Pro - Does anyone else's nest boxes get soaked in rain?

[lyd119]

Hi there,

We have just started to get full egg laying capacity and one of our girls has just gone broody. She's been broody for about 3 days. she seems very happy to be broody and was really confused when we took her nest away so we gave it back to her. We are now thinking that she may as well do something whilst she's sitting there and not laying. However we don't have room for more than one more small hen (preferably a bantam), can you hatch just one egg or would the chick be lonely? thanks in advance for any help.

 

Lydia

[Patricia W]

A friend and I tried 2 eggs under each of her two broody orps. It didn't work. I think they need a clutch. And a single chick would be lonely anyway so we won't try it again.

 

Tricia

[Jools]

And not all eggs hatch, so she could sit for three weeks for nothing, or a cockeral. Also, it's getting a little late in the year for hatching. If you only want to add one hen, it might be a better idea to buy one next spring.

[Egluntyne]

It is a bit late in the year to be thinking about hatching now IMHO.

 

The weather will be turning very cold just as the broody will be ready to leave it, so it will be lonely, cold and vulnerable. I wouldn't risk it now.

[Lesley]

Yes, I agree with Egluntine - too late really and it wouldn't be fair for her to sit on just one egg.

 

If you keep removing any nest and pushing her off she should stop being broody quite quickly at this time of year.