The Broodies are Gearing Up!

[gritsar]

Quote:
Gee whiz, I want one stinkin' broody! Not a herd of them!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Ahhh... but much like GSDs you can't have just one silkie. You will get sucked in by their cuteness until you have more broodies than you can stand! BWAAHAAAHAAAA!!

Jax would love a silkie. I'm just sayin'...

 

[speckledhen]

Nugget is in one of the broody pens with a few eggs. I want her to settle down then I'll give her the rest this afternoon. She hasn't been in this pen before, but I have a rooster in the other one she raised chicks in the last time, which is why I'm giving her some time to settle down before putting them all underneath her.


ETA: She is now on all ten eggs.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:

 

[joedie]

I've decided that the next time one of my BO's goes broody which shouldn't take too long, I'll let her have at em. So question, Do I just leave her in the nest box and for how long before moving her to her own pen?

 

[speckledhen]

I usually try to move mine at the beginning. Some don't like to be moved at all and will snap out of it if you do. I have two special broody pens for mine, but darn it, a rooster is in one of them right now, so if anyone else actually goes fully broody, I wont have anywhere to put her.

I rather hope that Dusty, one of the blue Orps, does NOT try to brood this year. She is scary when she decides she's done with the chicks and you never know when that will be.

 

[joedie]

Quote:
Thanks Cynthia. How long does she stay in the pen with her babies?

 

[speckledhen]

Depends on the weather. If it's dry outside and above 50 degrees, I let her get out between 3-5 days after the hatch is over.

 

[Countrywife]

Ahhhh yes, found my ole girl in the box yesterday, and she squawked to high heaven when I picked her up. DH came home from work and I was doing the "I have a broody dance" through the field. When I went back to check last night one of the others was on the nest. I gave her some eggs but I am going to wait a couple days and make sure she is truly going broody, then move her to the broody pen. I LOVE CHICKENS!!!!

 

[write2caroline]

Does Temperature or light trigger the broodiness or it is Random Speckled hen?
Caroline