[22fox]

Hello Everyone,

Ok my columbine is super broody! I didn't have fertile eggs so i just lifted her off the un fertile ones each day! The other day i lifted her off and she was sitting on 11 eggs! yes 11!! So i thought lets give chick rearing ago! So off i went and bought 5 eggs! She was very happy to sit on them! Yesterday i picked her up and one was broken =( also she lost lots of feathers underneath with red patches. I'm a little worried if that a problem? I made her a little box so she wont be bothered by my other naughty chickens. 

Will she be ok? is there anything i should watch out for?

[joyfull]

Broodies lose the chest and underbelly feathers so that they can transfer their body heat to the eggs. Remove all traces of the broken one and then carry on as normal. Accidents do happen and the odd egg can either break or explode (I take it this one didn't explode otherwise you would have said how awful it smelt  ) 

[22fox]

I'm not sure if it did of not? I was worried about the feathers but i can rest easy now! The accident happened in the main box but now she is happy in the her new clean home!

 I heard hens can starve them selves while be broody =(

I just hope i get a least a couple if not all 4 chicks! Will keep you posted!

Thx

[joyfull]

just keep lifting her off the eggs once or twice a day (be careful when you lift her as they will often tuck the eggs up under their wings - I have dropped a couple of eggs this way  ).