Would she be a good Mamma?

[KyCoop]

I have a 1 yr old BA that has been broody for 3 wks now. This is her second (and longest) time. We have not really tried to break her other then taking her out of the next box several times a day and removing eggs she is on. We do not have a rooster so the eggs are not fertile. I read some chickens are good at being broody and hatching eggs but then are not great mammas. I was thinking about maybe getting some fertile eggs and letting her try since she is do determine to hatch something.
Yesterday we had tropical downpours all morning with flash flooding everywhere. My run and coop are all covered but with 3-4 inches of driving rain everything got soaked. Including Ruth in the nest box. I did not realize this until I came home at lunch to get her out of the box (again). The box and shavings were wet, her underbelly was wet but she stayed put on that unferterlized leghorn egg like a good Mamma would.
I would like to give her a chance but she is so mean to my little SS when she is not brooding, Id be afraid motherhood is not for her and she would hurt the chicks or I would have to raise them in the house. What do yall think?

 

[Tclloyd0812]

I have a 1 yr old BA that has been broody for 3 wks now. This is her second (and longest) time. We have not really tried to break her other then taking her out of the next box several times a day and removing eggs she is on. We do not have a rooster so the eggs are not fertile. I read some chickens are good at being broody and hatching eggs but then are not great mammas. I was thinking about maybe getting some fertile eggs and letting her try since she is do determine to hatch something.
Yesterday we had tropical downpours all morning with flash flooding everywhere. My run and coop are all covered but with 3-4 inches of driving rain everything got soaked. Including Ruth in the nest box. I did not realize this until I came home at lunch to get her out of the box (again). The box and shavings were wet, her underbelly was wet but she stayed put on that unferterlized leghorn egg like a good Mamma would.
I would like to give her a chance but she is so mean to my little SS when she is not brooding, Id be afraid motherhood is not for her and she would hurt the chicks or I would have to raise them in the house. What do yall think?

I would give it a try, it wouldn't hurt anything. Most of the time you won't know until her first or second sitting/hatching to know how good of a mother she will be, but I think she'll be fine. I would just make sure to put her in a clean, dry area to prevent the eggs from rotting under her and to prevent stress that may be caused if she has to sit in the rain constantly.

 

[HappyClucker7]

The only way you'll know, is by trying. She does sound determined, so I think she would probably sit on the eggs. If she'll be a good mom, well, you'll just have to wait and see. My BA was an amazing mom, and took really great care of her babies.

 

[KyCoop]

Thank you. She does not have to sit in the rain. Under normal weather circumstances everything stays dry, including the nest boxes. Yesterday was just a fluke. I didnt know that kind of rain was coming so I didnt batten down the hatches. Im not sure it would have helped.

If I do decide to let her try. We will build her a small coop and run for her and her chicks.