Will She Stay Broody?

[Kardashihen]

Hey there!

I have 9 month old Australorps and one has appeared to go broody. She started staying on the nest for longer periods of time, until this past week when she was on the nest for 2 days straight, only coming off for a few minutes first thing in the morning. I would love for her to hatch chicks, but I don't have a rooster, and her nesting box would be a terrible place to hatch. Especially since it's the girls' favorite, and they kept cracking her eggs. I moved her into a dog crate with some eggs to see if she would continue to sit a couple of days ago. She is content to sit on them if the crate is closed, but as soon as I open it, she squawks and gets all puffed up and tries to go back to her old nest. I'm assuming she just thought her nest was better? I can get some hatching eggs if she will sit, but I'm unsure what to do. Any suggestions? TIA!

 

[sourland]

You could always allow her to set in her chosen nest site and foster some day old chicks to her somewhere around the two to three week period. Sexed pullets or sex links would increase your chances of pullets.

 

[aart]

Might take her a few days to really 'home' into the new nest.
I have a section of coop to put a broody into, so she only has one nest option.
I move them at night after dark, then give them a day or two to settle in good before giving them fresh fertile eggs.
If you can't find fertile eggs locally and/or want to graft chicks to remove having to deal with cockerels, you'll need to let her sit tight for a couple weeks before adding day old chicks.

 

[Kardashihen]

Just wanted to pop back on and say thank you for the replies! She sat for a couple of days and then changed her mind and hasn't seemed broody since. Thanks for the help!