3.6m Omlet Chicken Run for sale, Brand New in Boxes, Milton Keynes (MK19)

[brambles]

I have a learner broody on a dozen eggs. I have tipped her off every two days to poo. She has food and water within reach. Each time I have had to catch her and put her back on her eggs as she forgets she's living in the eglu and squawks to go back to the cube.

I'm due to go away next week and my husband and neighbour will be looking after her. They probably won't lift her, so my question is, when she does get up to poo, how long can the eggs cope without her if she forgets, then goes back later?

Any advice?

[Jools]

Instinctively mine only spend around 15 mins off the nest to "perform" but the eggs could certainly cope with longer.

 

Is yours in an eglu with a run? Can you leave her with the door open so she can get herself off when she needs to and leave her food and water within reach of the nest?

 

Even eggs left for a couple of hours usually go on to hatch, just a little late.

[brambles]

Hi, the door is shut overnight, but left open all day for her to potter, should she wish. I can tell she's not been out due to lack of broody poo.

My neighbour will make sure she's got food and water within beak reach and will be able to scoop her up and plonk back onto nest if she finds her out and confused in the run.

It's reassuring to hear that they'll cope with longer, particularly as it's warmer now.

Oh dear! I hope she won't be this hopeless as a mum, I'll be making an emergency call to my neighbour for her heat lamp for her tortoises!

She was very upset that she'd done a poo bigger than her head - she's a cochin too!

[chuckmum6]

I wouldn't let her leave the eggs too long, 30 mins is generally recommended, if the eggs cool too much and too regularly you may have trouble. The hen has her own timer and will head back to the nest within that time. I have a broody who also started off in the cube, once I knew she was really broody, she was moved into the eglu in the chickens area. It took her a couple of times to realise where her eggs where, I had to put her back a few times. After a couple of times she got it, she rushed off into the cube and then came out again as she had remembered where she had them. I would definately put your run on your eglu, then she will have no chance of going to the wrong place. I shall add my run before the hatch date, as it is a pain to get it out now, but if she hadn't learned where her eggs were I wouldn't have risked if. I take my girl off the nest first thing in the morning and then last thing in the evening. I candelled mine tonight and it looks good 6 days in.

[brambles]

The run is on the eglu and once I'm sure the eggs are ok I'll add a skirt inside to keep the chicks safe from poking their heads through.

 

so, rather than leave her on the eggs, would it be better to lift her twice a day so that she learns to go back onto the eggs? I set the kitchen timer for 20 mins and put her back on if she's not gone (which she hasnt, yet!)

[chuckmum6]

I would say yes, keep an eye on her returning times when you take her out. Broodies go into a trance and will just sit wherever you put them for half a minute or so, then she should flap, poo, eat and drink. I have a dustbath in for my girl as she loves a quick bath, if she doesn't head back after this she may not be too keen on being a mother, keep popping her back for now if needed.

[brambles]

Does this mean she'll be a disaster when they hatch?

[chuckmum6]

You can never really tell, until they have chicks, but the maternal instinct is a very strong force. If she is too young she may not be mentally ready, but a yearling should cope.

[brambles]

Thanks. She is a year old, I think. We had her at POL last august so I think the maths works out! Fingers crossed and we'll see how she goes.