Sitting with a cup of coffee. (coffee lovers)

[chickadoodles]

ocap you sound like me. I am making 5-6 trips out trying to keep the turkey and duck eggs from freezing. Keeping warm like you coffee, coffee, coffee! All day long. But it will be 70 here on Monday they say. Who know's.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I have a broody question maybe one of you could help me with: I have a young girl setting and I want to use her but I need to hold off a couple weeks. If she keeps up she will be broody for 5 plus weeks by the time chicks would hatch. Is this too long? Should I try to break her and hope she begins again later? Thoughts?

 

[ocap]

I have a broody question maybe one of you could help me with: I have a young girl setting and I want to use her but I need to hold off a couple weeks. If she keeps up she will be broody for 5 plus weeks by the time chicks would hatch. Is this too long? Should I try to break her and hope she begins again later? Thoughts?

I am using a broody silkie now and it will be a four week brooding time the last day of February. I let her have three eggs, she has had some very cold weather.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I am using a broody silkie now and it will be a four week brooding time the last day of February. I let her have three eggs, she has had some very cold weather. 

My concern is for her health. I know they don't eat or drink as they should while brooding. I am also concerned since she is a first timer that she might just quit before hatching. She has been locked down on the nest, with or without eggs for several days now. I've been taking her out when I go down and putting her where she will eat for a bit but then she rushes right back. I just don't want her to wear herself out as in total it will be close to 6 weeks if I give her eggs that fit my schedule. :/

 

[ocap]

My concern is for her health. I know they don't eat or drink as they should while brooding. I am also concerned since she is a first timer that she might just quit before hatching. She has been locked down on the nest, with or without eggs for several days now. I've been taking her out when I go down and putting her where she will eat for a bit but then she rushes right back. I just don't want her to wear herself out as in total it will be close to 6 weeks if I give her eggs that fit my schedule.

I don't know the answer.
Try a "broody" thread
Here is the one I read for a while:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...n-hatch-a-long-and-informational-thread/24170

 

[Bunnylady]

It's a tough call. As you know, there is a risk that the hen won't properly take care of herself, or just quit. On the other hand, I have had hens incubate for 6 weeks or more. I had a Silkie that incubated eggs all summer long one year; other birds kept slipping in and adding eggs, and I pulled chicks as they hatched. Every day, she'd go out and stuff herself when I fed the flock, then go get a drink and back to the nest. Finally, I started pulling new eggs and let her keep the last chick, just to get her on her feet. I had another Silkie that was broody in a wire-floored rabbit cage - no nest, nothing but bare wire under her, and she stayed that way for something like 3 months. I finally gave her a couple of eggs to hatch just to get her up

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I don't know the answer.
Try a "broody" thread
Here is the one I read for a while:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...n-hatch-a-long-and-informational-thread/24170

I posted on that one but haven't gotten a response yet.

It's a tough call. As you know, there is a risk that the hen won't properly take care of herself, or just quit. On the other hand, I have had hens incubate for 6 weeks or more. I had a Silkie that incubated eggs all summer long one year; other birds kept slipping in and adding eggs, and I pulled chicks as they hatched. Every day, she'd go out and stuff herself when I fed the flock, then go get a drink and back to the nest. Finally, I started pulling new eggs and let her keep the last chick, just to get her on her feet. I had another Silkie that was broody in a wire-floored rabbit cage - no nest, nothing but bare wire under her, and she stayed that way for something like 3 months. I finally gave her a couple of eggs to hatch just to get her up

That is my concern is that she is young, this is her first time, and I am afraid she won't take care of herself. I think I am going to try and break her and hope she goes broody again at a more convenient time for me. I really want to be around to see her through it as she is young and I don't know if her flock mates will be a problem as well. This would be the first in the flock hatching so I have no idea what to expect from any of these.

 

[ChickyChickens]

Quote: Ooh, i love that THREAD!!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Ooh, i love that THREAD!!

Glad to hear it is a good thread but I wish they would reply to me.

I think I will try to break her this time. Weather is cold, it will be an extra long stretch before she would hatch, I want to be around to observe, etc. The cons are outweighing the pros right now. It's just that she is so cute all fluffy in the nest wanting to be a Mama!

 

[ChickyChickens]

Quote: Sorry!