When will she go broody?

[madgabmomma]

I have a small bantam hen that I really want to go broody and I'm wondering how many eggs is too many? She currently has 7 eggs in her nest box but she still isn't sitting on them. Should I remove them and try again later or leave them and wait. Is there some other way to encourage her to sit? It's her and the rooster and my 3 ducklings in the pen right now. I've never had a hen go broody before and this is my first bantam pair so I don't really know much about broody behaviors and such. Thanks!

 

[greyhorsewoman]

She will go broody two days after you give up and buy an incubator.

Really, there is no way to MAKE a chicken go broody. It is a hormonal thing. Bantams are more likely to go broody at some point, but there is no way to know when that is. When she is broody, she won't even NEED eggs ... I've had broody hens with no eggs (removed because of not wanting any chicks) and they remained on their nests regardless.

 

[madgabmomma]

Quote:
Thanks! I guess I will give her another day or two and then I'll just throw the eggs in my bator. I've got some of hers in my bator anyways but I would love for her to hatch them out herself. LOL

 

[elmo]

What breed is she? Is it a bantam breed that typically goes broody? How old is she?

Last year, our three hens all began to set at a clutch size of around 6-7 eggs. But this year, when I don't want to raise anymore chicks, I've had several try to go broody on no eggs at all. Yesterday I had to shoo three different hens out of empty nestboxes. It was a shrieking and puffing convention around here.

 

[madgabmomma]

Quote:
HAHAHAHA! Of course I went out awhile ago and......she's sitting! LOL She's a mixed bantam but I'm assuming by her looks she's either part dutch or part old english game bird. She's super sweet and I could tell she was broody and not just laying when I went out. I think she's about a year old but I'm not 100% sure b/c I got her as an adult with my bantam roo.

I have another question or two though now that she's broody if anyone can answer. I only have my one pair of bantams along with my 3 ducklings in a pen. I let them free range half of the day and then my big girl, 2 pullets, and very young roo free range the other half of the day. So, I let out my bantam roo and ducks awhile ago to free range and Drake (bantam roo) headed straight for the big chickens coop all the way across the property which he never ever does. He sticks close by his coop with his hen and ducklings. Soo is he lonley already? I don't want to keep him with my big girls because I want my young roo to take over with them. But if I get another bantam hen will that upset my broody hen? I don't want her to quit sitting. Or if I just let Drake free range with the big girls will he go back to his coop at night or will I have to force him. UGh I'm so lost here. LOL

 

[Pinky]

I think your bantam rooster is looking for more hens. My broody hens don't breed until they're finished raising chicks.