[Bodger]

I've just had a very pleasant phone call. Out of the blue, a forum friend has just rung me and he's asked me if I want some 'Ixworth' hatching eggs. I've never seen any in the flesh, but Ixworths are a pure breed that were created for the table. They make huge birds very quickly, so in a couple of weeks time, I should have two dozen coming.

[Jellyhead]

Lucky you Bodge

[babe]

fantastic.... we will be expecting piccies of the new babies when they arrive... but you already know that  

[Bodger]

I know its sad answering your own post  :oops:  :oops:  :oops:  but the bloke has just been on the phone again and this time he's offered me some 'Jumbo Quail', so guess what ? I said yes !

How quickly can you get a decree nisi through exactly ?

[babe]

can you answer this bodger??

in the past few days, 5 of my girlies, a warren, brahma, hamburgh, poland and a mixieuppy.

have all been taking turns sitting on some eggs.

not fertile eggs.

is there any chance that one of these will go broody or are they just just playing?

[Bodger]

The eggs don't have to be fertile for chickens to go broody. They don't have a way of telling. If you think about it, chickens will go broody on pottery eggs and on occasions, even on golf balls.
The old fashioned breeds that you keep are prone to going broody and its getting around to the time of the year when lots of hens do go broody.

I don't use incubators to hatch chicks, I always use a broody. For showing chickens, its usually an advantage to hatch chicks out as early as possible in the year. Because of this, my incubator competitors usually have an advantage over me early on in the season but my birds usually catch up and thankfully, quite often surpass their birds later on.

So far this year, I've had about eight birds go broody. In a couple of months time, I'll have broodys coming out of my ears by. This will be too late for my show birds but I might be tempted to stick a few turkey eggs under them. Traditionally, people get their Christmas fattening turkeys in the month of August., so this will fir in quite nicely.

[babe]

so would it be a good idea to get some extra nest boxes, as they are all trying to sit on eggs in the same one.

im so sad i actually sat in the coop for two hours this morning watching.

as soon as someone gets up to poop or eat, another rushes to sit.

its been absolutely hilarious.

and as me and incubators just dont get on, im desparate for someone to get proper broody and hatch some babies

[Jellyhead]

While we are at Bodgers question time, I have one too.
How long does it take generally for a duckling to hatch, is it longer than a chicken. I noticed a very tiny crack in the shell last night and a bigger crack just now but it hasnt broken through yet. It is under Martha, a chicken not an incy. Thanks Bodger.
By the way, you lucky thing, Quails an all
 

[Bodger]

Your hens will go broody, so don't worry about it. They will play about a bit at it, but when they go broody properly, you'll need a bomb under them to shift them off the nest.

What I'd do, is to prepare somewhere ready for your future broody, so that she can sit somewhere quietely and in peace. A small coop somewhere with a nest box in it. Place some eggs that you are not bothered about in the nest. let her sit tightly on those for a couple of days and when she's sitting, during the hours of darkness, take the eggs from under her and then slip her the ones you want her to hatch.

[Bodger]

Hen eggs 21 days and duck eggs 28, thats why you can't hatch chicks and ducklings under the same mother.

Duck egg shells are generally thicker than hen eggs. Many young birds pip the shell and then have a long rest before starting again, so I wouldn't worry.

[babe]

Your hens will go broody, so don't worry about it. They will play about a bit at it, but when they go broody properly, you'll need a bomb under them to shift them off the nest.

What I'd do, is to prepare somewhere ready for your future broody, so that she can sit somewhere quietely and in peace. A small coop somewhere with a nest box in it. Place some eggs that you are not bothered about in the nest. let her sit tightly on those for a couple of days and when she's sitting, during the hours of darkness, take the eggs from under her and then slip her the ones you want her to hatch.

thanks bodgy, i'll get the maternity block ready as soon as the new girlies join the big flock.

[muntjac]

wanna share  

[jonny1982]

Your lucky to get them ive been trying to get some for ages ive found a breeder through somone i know im just waiting for a call but i will have to pay a fair price for the eggs