I've got a broody hen - I think

calismum · 14-05-2010, 09:27 PM

OK you chook people - went to put them to bed tonight and Martha is sitting in the nest box with three eggs. She has plucked the feathers out of her chest.

So - - do I leave her in there? Move her and eggs into the ark? What will I give her as nest material? How do I look after her every little whim.

Oh, I'm so excited - hope she's still on them in the morning.

smudgley · 14-05-2010, 09:44 PM

Do you want her to sit some eggs?

If you do & they are fertile eggs, leave her well alone. She'll sit tight on them if she's broody & plucking her feathers.

If you don't then move her to another place, then she probably won't sit them.

Don't move her if you want her to sit the eggs, because this will often (not always though) make them go off being broody.

When she's sitting, leave her & she will hop off once a day for food & water.

In 21 days - surprise.... the eggs turn into baby chicks.

calismum · 14-05-2010, 09:48 PM

I'd love to have some chicks so she is on 3 eggs which would be fine.

Just wondered about leaving her in the general coop along with the other 7 hens and cockerel. That was why I wondered about moving her into the ark.

Thanks Smudgely.

dandysmom · 14-05-2010, 10:48 PM

Excuse me for what's probably a dumb question, but is the cockerel old enough that the eggs could be fertile? I know almost nothing about chickens sex lives, Grandma didn't have a rooster.

angieh · 14-05-2010, 10:59 PM

How lovely!

The only thing I know about broody hens when they are not wanted to be broody is the old fashioned dunking in a bucket of cold water. I thought that was barbaric, and I'm sure you'd never do that CM!

I'd be interested to know about how old a cockerel needs to be to fertilise eggs too.

Tink · 15-05-2010, 12:55 AM

Oh how exciting! I'd be interested to know too about the cockerel. Maybe one day I will have a nice sized bit of land so I can raise them too. Until then...I'll have to live vicariously through you

smudgley · 15-05-2010, 08:35 AM

She should be fine in with all the others for now, as long as you have plenty nest boxes, so she doesn't feel she is being pushed away from hers for the others to get in and lay.

We have a broody Orpington at the moment. Don't want her to sit any though, we've got bloomin' chicks everywhere here at the mo!

angieh · 15-05-2010, 11:51 AM

I've Googled and it seems that both hens and cockerels reach sexual maturity at around 20 weeks.

dandysmom · 15-05-2010, 04:06 PM

Next question: how old is the cockerel?

calismum · 15-05-2010, 04:15 PM

Well, she is still sitting tight this morning. There are three nest boxes but they tend to never use one of them so I'm a bit worried she'll be a bit bullied to move. She is 2nd top hen so that may stand in her favour.

The alternative is I move her to the ark - no idea if that would put her off or not.

The cockerel was born June so he'll be at least 40 weeks, he's been practicing hard

so fingers crossed.

I never had it in my head to hatch baby chicks but the boy wasn't planned. If she sits and is happy on just the 3 eggs then we'll see what happens.

. . . smudgely, I need to see pics of all these chicks you have (so I'll be able to recognise them if I ever get that far)

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