Broody or not?

[MrsC]

My top hen Aileen was sat firmly on top of the eggs this morning in the corner of the hen house (it's the weekly clean!) Talk about throwing a fit when I came to remove her which I did but she made such a fuss that after I cleaned out I put some golf balls in there which she sat on for the next 3 hours. She then gave up and joined the others. Is she really broody and is it worth buying a few eggs for her to sit on?

I wouldn't leave her in there with the others. We have a large playhouse, part of which is sectioned off, it is warm, dark and cosy and is about 4' x 5' x 3' in height. Would a sturdy box in there with a few eggs be ok? Is it worth getting some eggs and putting her in there, would she really sit on them if I put here in there

[HayleyB]

I found Cookie was a bit on and off for a few days before she REALLY got broody, then we gave her the marble egg and ebay bought the hatchers.

Koko we had to sin bin, but she was on and off for a number of days before she became literally unmoveable, then the sin bin it was. It may be she is on the way but I'd bide time for a few days just in case.

[RichmondHens]

I wouldn't buy eggs for her just yet. If you really want to sit her then move her to a separate coop and give her some other eggs to sit on for a few days to see if she is tight enough. If she is serious she will not get off and get really possessive about those eggs. If she is still good and tight after about 4 days you can get your hatching eggs then.

[MrsC]

Thanks for that Richmond, I wasn't sure today after she made dash for the garden, but she did go back in for a while. Do you think it would be worth putting her in the playhouse with a few?

[RichmondHens]

It's up to you, but I wouldn't spend out on hatching eggs yet, just in case. Try her on her own on some practice eggs and see how she likes it. She may get off after a couple of days, but at least you wouldn't have wasted your money. I presume she has not been broody before and with first timers you never really know how they will behave, it's all a bit of trial and error. Feed her a corn only diet (with some grit added of course) to heat her up and keep her sitting longer (they digest pellets faster and therefore get off more frequently to feed).

Let's hope she does the job for you!