Scrambled egg Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 My Chicken Hattie has literally, just gone broody. It's not her first time, she was broody last summer for about three weeks. It always really worries me. I try to turf her out and then close the door to the nest box, but it makes me so sad to see her fuss around it, and squeak in that panicky way. Any advice? I don't know whether it's tough love time, or should I just leave her? The really weird thing about this time, was just this morning she completely normal. She escapes all the time so I put her back. A couple of hours later I checked to see if she was still in the pen, but I couldn't see her. I ran round the garden calling ( she actually comes to me when I call ) but didn't find her. I checked the nest box and there she was, sitting making that sort-of purring noise. I checked under her, and there I found the smallest egg I've ever seen! It's about a quarter her normal size! There was a soft-shelled egg in the dropping tray, but we think that came from our other chicken Dusty. (It's paler than Hattie's, which are dark tan). I don't really know what to do now. It's all very confusing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 It's getting warmer, hence time for broodies. Those tiny eggs - sometimes called wind eggs, witches eggs or cock's eggs - are formed when a wee bit of grit gets into the oviduct and the hen forms an egg around it - there will be a very thick shell and membranes, gelatinous white and a tiny 'pip' of grit but (usually) no yolk. One of my girls lays quite a few; Rosie calls them Malteser eggs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrambled egg Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 It's getting warmer, hence time for broodies. Those tiny eggs - sometimes called wind eggs, witches eggs or cock's eggs - are formed when a wee bit of grit gets into the oviduct and the hen forms an egg around it - there will be a very thick shell and membranes, gelatinous white and a tiny 'pip' of grit but (usually) no yolk. One of my girls lays quite a few; Rosie calls them Malteser eggs. Okay, I cracked it open to check, and it's the weirdest thing inside! It's like a yolk shape made of egg white with a tiny smudge of yellow right in the centre, and then there a a couple of (I think) bloodspots? Weird, I've never seen anything like this before, so thanks a lot for the advice! By the way, what do you do with broodies? Leave them, or something else? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 1, 2011 Share Posted April 1, 2011 Check the FAQ section (fount of all knowledge) for information on broodies. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scrambled egg Posted April 1, 2011 Author Share Posted April 1, 2011 Well as quickly as she started, she's stopped! Just went out again to check on her, and she's gone back to normal! Chickens, eh? what crazy things Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
