beach chick Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 help! Chardonnay and Mercedes are taking it in turn to be broody. I have tried: leaving them to it turfing them off the nest (they go straight back in) shutting them out of the nest (found them all roosting on the run that night!) put an icepack in yesterday, and found Char had actually laid an egg on it - strange bird. meanwhile, we only had 3 eggs yesterday and 3 today, so I think the non-broody ones are being put off and laying elsewhere - but can I find any anywhere? no! do I try the bucket of water next? am reluctant to go for a broody cage, as I don't have one... if I did, would i put it in the run, and let her go to bed with the others as usual, or do I keep her in it fulltime for a couple of days? thanks in advance Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MisHapp Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Have you got somewhere you could isolate the broodies? Maybe a rabbit hutch/run or similar? If not, I think I would be tempted with the broody cage idea. Get a basic pet carrier from a pet shop or similar - mine cost around £8, I think. In my - pretty extensive bantam broody experience lol!!! - the broody cage will crack it. MH x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 I use a wire pet carrier Beach Chick, it's not expensive and works wonders. I take the plastic tray out to increase the airflow, fill a couple of clip on feeders with pellets and water, raise it up in a couple of bricks and leave her in it (inside the run, so under cover) 24/7 for three days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Pearsons Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 My broody is sitting on 6 eggs we have "borrowed" from a friend. They are "due" on 30th August and we go on holiday on the 1st September... what timing Any Roosters will end up on the table and with my luck they will all be useless males Chips is pretty fed up with Toast going broody and keeps telling her what she thinks. Toast then turns her back and ignores her.... so funny! Chips is still laying in the same nest and then Toast steals the egg so I have to turf her off every night to get "my" egg. Toast just doesn't seem to bother... in fact she is more cuddly than ever. My DH is complaining about the lack of fresh laid eggs so I told him the only answer to this is MORE HENS!!!!!! and I think he actually agrees as he had built a massive new run. Helen in Hume Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Faultless logic there Helen! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
feemcg Posted August 14, 2007 Share Posted August 14, 2007 Helen, what are you thinking - 2 hens in a cube!! - you need more.....lots more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beach chick Posted August 15, 2007 Author Share Posted August 15, 2007 well, today we had 3 eggs in the nest this morning by 8.30am. then went out from 11am til 4.30pm, and found another egg in the nest when we came back! now I'm wondering if I've been annoying them or something, by checking too often? I tend to think if one's been in there for an hour that I should hoick her out, but 50% of the time I find eggs under her and 50% of the time I dont... maybe I'm being too hasty? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
