I don't think she would let me move she or the eggs....... And I don't want her unduly upset.

She is sort of under the ladder, so I think we can board that along the side and make her a good sized 'haven'.

Do I not understand the idea about removing & marking the eggs????!!!
If they are all hers, and if she never leaves the nest; what is it I am supposed to remove/mark?

She eating the food I put into the nest box, not sure about water. Her comb is looking kinda sad....concerns me.

 

[cjatthefarm]

So, I got one photo of my girl to upload. Took two others, but came up as same # of other photos already uploaded??? Camera's fault--or mine--oh well.

Since she is soooooo protective of her nest; I believe I will have my friend close up the area around her nest box. I don't think she would let me move she or the eggs....... And I don't want her unduly upset.

She is sort of under the ladder, so I think we can board that along the side and make her a good sized 'haven'.

Do I not understand the idea about removing & marking the eggs????!!!
If they are all hers, and if she never leaves the nest; what is it I am supposed to remove/mark?

She is eating the food I put into the nest box, not sure about water. Her comb is looking kinda sad....concerns me.

*went back & figured out how to get 2nd pic on!!

sorry 'bout the double post

 

[cjatthefarm]

Quote:
Thank you--that is helpful, I think...........so she continues to lay??

Dang, I've got alot to learn!!