Opinions on possible broody hen

[AmericanMom]

In all my time raising chickens I have only had one to ever go broody on me so I am a tad bit inexperienced in this area.. I obtained a Molted Java early last fall that was broody at the time I got her, the owner didn't want her because she was given to being broody and hard to break... Well of course as soon as we moved her to a new home she snapped out of it and shortly thereafter went into a good molt... She has since started laying again (about 2 months) and is the sweetest hen, I can count on her to be calm when I am in the coop and removing eggs even from under her.....That is until today, she actually growled at me as soon as I hit the coop door and growled at a few of the hens that went in to lay their eggs, she sat in the same spot for over 2 hours, I'm not for sure how long exactly I am just counting from the first time I noticed her there .... I was working in another part of the yard when I looked up and she was out with the other hens so I went into the coop and she had laid an egg in the nest where I put the fake ones and there were several feathers down that were not there this morning,( I clean all nest every morning as some are stubborn and refuse the roost.)

Am I an idiot for deciding to start saving her eggs in anticipation for her being broody? Is this just wishful thinking on my part? Should I wait until she shows different signs? if so what are they? I really would like some of her chicks but have promised hubby I wouldn't start up the incubator..

Thanks!

 

[sourland]

Start saving eggs - date them and if you end up with too many,, discard/eat the oldest. It sure sounds like pre broody behavior. I generally figure two nights sitting on the nest, and she is ready for eggs. If she goes broody do you have a means of isolating her from the rest of the flock so that they do not disturb her or add eggs to the clutch?

 

[AmericanMom]

Start saving eggs - date them and if you end up with too many,, discard/eat the oldest. It sure sounds like pre broody behavior. I generally figure two nights sitting on the nest, and she is ready for eggs. If she goes broody do you have a means of isolating her from the rest of the flock so that they do not disturb her or add eggs to the clutch?

I am saving them along with the Australorp eggs, figure I'll give her six-10 and if she doesn't go full on broody within 7 days I am incubating her eggs lol, hubby wont know, I'll hide the incubator

That's what I was working on when I noticed she had left the coop, We also have a "rabbit coop" that's completely enclosed and separate from the chickens...the only time they can get in is if I leave the door open and I have a hutch that is not in use that sits on the floor that we keep hay in...I was cleaning it out in preparation if she does go broody... So if I go out tonight and she is sitting on the nest and not roosting I want to give her a few days of that before I separate her? She laid an egg today and I know they don't lay when they are broody so will she stop laying and be broody the next day?

 

[sourland]

The way you describe her, I would guess that she is at best pre broody. How long before she makes up her mind - only she can answer.

 

[sepaditty1]

I have a bantam orpington that took about 3 days to really decide. She has 5 eggs under her & we're on day 6. I'm pretty excited.

Maybe one of you can answer my question. How long does the broody have to sit on it before it starts to develop? My broody's sister continues to lay in the same nest. When I reach in to get the new, unmarked egg, it is very warm. If she laid it 3 or 4 hours before I get home, is that enough time to start developing?

 

[AmericanMom]

Well 11pm and I walked out to check and she isn't sitting the nest, rather perched in front of the nest next to it for the night....

 

[sepaditty1]

Give her a little more time. She seems like she wants to brood. She'll get there.

 

[AmericanMom]

Give her a little more time. She seems like she wants to brood. She'll get there.

As eggs were gathered today I put them along with the fake eggs in the nest she always goes too, there were 11 in there when she went in at noon.... She has been in there now for 3 hours... I went ahead and got the broody box all set up and ready just in case, It may take her several days if at all but that's ok, I'll wait for her

 

[AmericanMom]

I do believe she is working at it

... Was on the nest for alittle over 4 hours and then the rooster was outside the coop calling the girls for a treat he found when she came out... But , she didn't lay an egg in the whole time she was in there ..

 

[AmericanMom]

I was out at the coop at 7:30 this morning cleaning and such, she was watching me from the door, as soon as I left she took to her box and has only moved once or twice that I know of to allow another egg layer access (she stays on the roosting bar in front of the nest)... I think I am going to try and seclude her tonight with some dummy eggs and see how she does for a day or so

Opinions??