The Poultry Keeper

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

Looking for lots of help please, if you have the time. One of my bantams has gone broody I've turfed her off the eggs 3 times each of the last two days and the eggs are really toasty. She's a welsummer, no idea what they're like for brooding, but she's very cross when I turf her out. So I turfed her out again and then made up a small box for her and put in 4 pekin eggs for her to sit on, I've checked since and she's back on those now. Shall I leave her in the main house tonight and move her tomorrow or move her today?
I have a small ark, tatty old thing that I wouldn't use normally. It's about 3ft long and 2ft wide and maybe 2ft+ high ~ one side is blocked off and the other has the door. It doesn't have a run. Shall I put her in that, with it inside the main run? Should she be partitioned off? If she stays put do I have to lift her off every day or will she take herself off? That's it for now, I have a ton more, but I'll see what this runs up, thanks everyone

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

Firstly, hope your excited!!
I had heard that Wellies do not make good broody's, so I hope she stays put.
In the box, you've put her, it's a good idea to mix in some louse powder and dust her too, as she will get eaten alive later in her vigil. I also put Diatom in, as I had some.
She can probably sit in there, wherever it is, until tomorrow, and then you could move her and box to wherever you want her to be and for the babies to hatch. Somewhere quiet, where she cannot be bothered or hassled by the ohter hens. I can't advise about the small ark, it sounds absolutley fine for now, but she and the chicks will need somewhere safe and secure for 10 weeks I think, and considering mine are in a smallish Ark, with the run detached and I think that is small, yours does sound smaller and will not be enough, unless you can put it in a bigger secure place, like a cordoned off part of a shed or something.
That's all I can think of for now, hope she sits tight, and I'm sure we'll all have loads more advice as the days and questions come up.
Very Happy

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

I don't know if I'm excited or terrified, I hadn't planned any of this. I might read everyone threads, but that's as far as it was supposed to go. Oh well, we'll see what happens I don't have eggs yet, the eggs she's on are some the pekins laid so no use for what she has in mind. I'll have to look on the ebay for something, there is no-one around here as far as I'm aware that has eggs. Does this mean I need to get an incumbator incase she gives up. Oh dear....too much to think about. I didn't think Welsummers were supposed to sit.

Deb_Moderator · Joined: 13 Apr 2005 Posts: 3661

A. Take deep breaths.
B. Stock up on plenty of wine and little white pills (your choice of course Wink

)
C. Seperate her out, like Nanny P says.
D. Ask around or place an ad to find a used back up incubator if you are that unsure.
E. Stay on here 24-7, incase you have any questions. Very Happy

pollypekin · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 183 Location: Kent

I'm very excited for you Summayah Wink

fingers crossed, hope she stays put Wink

I have a broody(ish) pekin, will be putting some eggs under her tomorrow if she's still there Laughing

sally

NannyP · Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2005 5:19 pm Post subject:

You don't have to put fertile eggs under, if you don't want to. But it sounds like you DO want to Laughing

It's much easier than incubating, cos hse does all the work (we hope). Leave her to sit on those pekin eggs for a couple of days or so, apparently they'll sit for 4 or more weeks no problem if they're broody. Feed her Mixed Corn, which will provide hi energy and increase her body heat and help retain her broody feeling.
Good Luck Wink

summayah · Joined: 14 Apr 2005 Posts: 4289 Location: luton

thanks for the advice and support so far, I've sorted out about 48 eggs on ebay, do you think she'll cope with that many!?!. Seriously, I've just felt so mean these last couple of days continually turfing her out, the first time I was a bit shaky I thought she was going to go for the jugular, but she's very docile and just screeches at me and pushes down really hard to stop me leifting her. And she is sooooo hot ~ if she decided to stay after the moves she's had today and those she'll get tomorrow plus the dusting of box and her, I'll look seriously for some eggs, and start feeding her corn. Would I mix it with layers or just corn? thanks