Typical Broody Behavior?

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Hi guys, so one of my 1 1/2 year old RIRxOrpington girls spent the entire day on the nest yesterday, puffed up and growled at me when I opened her nesting box and slept in the box last night. So I thought, "Yahoo!! Broody!!", she would be my first. When I let the girls out this morning, she refused to leave her box and so I immediately started to day dream about putting some fertile BCM eggs from the guy down the road underneath her.

Well, about an hour later, I look out and she's dust bathing up a storm with one of her buddies and when I left for work a little while ago, had still not gone back to the nest. Is she mocking me and likely not going to end up broody? Or is this normal, changing her mind a couple times before deciding to actually sit?

Thanks!!

 

[pawtraitart]

That sounds normal. Put a golf ball in her nest for inspiration and wait and see. It can take a few days for them to get into the "zone". I wouldn't give her eggs to set until you are sure she's gonna stick. Sometimes they change their minds. If she has stopped laying, then that's a good broody sign.

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

Thanks for the info! She laid an egg yesterday, she was sitting on that egg (not fertile) and a couple of ping pong balls. I was tempted to take her egg out of there this morning, but decided to leave it as extra inspiration. Send me happy broody vibes, I've been sweet talking her all spring.

Anybody else have girls that change their minds several times before deciding to set?

 

[Happy Chooks]

My light brahma did that and never went broody. When she stays on the nest through the night, then give her eggs.

 

[4chickns]

My black silkie sat on her nest one day and didn't leave it at all, but my white silkie would sit for a day and then be off for a day or so. She acted like she was broody, but then when she saw me outside she would want to come out. She eventually decided to sit with her friend and be truly broody, but it took her a week or two to decide. I think that's totally normal and I would expect yours to ready pretty soon.
Good luck with it, I'll be sending you good hatching thoughts!

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

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Drat! Well she did stay on the nest all night, something she's never done before. She's my sneakiest, trouble maker hen though, I think she might be doing this out of spite!

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

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Yahoo! See, that's what I was wanting to hear!

Thanks for the broody thoughts!

 

[Happy Chooks]

Quote:
Drat! Well she did stay on the nest all night, something she's never done before. She's my sneakiest, trouble maker hen though, I think she might be doing this out of spite!

Well, if she was on the nest during the night, then I'd say she's on her way to being broody. Lucky you!

 

[KingSpeck]

Hey Neeley! I don't have any great answers to your question- I just wanted to say hello to another NC member. We're close by in Black Mountain. Hope she goes broody for you, goodluck!

 

[NeeleysAVLChicks]

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Howdy neighbor!! I absolutely adore Black Mountain, are you going to LEAF this weekend??