[Oliveview]

One of our hens for the past 2 weeks has been fluffing herself up and getting very agitated if we go near her.  Tonight she was sitting in one of the nesting boxes on 2 eggs.  I took out the eggs and removed the hen, she wasn´t happy.  Later on she was back in the nesting box (not the same box)  so I removed her again.  Do you think she is going broody?  If I can get some eggs from a man who has hens and a cockerel what are the chances of the eggs being fertile?  Do I have to get them as soon as they are laid?
I will look back here tomorrow (no internet inclusive here now )  when we go to the library.
Thanks
Pamela

[Vember]

Sounds like she's broody Pamela

If the hens are running with a cockerel then they should be fertile, suppose it really depends on how many hens he's with Even if he's with a lot your bound to get one or two hatch if not more


Sarah

[brenda]

Hello Pamela
Yes sounds like your hen is broody, we have about three broody hens at the moment, two of them are sitting on pheasant eggs, which are hatching out at this moment. The other we have isolated in with a spare rooster till her broody phase passes

[Oliveview]

She has been ´acting up´ for a few weeks now, I thought she was getting bad tempered and told her off!!   I hoiked her out the nesting box again this morning and told her to go and eat and drink, she did- except the other hens seem to get annoyed with her when she is looking like a ´turkey´
I will try to get some eggs for her- should I get the eggs as they are just laid or does it matter if they are a few hours old?
Pamela

[Vember]

Any eggs from today or yesterday will be fine Pamela

Eggs can be used that are up to 10 days old but these need to have been kept properly and turned to stop the yolk from sticking

Please if you can, let us know how you get on


Sarah

[LittleRedHen]

She sounds broody to me!