She’s too young!

[Cryss]

Peaches is eight months old. Last week she was acting a little broody, but I was able to quit her just by removing her from the nest and collecting all the eggs. Yesterday I saw her in a nest and apparently she laid an egg. But then she was fluffed up and refused to come out. And of course, the usual you know, you pull them out and they are all puffed up and angry and boy, is she a feisty thing! she is a banty mix. Mama was not Banty but papa was. I’m brokenhearted that it’s her going broody. I have been waiting and waiting for anyone to go broody. Today she’s in the nest all flat pancake.. The temptation is great, but I know eight months is too young. I understand she will sit happily on those eggs because nature is telling her to do so. But I understand because I have read that when they’re young sometimes as the eggs hatch the young ones are so confused they don’t know what’s happening they think they’re being attacked. so they do what they do when they feel attacked, they kill all the babies. I’ve also heard that people have successfully had a young pullet hatch and raise babies. Is there a way to know? I know I am just being hopeful for some thing that really can’t be but I’m gonna ask you guys anyway just because I’m so brokenhearted that it’s not one of my older ladies. What do you think guys back me up? let me know that I’m right or stop me and let me know I’m wrong (fat chance).

 

[Ridgerunner]

But I understand because I have read that when they’re young sometimes as the eggs hatch the young ones are so confused they don’t know what’s happening they think they’re being attacked. so they do what they do when they feel attacked, they kill all the babies. I’ve also heard that people have successfully had a young pullet hatch and raise babies. Is there a way to know?

No, when you deal with living animals there is no way to know what will happen. I've had pullets that young do great as a broody. I've had hens that successfully hatched and raised chicks their first time totally fail on their second attempt.

From what I've seen I don't believe in that first time broody stuff. It is possible a first time broody or a fourth time broody can mess up. It is possible they can do great. If I have a pullet or hen go broody and I want her to hatch eggs I give her eggs regardless of age or how many times they have been broody. Most of the time it works but I cannot give you any guarantees. The only guarantee I can give you is that if you don't let her try she will not hatch eggs.

 

[Cryss]

No, when you deal with living animals there is no way to know what will happen. I've had pullets that young do great as a broody. I've had hens that successfully hatched and raised chicks their first time totally fail on their second attempt.

From what I've seen I don't believe in that first time broody stuff. It is possible a first time broody or a fourth time broody can mess up. It is possible they can do great. If I have a pullet or hen go broody and I want her to hatch eggs I give her eggs regardless of age or how many times they have been broody. Most of the time it works but I cannot give you any guarantees. The only guarantee I can give you is that if you don't let her try she will not hatch eggs.

Thank you. I’ve been mulling over what you said. I’m still concerned of course, but I’m thinking I should observe her to see if she quits like last week. If she stays serious for 3 days I will have had time to decide if I’m going to put real eggs under her or pop her in the broody breaker.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I’m still concerned of course, but I’m thinking I should observe her to see if she quits like last week.

My test to see if a broody hen deserves hatching eggs is that she needs to spend two consecutive nights on the nest instead of in her normal sleeping spot. I don't pay that much attention to what she does during the day though you want her on the nest a good part of the time, it's the two consecutive nights that decide me. I've had a broody that came off of the nest twice during the day and spent over an hour each time off of the nest still successfully hatch and raise the chicks.

 

[Cryss]

Ok I give in. Peaches has been acting broody for a week and got real serious the last three nights. I gave her a clutch of 8 eggs. I’m thinking a few won’t be fertile or some other fail so I gave her a max size clutch. Last night I moved her into the small coop to prevent other sneaky hens laying extra eggs in her clutch. Today she is a flat pancake and she hasn’t moved all day, not even to eat or drink or enjoy a handful of greens. I know she’s happy as a hen on eggs .

 

[Chipmunk Chicks]

Ok I give in. Peaches has been acting broody for a week and got real serious the last three nights. I gave her a clutch of 8 eggs. I’m thinking a few won’t be fertile or some other fail so I gave her a max size clutch. Last night I moved her into the small coop to prevent other sneaky hens laying extra eggs in her clutch. Today she is a flat pancake and she hasn’t moved all day, not even to eat or drink or enjoy a handful of greens. I know she’s happy as a hen on eggs .
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That's so beautiful! My favorite hen is starting to go a bit broody, and I've been wanting to get her a same breed boyfriend for So. Long. She just turned a year now. She would have slept in the nest box in the run tonight, if I had let her. Ha. I don't have eggs to give her though anyway, and I wouldn't really want her sleeping in the run.