When NOT to break a broody hen

[namesherchicks]

Thank you all for your responses. I have decided this time to purchase a few fertilized eggs from a neighbor. when the eggs hatch, i will try putting a few extra chicks in there for Goldie to foster. I hope this makes her happy. She is so serious about wanting to be a mommy. We don't have a chicken rooster right now, but many of our male turkey babies (teenagers) think they are grown ups and have begun mating with Goldie. Goldie was raised with turkeys and submits to them. None of my other hens do...just Goldie.

 

[stargazingmommy]

I have one of those broodies, a Salmon Faverolle. She is on her 3rd broody state since thanksgiving. She was broody at Thanksgiving, we gave her eggs, they all disappeared(still clueless where they went to) except the duck eggs. Only one developed, and when it pipped I peeked in the hole and it was all yellow, it broke its yolk. It was still alive so I snagged the egg and helped it, but it died before I got the shell off. she broke broody the next day. And molted the next week. In January she went broody again. I kept evicting her from her nest. One day I threw her into the yard...and she landed right in the ducks half frozen pool. She broke broody again. Now, she's been broody for 2 months. She's sitting on a duck egg, and as I didn't think anything would come of it didn't think to mark how long she's been on it. It's been 3, maybe 4 weeks, It's due to hatch soon. I'm prepared to snag the chick from her if she wont take care of it and raise it inside.
In between broody she lays maybe 2 weeks and molts. She was 2 weeks old Easter 2011, so is just a bit over a year old.

 

[FogHorn79]

Anyone have a broody hen keep others from laying. Our broody hen took over the favorite spot and we cant find any new eggs today. Looked all over the yard too...No clue

 

[FogHorn79]

Also when you move a broody hen do you have to do it in pitch dark or can you use a light at night?

 

[Sunny Side Up]

The broody may set up shop in everyone's favorite nest box but the other hens can usually still lay their eggs there, by pushing Broody out or just squeezing themselves in with her. Sometimes they'll roll eggs over towards their spot, but I don't think they can carry them for any distance.

And yes, you can use a flashlight when moving your broody hen at night. Just keep the light to a minimum, especially when shining it directly at her.