<<<<UPDATE>>>>My Australorp is an IDIOT!

[Frozen Feathers]

Okay so this is round 2 for my Phoenix hen and Australorp hen to go broody this year, the strange thing is I also have a Jap that wants in on the broody game. When the Phoenix or Austarlorp get up to eat/drink she runs right over and sits on the eggs. I've seen her do it twice at least! I also often come across my Aussie and my Phoenix have switched places with the Jap sitting in the middle (I know she has no eggs under, I've checked half a dozen times) what is going on?? They've been doing this for a week now! So now I have a total of 16 eggs (looks like there was some egg stealing going on), some EE's some, Japs, some Silkies, some Phoenix and some Australorp. Even though they are going to be mutts since I've been letting everyone free-range together (maybe some pure Phoenix, Silkies or Japs, but I'm not holding my breath) I'm going to let them try and hatch them. I just find it odd behavior and was wondering if anyone has witnessed this?? Musical nests....

 

[SpottedCrow]

A determined broody will sit on golf balls, stones, plastic eggs or even air. Doesn't matter. How long have the other two been sitting? If it's been less than a week, I'd give a couple to the Jap to hatch in her OWN nest.

 

[CarriBrown]

Yep, I think that's the best thing to do, also. With the way things are going now, you may end up with cold eggs and no hatch.
Or, you could give the Jap some golf balls until you get a couple eggs for her to hatch.

 

[akcskye]

Angie...IDENTICAL to my story.

1 Aussie decided to go broody...so I let her sit.

2 weeks later, my SLW and Brahma decided they wanted to help.

So, in the SAME nest box, between 3 mothers, they "shared" 13 eggs.

Aussie wanted them all...she'd get up to eat/drink, and SLW would steal, and split with Brahma, and they would alternate depending upon who needed to eat/drink.

Sometimes, all 3 would have a share of 13 eggs, sometimes, 1 would have them and 2 not, or 2 would have them and 1 not.

In the end...we got 6 hatches (as we expected as the first 2 days...Aussie would be broody at night but get up in the day...so that was 6 to 7 eggs with questionable outcome)...and they're all perfectly fine.

 

[Frozen Feathers]

Well I ended up sectioning off areas for my Phoenix and Aussie. My Jap it seems has changed her mind, after I gave her some eggs and she let them get cold. At last count the Phoenix has 16 eggs under her and the Aussie 15!

I'll be candling them tonight (or tomorrow depending on the weather) so

.

Like I said, this is the second time this year both girls went broody. The first time I moved the Phoenix and she completely freaked and decided not to sit on the eggs and then my Aussie changed her mind at about day 15 or so and left the eggs, so hopefully all will go well this time. They both seem really committed and I'm really excited. Haven't had the best of luck with broodies this year, so maybe 2nd times a charm...

My DH says "You know you're going to have to sell some of those chicks, right??" LOL what a silly man!!

 

[justusnak]

Quote:

 

[turnerstar31]

My DH says "You know you're going to have to sell some of those chicks, right??" LOL what a silly man!!

HAHAHAHAHA

To funny. Keep them all that is my motto. I can;t seem to get enough I am all the time looking in the paper and going to auctions. The sad part is I have hatched out more then enough and bought 10 pullets this year.

As for your problem with the broody hen thing. My cochin hen who we lovingly call fluffy last year adopted our gunies keets all 12 of them and did really good with them. She does not have very good luck with her eggs. This year she went broody on absolutly nothing and was really determined that she was going to have babies. We felt really bad for her so off we went and picked up some pullets RIRs from the feed store. I am happy to report that she is being such a good mommy to them. But I still want more. Man I need more chickens so they can all go broody on me and hatch out more chicks. LOL

 

[bigzio]

Good Luck.... Keep the faith... Mother hens are just plain awesome!

bigzio

 

[akcskye]

What I love the best about my Aussie being a mom, is that side to side "fan swipe" of her tail to tell me to clear a path, her babes are coming through...hehe

 

[SandraChick]

I had 2 EE hens that co brooded and co-raised their chicks.

One would be next to the chicks showing them what to eat and the other kept anything or anyone at least 6 feet away. They're trade duties too.

I always thought only one chicken would actually raise the young, but they proved me wrong!


here's a pic of them co-brooding.

Sandra