Uh-Oh! I’ve Got a Hormonal Hell-en on my Hands!

[Farmgirl1878]

Uh-oh! My big, fluffy Bluebird is broody!! She’s my lowest ranking girl, but no one is bothering her this go-round. (Last time she got broody, the other girls kept kicking her out of the nest box.) This is day four and I’m wondering if I should put in an order for three or four chicks from Meyer Hatchery…

If I order tonight, I can have them ready to stick under her by Wednesday night at the latest. My Speckled Sussex, Dottie, did an awesome job raising five Brahma chicks last year. Think it’s Blue’s turn?

 

[Isadora]

Sure, why not?

 

[cluckmecoop7]

Do you have a way to get fertile eggs? If not, I suppose getting chicks might work. I’ve heard some horror stories though….

 

[3KillerBs]

I've never done it myself, but IIRC if you want a broody to adopt chicks you need her to be sitting long enough to be at least close to the time she thinks her eggs would hatch.

 

[Battlepants]

Yea, if you don't have a roo or a neighbor to get fertile eggs from, I would give her some golf balls to sit on and plan on dropping in some fresh chicks around day 21 or so.

Of course, make sure you have a brooder on standby in case she rejects them and you have to brood them yourself.

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I've never done it myself, but IIRC if you want a broody to adopt chicks you need her to be sitting long enough to be at least close to the time she thinks her eggs would hatch.

I was kind of anxious last year because my Speckled Sussex, Dottie, had only been broody for about ten days, but she did an awesome job!

 

[Farmgirl1878]

Blue is still broody! This is day five. I couldn’t even get her to come out for a snack and a drink before bedtime yesterday evening. I cant decide whether to grab a few eggs from under the neighbors broody hen or just order chicks for delivery on 24 May…

 

[Auntiejessi3]

 

[Farmgirl1878]

I feel the same way! And I have a front row seat!

 

[Auntiejessi3]

I feel the same way! And I have a front row seat!

I just love a good broody story❤ I've been dying for a broody since I got chickens just for the experience, but I guess it's just not meant to be, so I'll live vicariously through y'all