Hatching with a tiny broody

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:15 pm

Hoping to add a few Barred Rocks or similar layers to my coop this spring and since I battled broodiness with my one OEGB all last summer I'd might as well let her hatch some. I've only let her sit once and she successfully hatched 6 of her own eggs. How many LF eggs should I expect her to be able to handle? She's tiny even for her breed. Mind you once she goes broody the other female usually jumps on the band wagon!

Ontario Chick · Post by **Ontario Chick** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:40 pm

You are pretty safe with 4 , at least thats what I would do, no point taking risk that some will get cooled, better let her sit twice if you need a larger flock :)

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sat Jan 07, 2017 12:58 pm

Thx OC :)
Yep definitely need her to sit a couple times or I will end up with 4 roosters guaranteed lol

Farrier1987 · Post by **Farrier1987** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 9:37 am

Have a good "bowl" of nest material for her, so there is no issue with the eggs getting out the side. I line a cardboard box like a fruit/ berry box, line it with newspaper to prevent any drafts from under or the sides, and then form he bowl from straw/hay. Adjust the size of the bowl for the hen. Then however many she can cover, depends on her size and the size of the eggs you set. I kind of like 5 or 7 or 9 eggs, they seem to bunch better than an even number.

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 10:41 am

Thx for the advice @Farrier1987
Can you tell I'm looking forward to spring

This girl made her nest in a bag of scratch last time around lol...The other OEGB managed to get into the soffit on the coop and laid there. I had to unscrew the soffit from the outside and move her inside because I was worried about baby chicks making the 4' drop down from there. Determined little girls when they set their mind to it.

ross · Post by **ross** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:30 am

I've had mine drop down 10' from barn soffit onto dirt floor , no injures . Like all young critters very flexible . Most I've had was 19 under a bantam Spangled Hamburg one time , hid in a shed . Luck

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 11:50 am

OMG 19?! Did she hatch all of them? She must have looked like a pancake sitting on those lol

ross · Post by **ross** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:26 pm

Never saw her till she appeared with um all in yard by the bush . Thought I'd lost her to predators . Found empty nest full of broken shells later when cleaning shed . Raised um all too free range . Luck

Happy · Post by **Happy** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:34 pm

Aww that's cute .
I know I worry too much... Hubby says I create more problems by interferring with them and truthfully I know sometimes he's right although I will never say that out loud to him

That was my first go around with broodiness and I learned that the chickens know what to do far better than I do.

ross · Post by **ross** » Sun Jan 08, 2017 12:58 pm

Happy wrote:QR_BBPOST Aww that's cute .
I know I worry too much... Hubby says I create more problems by interferring with them and truthfully I know sometimes he's right although I will never say that out loud to him
That was my first go around with broodiness and I learned that the chickens know what to do far better than I do.

Couldn't agree more . Luck