Grow Your Own Magazine

Snadger · #1 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 07:35 PM

One of mine has!

I's not a big problem as I have 3 nest boxes for 10 hens and they usually only use two anyway.
She was sitting on three eggs and was NOT happy when I stole them from under her. She was also having a go at tuthers if they got too close!

I think I'll just let her get on with it and keep nicking the eggs from under her!

lynda66 · #2 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 07:40 PM

or if you fancy some babies get her some hatching eggs

MaureenHall · #3 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 08:45 PM

awwwwwwwwwwww let her have some babies! Would that make you grandad?

lynda66 · #4 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 08:50 PM

ooooooo yeah grandad snadge

see you could be grandad to some of these

http://home-garden.shop.ebay.co.uk/i...11700QQ_ssovZ1

in fact i've just seen THE most cutest chickens
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12-Silky-X-Fri...d=p3286.c0.m14

ok that's done it ..... I'm broody now

Snadger · #5 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 09:00 PM

As it happens.................I just became a Grandad for the THIRD time yesterday!

My 20 year old Sons girlfriend gave birth to little Nicole (whom I aint seen yet)

Mum and baby are doing fine I'm pleased to say!

shirlthegirl43 · #6 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snadger

As it happens.................I just became a Grandad for the THIRD time yesterday!

My 20 year old Sons girlfriend gave birth to little Nicole (whom I aint seen yet)

Mum and baby are doing fine I'm pleased to say!

Many congratulations Snadger.

lynda66 · #7 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 09:17 PM

awwwwww congrats grandad snadge ..... so you're an old hand at being grandad then ...... a few more won't hurt

or some ikkle baby ducks?

MaureenHall · #8 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 09:57 PM

Congratulations Grandad Snadge. You've got a long way to catch up with me though, I got 10!!!! Eldest is 20 and youngest is 10 months. Not as cuddly as ickle baby chickens now though. Go on, let her have some babies

vicky · #9 (**permalink**) 14-09-2008, 11:17 PM

Personally I'd love to have a broody as I really like the idea of chicks, come on Snadger, let her have her babies!!!
And many congrats on the new grand daughter, how lovely for you!!

andi&di · #10 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 09:17 AM

No advice re your chooks but Congratulations on becoming a Grandad no.3!!Hope you get to see her soon!

lainey lou · #11 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 10:48 AM

Congratulations Grandad!!
Re: the chooks, if you let her get on with it you may have a long wait, my girl was broody for 27 days before she gave up. You have to make sure she is getting up to eat and drink too as she may just sit there. We booted our girl out 3 or 4 times a day to stretch her legs (she did complain a bit!). You'll have to watch out for mites too as chances are she won't be grooming herself properly.

Snadger · #12 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 11:29 AM

OK, next question.

I fancy trying to rear some Siver Dorking chicks. The eggs don't finish on eBay for 9 hours and if I was to win them I probably couldn't get them before Wednesday.
By this time, would I have left it too long do you think?

Flummery · #13 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 11:55 AM

Congratulations on the grandchild. I think Wednesday is far too long for eggs to be un-brooded though.

MaureenHall · #14 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 01:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snadger

OK, next question.

I fancy trying to rear some Siver Dorking chicks. The eggs don't finish on eBay for 9 hours and if I was to win them I probably couldn't get them before Wednesday.
By this time, would I have left it too long do you think?

If she definitely IS broody and you don't mind too much if nothing comes from the eggs, then I'd say go for it

Well that's what I'd do anyway, but hey, what do I know? Would love it if 1 of mine was broody though

Pumpkin Becki · #15 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 02:00 PM

Hi Snadger,

Ex bat stylee hybrids aren't supposed to go broody, it should have been bred out of them as it's an undesirable trait in the egg producing world - however nature does have a wonderful way of undoing mans creations doesn't it.

lynda66 · #16 (**permalink**) 15-09-2008, 02:38 PM

i reckon if you leave some eggs under her, so she's trying to hatch them, then chuck her out and substitute the new eggs, she'll never know any difference and just keep sitting on them ....... now that's even more eggciting

Snadger · #17 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 10:13 AM

Well I've gone and done it now haven't I?

I made a silly offer for Australorp hatching eggs on eBay and just had it accepted. Six eggs paid for by paypal and hopefully I'll get them tomorrow!

Now what do I do as she's still comandeered one of the nesting boxes in the main hut? Do I try and move her? Do I try and hurriedly construct a broody hut and run to put inside the main run?

I've asked the same question on a chooky forum so desperately need some answers.

MaureenHall · #18 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 10:18 AM

Oh wow!!! Brilliant Snadger. I haven't really got a clue 'cos I've never been in this situation, but I think I'd try and knock together a broody-coop (think someone once said they'd converted a rabbit hutch for this), and move her into it with some eggs under her like Lynda suggested, then swap the eggs for the fertile (hopefully) ones when they arrive.
Oooooooooooooooooooo is so exciting

. Please please please keep us posted on progress.
Good luck - lots and lots of it

Snadger · #19 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 04:32 PM

Well broody coop is now constructed under the workbench in my chicken shed. Added homemade nest box. Took her off nest (which she wasn't too happy about) and plonked her in her new nest with part od the straw from her old nest.
She had been sitting on five eggs so left her three until tuthers arrive.

Everything was constructed outside and brought in so there was no noise (screws instead of nails!) and she has water and mixed corn in her new run.
Front is just a sheet of chicken wire with a rope threaded through top and looped at each end onto a screw. Bottom is held in place with a brick! To get in to feed and clean her all I have to do is shift brick, hinge up mesh on rope loops and I can do the necessary.

I left her for a while and when I came back she had been out and eaten half the mixed corn and was sitting on top of the nest box.
Hopefully she'll return to the nest, rearange it to suit herself and still be able to see her pals!

Fingers crossed I get her NEW eggs tomorrow and that she will sit on them! Think I'll just leave the three eggs she's got in with her now with the six new ones when they come! I'll hopefully be able to take them out when she's a bit more settled!

frias · #20 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 06:59 PM

One of my ex-batts was broody for just over 3 weeks. Had to be pushed out of nest box for food and water. The boss really went for her each time she was in the run too. I think she was telling the broody to pull herself together. As soon as the broody got back to normal the boss stopped picking on her.

Snadger · #21 (**permalink**) 16-09-2008, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frias

One of my ex-batts was broody for just over 3 weeks. Had to be pushed out of nest box for food and water. The boss really went for her each time she was in the run too. I think she was telling the broody to pull herself together. As soon as the broody got back to normal the boss stopped picking on her.

My broody IS the boss at the mo!