4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[MaggieMcHen]

I have a Bovans Nera who is frequently brood - she is this years stock so less than a year old.

She will sits on the nest in the cube all puffed up, featherless on her chest and gathering everybodies eggs under her. However when I put her into the separate Eglu she just paces up and down in the run trying to get out with the others. If I let her out.......up she goes into the Cube again. I would like her to brood some eggs or place day olds under her but am not sure she is REALLY broody enough. Should I feed her different food? Will she eventually settle in the Eglu? Should I leave her longer than a day in the Eglu, pacing? Should I leave her one warm, real egg rather than the fake eggs - or even try golf balls?

 

Thanks in advance

[atsw]

While she can see the others and she's not in her 'proper' nest box there will be an urge to re-join the flock in the early stages. If she is truly broody (and you want to keep her this way), you'll need to shut her in the Eglu for 24/48hrs. Give her some eggs to sit on. Don't worry too much about food and water to start with, she won't eat or drink much in that time if she really is broody. After 24/48hrs shut in, open the Eglu door and see what happens. If she stays put then you have a broody. She she gets up and stays out, you don't!

 

Andrew

[MaggieMcHen]

Many thanks will do - and report back.

[Lesley]

I'd say the same as Andrew. Let us know how it goes

[MaggieMcHen]

She obviously wasn't serious - just liked sitting inthe Cube nestbox getting in the way!! Let her out of the Eglu this morning and she shot out and hasn't, so far, gone anywhere near a nest box.

I really must put a more recent picture of Gemma up.