Broodie Bantams

[pattie]

My neighbour who has just moved from Northern Ireland to Wales donated me 5 bantams a pair of Pekins and 3 others (I don't know what breed they are). One of the unknown breed went broodie on Tuesday night and took over the nesting box, we made her a new box and moved her and eggs. now the lavender pekin has taken over the nesting box, sitting on no eggs, I do have two eggs which have been in an incubator for 10 days, can I put these under her or is it to late, this is my first experience of broodie hens as the others are all hybrids and have never shown any sign of becoming broodie. Please help.

Pattie

[RichmondHens]

I would wait and see if she is serious about sitting before transferring the eggs. You can let a hen sit for up to a week before giving her eggs and if she is serious she will still go the distance. Remember to delouse her thoroughly to make sure she is comfortable before offering her the eggs and switch her to a grain only diet which will firm up her poos and keep her on the nest for longer (grain takes longer to digest). As you have done with the first broody, it is better to put her in her own broody coop so she is not disturbed by the other hens. You can give her a fake egg to sit on too. If she sits tight for a couple of days then you can pop the real eggs under. As you already have an incubator all is not lost if she deserts as you can just pop the eggs back in the machine if need be.