mbc
New Member
Posts: 39
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Post by mbc on Oct 20, 2011 20:30:29 GMT 8
Hi guys, this is a long one. Haven't been on here in a while!
I arrived at school earlier this week to find one of the hens has gone broody :/ This isn't entirely practical as for some reason all of the girls lay in the same place, in a tyre - so when she is sat there, it takes up that nesting place. Anyway (because she isn't actually hatching anything) am i right to lift her off the nest to make her go eat etc? One of my helpers took her off the nest and took her over to the compost heap. Once she was there she seemed fine, it's just without that initial push she isn't moving? Where do you draw the line and tell her to move on!!
Anyway this is what i really wanted to talk about...
Around school lately we have a lot of nesting birds, one pair decided to lay their eggs right in the middle of the school oval. Upon realising their mistake the two abandoned their eggs. The caretakers moved the eggs to another location away from the oval but obviously mum n dad haven't returned. I decided to give these eggs a second chance and have stuck them under the broody hen.
Here is the problem? She is sat on them in the main coop, is that an issue? Will she even sit on them at all?
Thanks for reading all that guys (if you did!) i hope you can answer at least one of my many queries! ;D
Ryan
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 20, 2011 21:30:24 GMT 8
Hi Ryan, a broody hen will normally leave the nest at some time during the day to eat, drink and maybe even have a dustbath....oh and do the most disgusting smelly poo you have ever had the misfortune to smell. I usually remove my girls from the nest when collecting eggs so I know at least they have eaten, it is only for my peace of mind. If you want to break them from being broody, and as yours is not hatching anything or you don't want to use her to hatch anything, you remove them to the 'sin bin'. This is usually a cage (I use an old cockies cage) that has no nesting material, just a cold floor. A few days later I let them out, if they are still stuck on nesting, back they go. I do let them out for a stretch and a dust bath each day, but not for long. Sometimes just moving them away from their nest to a different run will also break them. You should limit the time that you allow them to brood before breaking them as they are not foraging and can get quite thin. It has been known for them to die if left too long. I don't go over about a month myself.
I usually don't allow my girls to brood a nest of eggs in the main coop as other hens lay in the nest as well. If you do you would need to mark the eggs otherwise you never know which eggs are which. I always remove or barricade any broody mums and chicks from the main coop for the safety of the young ones. As for will she sit on them? Depends on the hen. I have some that I can move and do almost anything to and they will sit, yet others the slightest disturbance and thats it, she won't sit.
Hopefully that has helped you with your questions, do come back if you are unclear on anything. I sure someone else will add their bit to mine.
Happy chooking Tina
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Post by linda29 on Oct 21, 2011 20:51:43 GMT 8
Ryan I agree with Tina. I use a old metal cage that i bought off gumtree for $20 and put my broody in there for a few day with water and food and no bedding. This may be a revolving door syndrome for a while as many others may get broody. But stick to a plan and run with it. Perhaps you could put a wanted "cage"add in the school news letter. It might cost you not a cent. Cheers Linda
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