Something finally went broody on this farm!!

[1mommahen]

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Ditto!

 

[Iowa Roo Mom]

What is this broody thing you speak of?

 

[gritsar]

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I wasn't setting anything. Mama wild bird has two babies, I think. We don't go close enough to her nest to count, but I've seen two wide open little mouths sticking up, waiting for their next meal.
The weather is nice so the jeeps are once again parked in the yard so we don't disturb her.
ETA: I've already made up my mind that IF I should get a broody - I know I won't, but IF I should - I am not going to post about it on BYC. I would only be jinxing myself.

 

[Ridgerunner]

With your hens I did not think "wild bird" eliminated any of them. Actually I never noticed. I'll go back to sleep.

 

[gritsar]

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I was going to say I'd join you, but that would sound too weird. I myself am thinking of going back to bed. Must save all my limited energy for mowing the lawn this evening.

 

[WriterofWords]

10 milk crates + 15 hens = 3 milk crates with 13 broody hens stuffed into them and others waiting in line...

 

[gritsar]

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[tammyd57]

We have a pair of pigeons, a pair of Phoebes, several House wrens, and a pair of mockingbirds making babies in nests all over our house and yard.

If it helps, I discovered the secret to making a hen go broody. Fiddle around making an incubator for a month while you keep a close eye on that hen that's SUPPOSED to go broody. When she doesn't, put 10 eggs in the bator. Keep watching that hen. If she isn't broody by the time you hatch those eggs, add 10 more eggs. Keep watching that hen. About day 10 of the second incubation, she should be pretending to be a rock on top of a pile of about 12 eggs!

We're gonna be playing musical chicks for quite awhile it looks like.

 

[gritsar]

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We have plenty of other wild birds nesting around here, including some that use an old martin house out in the garden. The hibiscus bush if full of hummingbird nests and I have to be careful when I mow around it. I knocked one down last time I mowed, but thankfully it was empty.
I have a bator, but don't really have the time or energy required to deal with it right now. I have new chicks coming in June. Perhaps one of them will have the broody gene.
ETA: I haven't been out to the other side of the farm recently, but there's usually a pair of golden eagles nesting there.