Is it catching?

[Suechooks]

Having had hybrids for several years, this is my first season with pure breeds. Most at the moment are bantams and Silkies. 2 of the Silkies went broody last week, one gave up after a couple of days but the other is sitting tight on 3 eggs (it was 4 but I dropped one when checking under her this morning )
When I got back to the allotment at midday there were 2 Orpingtons sitting in the nest with the Silkie one of which is very obviously broody!
Am I going to end up with a whole flock of broodies? Don't have a problem if I do but the Silkie just wouldn't settle in one of the broody coops so have had to let her brood in main coop until hatching when I'll move her with chicks to a place of safety!
What does everyone else do?
With 4 Silkies, 3 Orpingtons and a Wyandotte it could be quite a year!

[BUFFS]

i do envy you the chance of breeding your own birds,no room and no chance of a cockerel round here,when they hatch,can we have some pics? good luck with them all...

[RichmondHens]

I do find with my bantams that when one starts to go they all go. I use the ones I want for brooding, removing them to a separate coop each, and just leave the others to do what they want.

Unless your horde of broodies keeps the layers from getting in the nestbox I would just let them get on with it, or you could get some more hatching eggs .................

[Suechooks]

They just seem quite happy to pile on top of each other Sally! My main worry was the stress the Silkie showed when I tried to move her to a separate coop! Moved her at night with all bedding into a familiar coop (I use it for quarantine too as it's inside their main run) but next morning she was screaming to get out and threw the pot eggs out of the nest having a real tantrum! Its fine at the moment (even though she's in the main nest area) and last year in her previous "home" she had to just get on with it even after chicks were hatched. I now plan to put her in a separate coop when/if eggs hatch. The others go in and lay with no problem and I've put them an extra nest box in as well.
As for more fertile eggs ................. have 12 in incubator (and someone with 40 breeds just down the road!)

[petal]

is it catching? Oh yes, like a very bad virus!!!

[jessmorris]

Hello Sue,
I've not done much hatching but also tend to leave the bantams in the nest box until a couple of days before hatch date. Then I block off the nest box with a wire cake rack and leave crumbs and water inside for the broody (its a long thin nestbox with no divisions). Once they're hatched and running about I move broody and chicks to a big guinea pig cage for a week then out onto grass. the girls seem to prefer the company while they are sitting. Sometimes a bigger broody will displace a smaller one, but that's life. They don't much like sitting on their own it seems!
JM

[Suechooks]

She's still sitting tight! The others go in a lay in the same space and she generally seems to get off and go for a feed, drink and dust bath while someone else is babysitting!
I plan to move her with chicks into the ark (which is within their run ) as soon after hatching as I can.
This morning the Leghorn was in there laying first thing so she came out for a while but by the time I'd done the poo picking and put out feeders she was back in and in her little trance!
I'm finding it fascinating as it's the first time I've had a broody on eggs. I do hope something hatches for her.

[RichmondHens]

You should be able to move them when the eggs are pipping - they don't abandon them at that stage. This reduces the risk of other hens pecking at the newly hatched chicks, or the broody trampling them in an attempt to defend them. You will find she gets much more protective as hatching day draws near. I give eggs a light spray with tepid water (from plant spray or similar) on day 18, just to damp them down. In a natural nest they wouldn't need it as the dampness from the earth/grass is sufficient, but in a dry nest in a wooden coop I feel happier if I know there is adequate humidity. Sometimes you will see the hen creep out and sit on the wet grass to damp her feathers but they don't all do it - I have some who do and some who don't.

[Nicos]

I've had 5 sitting on top of each other ( bantams)...daft things aren't they???


( you're not getting broody yourself are you ????)

[Suechooks]

You should be able to move them when the eggs are pipping - they don't abandon them at that stage. This reduces the risk of other hens pecking at the newly hatched chicks, or the broody trampling them in an attempt to defend them. You will find she gets much more protective as hatching day draws near. I give eggs a light spray with tepid water (from plant spray or similar) on day 18, just to damp them down. In a natural nest they wouldn't need it as the dampness from the earth/grass is sufficient, but in a dry nest in a wooden coop I feel happier if I know there is adequate humidity. Sometimes you will see the hen creep out and sit on the wet grass to damp her feathers but they don't all do it - I have some who do and some who don't.

Thanks for that advice Sally - I need all the help I can get! This is an experienced broody who previously had to just get on with it in amongst all the others including 2 cockerels! I think that's why she was so determined to stay where she was. She's very good at letting me check under her for the other girls' eggs. Should I move her first or the eggs when the time comes? When I lift her out she just stays in the same position when I put her down on the floor, so I could probably lift her, eggs and bedding in one go!

[RichmondHens]

If you can lift them all up together then do so, if you are confident the hen will stay put when you are on the move. When moving hen plus eggs/chicks on my own I generally pick up the hen first and tuck her under one arm, then place eggs/chicks in bucket or similar container with other hand and cart all to new location. Then place eggs/chicks down first and then release hen at side of nest (not straight on top as they tend to struggle and may squash eggs/chicks in the process) and they will then sort themselves out.