2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[Roobaloo]

I'm having a real up and down moment with my magpie.

 

Having decided two days ago that she was definitely broody (having refused to leave the nest for most the day...screaming if approached etc) we agreed to take some eggs from a friend to hatch them...but this afternoon, she's been out the nest potentially 3 times or all afternoon (she's been in the run when we've been outside) as the non-fertile eggs we'd not collected this morning (as she was determined to remove our fingers if we tried) are stone cold.

 

Has she snapped herself out of it in 2 days?? Or is this just a blip and she'll be back on the nest again tomorrow??

 

Does crouching have any connection to her 'status'? She hasn't crouched for a week (in the build up to her 'broodiness') but just now she crouched as I approached.

 

I'm guessing I have to cancel my favour for my friend as she's clearly not a reliable broody. Or is there a way I can convince her she'd like to be a Mother?

 

Advice really appreciated as I need to let my friend know for sure asap.

 

Really quite disappointed...it was only an option for half a day but I was really excited!!

[Redwing]

I've never heard of a Magpie.. is it a hybrid?

 

If so its unlikely to have broody sticking powers they arent known for their broodiness or sitting ability

 

You could try shutting her in the coop with the test eggs and see if she settles down again but if she really doesnt then you have run out of options

 

If she does sit there is every chance she will abandon the nest again sadly

[meezers]

I think a Magpie is the opposite colour of a speckledy ( if that makes sense ? ) . My Speckledy went properly broody the first year I had her, and was a right grump with it as well. Hasn't done it since though.

[Roobaloo]

My knowledge on the breeds is veeeery limited... but I think she's a Silver Sussex hybrid. She was definitely sold as a hybrid from Thornes, under the name of a Magpie, that's as much fact as I can give!

 

She's back on the nest...but it's definitely looking like a no hoper! Oh well, Suki will at least be pleased to have her friend back!

 

Thanks!

[sjp]

the magpie is a hybrid. I think it's a similar to the meadow sweet Daisybelle which was a Silver Sussex based hybrid and by all accounts was prone to been broody, which is why allegedly it's no longer available.

it's one of the hybrids that I wanted when I first started out last year

[Redwing]

They sound nice, I am down at Thornes tomorrow so I'll take a look just out of interest

[Roobaloo]

I've just been out with the dog for his last run of the night...on the way out I peeped in at Toph and she was on the nest box but not clamped down and fluffed up, she was just sat as a regular hen having a rest...so I opened the door and she didn't objected to being stroked...

 

...and on the way back, she was back on the roosting bars.

 

I believe the phrase is game over. Really disappointed!!

 

Silly stroppy hen!

[Redwing]

typical if you wanted to snap her out of it she would have been having none of it!

[Roobaloo]

I can't believe her!! Last night she was strutting around as if she wouldn't know what to do with a nest if she found one...

 

...and this morning, she's wedged herself firmly in the nestbox again and screaming if you get too close!!!

 

She's doing this to spite me, isn't she?

 

- Have broody hen. Get fertile eggs -

"Oh, Mummy wants me to work? I don't think so!"

- Broodiness over. buy incubator -

"Hmph! I'll show HER I'm better than a machine!!"

- Broody hen -

 

 

[Lewis]

Well thats good news!

 

Keep her in so she stays broody if you're still going to use her - maybe give her half the eggs