Our Bantam Cochin/Silkie hen named Mouse has been a bit broody lately and although the others didn't really care that she was, a few are now refusing to laying in the nesting box. Only 2-3 of the hens will lay in there.
I had 6-8 dud eggs that she laid a week & 2 weeks prior that were marked so the layers would continue laying in the nesting box but I didn't realize she'd go broody so soon. I knew she would at some point this year but this is a bit soon.
She'll be getting some Crested Polish chicks this Thursday(5/16) if she continues being broody. If not, I'll attempt to break her but it won't be easy due to the breeds she's mixed with.
She's our best hen to raise chicks. Last year she raised 2 batches of chicks. She even took in 2 two week old chicks. We still have one of the girls she raised, which happened to be one of the 2 wk old that she accepted.
Should I bring her in with some of the duds?
I had 6-8 dud eggs that she laid a week & 2 weeks prior that were marked so the layers would continue laying in the nesting box but I didn't realize she'd go broody so soon. I knew she would at some point this year but this is a bit soon.
She'll be getting some Crested Polish chicks this Thursday(5/16) if she continues being broody. If not, I'll attempt to break her but it won't be easy due to the breeds she's mixed with.
She's our best hen to raise chicks. Last year she raised 2 batches of chicks. She even took in 2 two week old chicks. We still have one of the girls she raised, which happened to be one of the 2 wk old that she accepted.
Should I bring her in with some of the duds?
