Poof has gone broody!!!...I think

[rodentdrem]

I just went out to check on the silkies and Poof is sitting on her 7 eggs! She made grouchy noises at me when I tried to look under her and turned the eggs with her beak right in front of me! Anything special I should do to care for her while she's on the nest?

 

[Happy Chooks]

Forgive me for asking, but the eggs are fertile, right? Does she stay on the nest at night?

 

[rodentdrem]

Yes, they are fertile. I learned here on the forum about the "bullseye" on the yolk, and I know the rooster has been "doing his job" frequently. I'll have to check tonight to see if she's staying on the nest at night, I just hate going out there after dark, lol. There's just so much mud to slip on!

 

[rodentdrem]

I spoke too soon.

She's not being broody...yet. I really hope she does go broody, I'd love to have more silkies.

 

[Southernbelle]

The best way I can tell with mine is going down at night and seeing if she's sitting on the nest. When I go down to feed them, all the chickens usually hop off the nest to see what goodies I've brought and if I suspect I have a broody, I check the nest and see if the eggs are warm. If they are, I watch and see if the broody will return to the nest while I'm down there. If she does, I'm reasonably certain she's broody. That's when I go down at night to be sure.

Sounds like your girl is thinking about going broody.

 

[rodentdrem]

Thanks. I hope she is thinking about it. She didn't lay an egg yesterday. I'll try feeling the eggs to see if they're warm next time she acts like that.