SO excited! 1st broody??

[MomMommyMamma]

I think we just might have our first broody!

Our GLW has been on the nest all day today and was not up on the roosts with the others tonight. My daughter, not realizing, took the 3 eggs that were under her. She has chosen, of course, the nest box that EVERYONE lays in. I know the eggs were all from today. If she is still there tomorrow - can we just set all of the eggs from tomorrow under her? And the next day too? That should give us 10-12. Ooooo...I'm so excited! What do I do for her? Do I need to move her or separate her? I generally prefer a "this has been going on for centuries" approach so minimal involvement on our part is what I lean to. Appreciate any tips and advice though! We're in southern WV. Temps are in the 30-4- range during the days and teens to 30+ at night. I think in 21 days we should be done with the teens. I think our first frost free day here is marked as early April.

 

[happyhens44]

Read my BYC page. And if you have any other questions just ask

 

[PepsNick]

Quote:
First, just making sure you have a rooster, lol. No, you can't keep the eggs under her because a hen will not lay when broody and won't let anyone else in that nest box, I'm assuming. You can take the other hens' eggs from wherever they lay and put them under your broody, though. Caution: wear gloves!

It'd be easier to have her hatch them all from one day, or at least mark which eggs were laid which days so you can know when your hatchlings are due. Put a small feeder and waterer in front of her. You can feed her chick feed, which she will eat with the chicks once they hatch, since she will not need the extra calcium to lay. You can seperate her, it'd be less stressful for a first time broody mama like you, and it will prevent the others from pecking/killing the chicks. Do you have a dog crate in a garage or something you can use? Stick a box in an enclosed inside area, you can add a heat lamp (optional) and let her do her thing.

 

[MomMommyMamma]

Quote:
First, just making sure you have a rooster, lol. No, you can't keep the eggs under her because a hen will not lay when broody and won't let anyone else in that nest box, I'm assuming. You can take the other hens' eggs from wherever they lay and put them under your broody, though. Caution: wear gloves!

It'd be easier to have her hatch them all from one day, or at least mark which eggs were laid which days so you can know when your hatchlings are due. Put a small feeder and waterer in front of her. You can feed her chick feed, which she will eat with the chicks once they hatch, since she will not need the extra calcium to lay. You can seperate her, it'd be less stressful for a first time broody mama like you, and it will prevent the others from pecking/killing the chicks. Do you have a dog crate in a garage or something you can use? Stick a box in an enclosed inside area, you can add a heat lamp (optional) and let her do her thing.

Yes, we have a rooster

 

[Faith Hope]

We have a first-time broody as well. In fact, her eggs started hatching yesterday -- only one more egg to go. We have 3 darling little chicks! My children are thrilled!

We were not going to separate her either. We consider them livestock and want to let them do what comes natural also. However, after a day or two of sitting, while she was taking a potty break, apparently one of the other chickens broke one of her eggs. This caused yucky gunk to get spread all over the eggs and the momma's belly. Then because of all the stickiness 2 other eggs ended up breaking and causing further mess. It eventually resulted in me bathing a broody silkie! What a mess! I had to dry her with a hair dryer. I cleaned her and the eggs up -- I was really worried that we had ruined the hatch, but apparently not.

Next time I will separate them right away!

 

[MomMommyMamma]

Well, the other girls spent the day trying to shove her off the nest. She's got 5 eggs under her now. We made a nice secure area for her, moved her & the eggs, and of course, she got off and walked away. Came back a few minutes later and she was back in her original spot. So, dh is out there now trying to secure space for her where she is. So much excitement! I did put the eggs back under her. They still felt warm to the touch. The other girls are not going to get eggbound or anything right with the main box closed off? None of them laid anywhere else today. We usually get 9 a day, got only the 5 she's on.