Advice on moving a broody.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 1:27 pm

Hi All,
I have a broody bantam wyandotte who is sitting on a couple of starter eggs at the moment. I've just picked up the eggs I want her to hatch and I haven't put them under her yet. I am thinking of moving her to a small pen because she is in with the 3 big girls at the moment. Am I better off moving her with the starter eggs for a day or two to see if she remains sitting and then putting the good eggs under her or just do it on one fell swoop?

I wouldn't normally worry so much but the new eggs are from some really nice stock and I will be bitterly disappointed if I have a disaster.

Thanks for the opinions.
ww

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hello, Mr. wickedwings,

Firstly, I would more her into the smaller pen, Tandoori is so cute.

How many eggs did you pick up? Maybe you can divide them?
Do you have another more reliable broody on hand to share the eggs with so you won't be "bitterly disappointed", if you have a "disaster"? Life is full of disasters, you have to take the good with the bad and the ugly and learn from experience.

Petite Poulet

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 3:09 pm

Just a thought...

Perhaps since the potential stock is valuable you could perhaps hire an incubator? Or trust Tandoori's instincts? Or as suggested put them under a more reliable broody? Or depending on the quantity of eggs you have do a combination of all three...

Take a deep breath, have a cuppa and contemplate...

wickedwings · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:23 pm

Got it; take a deep breath, have a beer and contemplate; right!

I don't have anymore spare broodies, I am contemplating an incubator, and I think I am just going to have to bite the bullet and trust Tandoori. I got 9 eggs so I might hedge my bets and incubate a few. I saw the birds today that all the eggs came from, there were some lovely looking girls and a very handsome roo.

Hens and Hobbits · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 6:29 pm

Beer in a teacup, sitting cross legged and contemplating on organges...

Petite Poulet · **Joined:** Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:17 pm **Posts:** 5219

Hello, Mr. wickedwings,

Maybe someone has a spare reliable broody hen they can loan you, or trade with you, or in a most generous mood even give to you...

Hiring an incubator sound rather eggspensive, then you would need a brooder, and then there is electricity to pay for and more holes in the ozone layer using more electricity. What if the power goes off? Do you have a generator??? If not more disaster...

Never be afraid to ask, someone out there maybe able to help...

Petite Poulet

OakA · **Posted:** Sun Nov 13, 2011 10:03 pm

WickedWings your instincts are correct.
Move her into a quiet pen alone where she can remain settled and do her job.
Move her with the nest eggs she has, after 24 hrs if settled, give her the 9 eggs in a nest with plenty of nesting material so sjhe can make a deep nest and cover the eggs.
After 7 to 10 days candle the eggs, remove any clear ones and leave her with whatever are fertile, she will then sit tighter and get a good hatch.
By giving her 24 hrs to settle into her new surrounds you are also allowing the eggs to rest after travel, important if you wish them to hatch, not a good idea to set newly travelled eggs without at least 24hrs to get over the shaking up of travel.
You have natures perfect incubator in a bantam hen, they have been doing this for ever, let her get on with it, no need to hire incubators for 9 eggs or dividing settings "in case of disaster".
Just enjoy the whole experience as nature intended.

wickedwings · **Posted:** Mon Nov 14, 2011 5:18 am

Terrific, thanks Oaklands, that's just the information I was after.
Regards,
ww

myfarmducks · **Joined:** Fri Nov 18, 2011 9:10 pm **Posts:** 3

Could I do the same with a indian runner duck? she is trying to sit in a very bad place

OakA · **Posted:** Sat Nov 19, 2011 3:07 pm

Indian Runners are notoriously flighty and can be unreliable broodies unless left completely alone and not disturbed in any way.
I think you may be playing with fire and it will end sadly if you attempt to move her.
By all means quietly and calmly cover or protect her if necessary but even this can put her off.
If you have the choice take the eggs and incubate in an incubator, under a hen or another duck like a muscovy that nothing will put off once they go down and set.
I have no trouble with Runners setting but learnt long ago "Do Not Disturb".

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