Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Poultry and Pets => Chicken Chat => Topic started by: Tigerwren on April 25, 2011, 11:38

Title: Is she broody?
Post by: Tigerwren on April 25, 2011, 11:38

Hi all, my cuckoo maran has started staying in the nest box all day and only eats when I lift her off and put her in front of the food.  She will not let any other girls in to lay their eggs and when I go near her, she fluffs up and makes the most adorable purring sound.  I think this must mean she is broody but am not sure.  She was pol in Nov.
If she is broody 1. How long can it last and 2. will she still lay eggs?
Thanks for any replies to my daft questions

Title: Re: Is she broody?
Post by: joyfull on April 25, 2011, 11:47

Yes she is broody and no she won't still lay eggs once she has enough to sit on. If you don't want her to hatch any (or the resulting cockerels - at least 50% of the hatch will be boys) then either keep chucking her out of the nest box or get her a cage to spend her days in with food and water of course. Some people leave them in the cage over night but at the moment it is still rather cold overnight. She may not lay again for a few weeks (if you hatch any eggs then it could be up to 8 weeks after the hatching before she next lays).
Do you have a cockerel - if not and you want chicks then get some fertile eggs and swap the infertile eggs with the fresh ones  :D

Title: Re: Is she broody?
Post by: Tigerwren on April 25, 2011, 15:22

Thanks Joyful, I thought she might be.  We don't have a cockerel and don't want chicks at the moment so I have been booting her out when I get the chance.  I will keep on with that and see what happens.  Thanks for your help :)