chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Can someone reassure me that my bantam silkie will be okay in a broody cage in this weather? Tinker is broody. I was hoping locking her out of the Eglu for the day might snap her out of it but not so. I'll put the broody cage in the run but she's obviously not going to be as warm and cosy without the others cuddling up to her. Will she be too cold? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Edna and Emmy (2 of my Silkies) are both broody at the minute...I just leave them to it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 But she's doesn't appear to be leaving the nest box. Shall I just force her out and close eglu door? Lucky the others aren't laying yet or they'd have nowhere to lay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 It's a difficult one, but if she's not laying and the others are'nt too, I'd be inclinde to close the eglu. She needs to cool off. I've used my anti-broody coop in the summer with my pekins, but thankfully none of them is broody at the mo!!! I'm sure you'll keep an eye on things. Could she be coming into lay? Silkies I believe do lay over winter. Having a desire to get a couple myself!!! Trying very hard to resist an attack of morehens!!! It's they're broodiness that puts me off TBH with the pekins this summer it drove me mad....well in to letting them hatch, which is a whole other story!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 It's a difficult one, but if she's not laying and the others are'nt too, I'd be inclinde to close the eglu. She needs to cool off. I've used my anti-broody coop in the summer with my pekins, but thankfully none of them is broody at the mo!!! I'm sure you'll keep an eye on things. Could she be coming into lay? Silkies I believe do lay over winter. Having a desire to get a couple myself!!! Trying very hard to resist an attack of morehens!!! It's they're broodiness that puts me off TBH with the pekins this summer it drove me mad....well in to letting them hatch, which is a whole other story!! She's been laying for weeks now, she's even sitting in an empty nest! No bedding, no eggs at times. As soon as I open the eglu for bed time she runs straight back into the nest box and doesn't come out in the morning. She is a lovely thing usually. I'm dreading my feisty pekins getting broody!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 I have a fence at the back of the Meaning it is very difficult to shoo her out of that nesting box!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Oh dear that is a tricky one!! Could you move the Go to allow you acess? Then once she has laid you could boot her out and close the door? Broodiness is a real issue as they don't do themselves any favours not eating, drinking etc and leaves them a traget for mites.My pekins got scaly leg from sitting and hatching. Also if you work like me and aren't around during the day everyday to boot them off, you have to use an anti-broody coop for the other hens sakes!! My pekins really peck and swear and have drawn blood before!!! Hope you find a solution! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 I can't move the Go, small garden means it's got to go where it is. Don't broody hens, incubating eggs for real, get themselves off the nest to eat and drink? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Margaret Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Lily my Silkie is broody for the 999th this year ( maybe I eggsagerate but not by much ) I alway use the broody cage but feel terrible about it this time of year, and as none of mine are laying at the moment, OH gets her out and locks the cube and we leave her all day gobbing to all in the garden and let her back in just before dusk. She goes straight back on the nest until the next morning She has been like this for a week now so hopefully not for much longer and I have to leave OH a note everyday to remind him to do this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 No not always! Silkies are apparently really bad and have been know to die whilst sitting on eggs, so my breeder told me and she has silkies. My pekins were dreadful I had to make them get off everyday and check that they had snapped out of the "zone" enough to eat, drink and poop!!!! At first I left them and they didn't get off for 3 days!!! (pooing in the nest...yes over the eggs!!! Posted on here for advice!! You might be able to find those old posts!) My nerves were shot...so took over for peace of mind (and the eggs sake)!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 I haven't been able to stand over the all day (obviously) but I've been out there a few times today and broody silkie hasn't moved, not even for treats. And a big red and black sweeping brush doesn't frighten her either. OK. So I'll shut her out all weekend, only opening the Eglu for bed time and then forcing her out at morning before closing the Eglu door. If this doesn't work, should I used a broody cage next week? *brr* it's so cold though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheeky Chooky Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I chuck them out at least 3 times a day (morning, lunch time and late afternoon) for at least half an hour each chucking out time so that they eat and drink. Only Sukie (my black Silkie) is laying out of the whole bloomin' lot of 'em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 I didn't know chickens got broody in the winter Do all pekins turn into feisty little madams ? I think reading this has slightly put me off as I now have 3 pekins. Mind you, saying that, I can't imagine my lovely little Queenie being anything but the sweetest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 Well I am witness that these little madams can get broody in winter. as for my pekins, they aren't laying yet but they've always had attitude problems! 2/3 of them anyway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 16, 2012 Author Share Posted November 16, 2012 P.S still love my pekins though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Oh me too!!!!! Well I'd have to as I have 6 now!! Love their funny little ways and the funny noises....Molly makes duck sounds!!!! Oh and the little eggs are so yummy!!!! Can't wait for some more to begin laying!!! Molly my gold partridge is still laying, every othe day...bless her! She hardly stop even through her moult.....but then she did spend most of the summer broody!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 mimi5, I've just realised you have girlies called Milly, Molly and Mandy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Luvachicken,Yes the 3 M's were my originals, but sadly I lost Mandy back in June to a mystery illness Molly is my best layer and top chook! Milly is a bad tempered madam!!!! She picks on the babies if they so much as look at her but she was a lovely mummy to her chicks in the summer!! Shame 3 were boys and the only girl who is actually her daughter.........is a grumpy girlie too!! Would have loved a Molly baby girl, but her egg was a boy and Mandy's egg also a boy........a beautiful millefleur like her and Monty his dad. How's Queenie doing? She sounds like a good layer!!! Fingers crossed she doesn't go broody too often for you!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 mimi5, Queenie is perfect She didn't lay an egg today, but who can blame her on such a miserable day, but sadly any eggs she does lay we can't eat anyway . Not until the antibiotics have worn off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Oh shame about Queenie's eggs!! Molly is still laying too, but every other day and they are getting smaller! But hopefully normal service will resume sometime next year.......hoping my 3 babies are good layers..?? Dreading broodiness, but have my anti-broody coop, so much better prepared!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted November 16, 2012 Share Posted November 16, 2012 Yay, roll on Spring Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 17, 2012 Author Share Posted November 17, 2012 My little silkie sure is persisitant! We've shoved her out and closed the Eglu door all day until later this afternoon and of course, she ran back to the nest box as soon as I opened the door. At least she was out all day eating and drinking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mimi5 Posted November 17, 2012 Share Posted November 17, 2012 Well my Molly always does that even after 3 days straight in the anti-broody coop!!! That's why I gave in and let her hatch in the end!!!! But to my amazement ......she's broody AGAIN Arggh that must be the 6th or so time this YEAR!! Did manage to distract her with free ranging today though They just want to be mummy's real bad!!!! Even if it is winter!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 18, 2012 Author Share Posted November 18, 2012 Aww I feel bad for them wanting to be mummys and there's me, shooing her out and telling her 'no', silly thing isn't even sitting on anything anyway! Guess who's sitting on the nesting box again on this frosty morning? I shall close her out after this cuppa. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chestnutmare Posted November 23, 2012 Author Share Posted November 23, 2012 Just to say, it's been over a week now and she is still broody. Every morning she is pushed out of the nesting box and the Eglu door is closed all day. No biggie at the moment really as the pekins in there with her aren't laying yet so don't need nest box access. Silly Tinker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
