I'm a bad chicken keeper.
Since the cold dark weather, quite a few of the Silkies have been thinking that broody might be the way to go--it's nice and warm in those nest boxes. The rest of the girls are none too happy about it. I have more than enough nest boxes for the hens, but not enough if four won't leave the three boxes for the whole day and night. The Polish are lining up, at the doors to the boxes, finally giving up and just laying on the coop floor in front of the nest boxes. Every time I check for eggs, I gently pick up the same three or four Silkies and deposit them in front of the water or the food dish. Sometimes it distracts them and they have a drink or a bite to eat and go off to forage. Other times, they immediately stomp back up to the nest box.
Well, today I kicked one little Silkie out of the nest box maybe six or seven times. The last time as I was putting her on the ground, there was a great 'thunk' as an egg fell two feet to the ground at my feet. It didn't even break. The little Silkie didn't even complain, just waddled over for a drink and went off to forage.
