[PJM]

Hi all, at what age will hens go broody? I would have thought after a year or two as they got older, but one of my Bantam Partridge Wyanndotte's has started sitting on any eggs layed in the nest boxes, when she first disapeared back into the coop and was there for a long while, I thought she may be eggbound, due to the recent cold weather. When she didn't come out again this morning I had a look and she was still in a nest box, I left her while I went and made some mash for them and got ready for work, came back out and she was still there, I lifted her off the nest with much grumbling and pecking (she is usually quite docile) and felt around but no sign of a stuck egg. I put her on the coop floor and she went out with much complaining and started eating ravenously, so I am guessing she has gone broody, is this unusual? She has only been laying since Christmas, so is not very old really.

[Selkie]

I suppose if she's old enough to be laying eggs then she's old enough to be broody?

[mdueal]

sounds broody to me from what ive read but ours have only been laying since Christmas and we havent experienced it yet.

[Foxy]

Oh yes shes broody!   She will hog the nest fiercely and try and pinch the other hens' eggs to incubate, unfortunately this can last around 6weeks and no eggs!!! You will notice her tum gets warm and she will pluck her breast feathers out.
This is three of mine deciding it was time to go broody- and with "we will not be moved" expressions!!!

[PJM]

Thanks guys, loved the picture foxy that was Dot's expression too lol. She had claimed 3 other eggs as well as her own, and was sitting so tight, she really complained when I picked her up. Hope it dosn't go on 6 weeks though wow!

[babe]

Thanks guys, loved the picture foxy that was Dot's expression too lol. She had claimed 3 other eggs as well as her own, and was sitting so tight, she really complained when I picked her up. Hope it dosn't go on 6 weeks though wow!

are the eggs fertile?? will there be baby chickies?

[Foxy]

And when she does a poo -stand well back! :shock:  :shock:

[PJM]

Sorry Babe, no chickies, I sadly had to have my beautiful Cockerel put down three weeks ago as I couldn't find a home for him :cry: so she is sitting on unfertile eggs. Have found evidence of humungous poo's though so I am assuming they are Dot's

[babe]

cant you get her some fertile ones, poor girl wants to be a mummy. and we lovvvve baby peeps.  

[mothergoose]

Hi there,  

don't be too sure that they are no longer fertile after 3 weeks without a cockerel, a friend of mine hatched eggs laid a month after she removed her old cockerel for a new (different breed) cockerel and the hatch was 1/2 and 1/2  :shock: so some sperm was retained from the original cockerel, there was no denying the different breed. So you could still get chicks from them but would be back to square one with having surplus cocks to deal with  :roll: