Pennsylvania!! Unite!!

[FluffyButt789]

Perfectly intact shell less egg.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I call those soft-shelled eggs. Pretty icky when you think you're reaching for a regular hard egg and... squish!

 

[OneMountainAcres]

Ana and Ebony we both in the same nest again tonight. They were tucked in tight against each other so I'm not sure if they've come to an agreement on nest sharing or if it's only at bedtime lol. Good thing I'm not giving them eggs!

 

[fisherlady]

Ana and Ebony we both in the same nest again tonight. They were tucked in tight against each other so I'm not sure if they've come to an agreement on nest sharing or if it's only at bedtime lol. Good thing I'm not giving them eggs!

LOL, I bet they wouldn't be as cooperative if it was in the 70s and 80s instead of 50s...ours don't like it when it gets warmer out.

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

Ana and Ebony we both in the same nest again tonight. They were tucked in tight against each other so I'm not sure if they've come to an agreement on nest sharing or if it's only at bedtime lol. Good thing I'm not giving them eggs!

My girls are playing musical chairs also. Some are sharing. Although last night, the turkey was in the smallest nest, with her tail feathers sticking out.

Do you guys notice any secondary behaviors before a girl goes broody? Besides being parked on a a nest and growling, I mean. My other BSL seemed to be making broody noises yesterday, and acting disturbed. She also ducked the rooster when he try to mate her.

 

[gonehencrazy]

Just got back from Florida!! We have a broody EE hen that we are going to let hatch a few. @SallySunshine what kind of hatching eggs do you have? If I'm gonna let her hatch a few I'd like to add variety if possible.

 

[OneMountainAcres]

My girls are playing musical chairs also. Some are sharing. Although last night, the turkey was in the smallest nest, with her tail feathers sticking out.

Do you guys notice any secondary behaviors before a girl goes broody? Besides being parked on a a nest and growling, I mean. My other BSL seemed to be making broody noises yesterday, and acting disturbed. She also ducked the rooster when he try to mate her.

Sounds like prebroody behavior to me!

 

[AnneInTheBurbs]

At least I have eggs cooking in the Bator that I can give her, is she gets serious.




I don't know why @dheltzel gave me all of his defective chickens. Just kidding! I think I am keeping them too happy.

 

[aiorio]

NE Pennsylvania , just got our first batch of chicks 5days ago, (6chicks). New chicken owner and loving it! I'm going to be looking for a couple of americauna's in a few weeks. I love this site, so helpful!!

 

[dheltzel]

I don't know why @dheltzel gave me all of his defective chickens. Just kidding! I think I am keeping them too happy.

I have never had a broody Bielefelder, and broodies are rare in the other breeds too. I can break a broody hen easily by moving her to a quiet place with a nice nest and putting some fertile eggs in the nest for her to hatch. She immediately senses that I *want* her to be broody and stops.

I am getting some new breeds this year and some are notorious as broodies (Sumatras, Kraienkoppes, and buff Ameraucana bantams), so my experiences could change next year. For now, the only broody hens I can trust to actually sit for an entire hatch cycle are the silkies and cochin bantams.

I have a broody turkey now and if she wasn't such a ditz (but a lovable ditz) I would let her hatch something.

 

[fisherlady]

My girls are playing musical chairs also. Some are sharing. Although last night, the turkey was in the smallest nest, with her tail feathers sticking out.

Do you guys notice any secondary behaviors before a girl goes broody? Besides being parked on a a nest and growling, I mean. My other BSL seemed to be making broody noises yesterday, and acting disturbed. She also ducked the rooster when he try to mate her.

Yep, 'Pre broody' behaviors can include... unusually talkative behavior, walks around quietly clucking as if talking to imaginary chicks and often will give the excited 'food found' chortle despite no one being there to respond to it.
Begins avoiding roosters and even other hens, sometimes taking extreme defensive mode including the 'head down/wings slightly out' and puffy appearance.
May speed scratch and dust before running back to coop and then act like 'what did I hurry back for'.... and then will resume the odd talking behavior again.
I tend to notice this 2-3 days ahead of our hens committing to a nest, some a bit longer, some shorter....but most do it to some extent.