So i have a flock of 10 hens and 1 rooster.
7 buff sussex
1 isa Brown
2 shamo hens
So far this year the 2 shamo hens went broody in spring, i successfully managed go break them using the dog crate method, although one took 2 days and the other 3.
Around 3 weeks back 1 shamo hen went broody again. After about a week in the dog crate there was no sign of her breaking so i left her in the coop (she was in a nesting box) whilst i popped some eggs in an incubator ( i didnt have enough space for a dedicated broody area)
Anyhow chicks now hatched 4 days ago, and i have made a dedicated enclosed space separate from the main chicken coop. The mama shamo that was broody was relocated and placed with the newly hatched chicks (6 of them) whom she accepted straight away.
Now the isa brown and other shamo have decided they want to stay in their nesting boxes and are displaying the typical broody behaivours (low clucking, growling and fluffing up feathers when trying to remove from nesting boxes)
I would like some advice on how to proceed.
Shall i take 4 chicks from the original mama shamo and give 2 each to both of these ones ?
Shall i try to break both together in a single dog crate ? (I am thinking i might have to freeze a water bottle and place it as it is quite warm these days)
Or shall i let them sit out in the nesting boxes and let them get 'bored'.
Unfortunately until the original mama shamo leaves the area i setup for her and her chicks last week i cant really see any of these sitting on eggs in another suitable place.
I am also slightly concerned that the broodiness is spreading throughout the flock and egg production seems to have slowed down with the buff suusex hens, however they dont seem to be showing broody behaviours yet !
7 buff sussex
1 isa Brown
2 shamo hens
So far this year the 2 shamo hens went broody in spring, i successfully managed go break them using the dog crate method, although one took 2 days and the other 3.
Around 3 weeks back 1 shamo hen went broody again. After about a week in the dog crate there was no sign of her breaking so i left her in the coop (she was in a nesting box) whilst i popped some eggs in an incubator ( i didnt have enough space for a dedicated broody area)
Anyhow chicks now hatched 4 days ago, and i have made a dedicated enclosed space separate from the main chicken coop. The mama shamo that was broody was relocated and placed with the newly hatched chicks (6 of them) whom she accepted straight away.
Now the isa brown and other shamo have decided they want to stay in their nesting boxes and are displaying the typical broody behaivours (low clucking, growling and fluffing up feathers when trying to remove from nesting boxes)
I would like some advice on how to proceed.
Shall i take 4 chicks from the original mama shamo and give 2 each to both of these ones ?
Shall i try to break both together in a single dog crate ? (I am thinking i might have to freeze a water bottle and place it as it is quite warm these days)
Or shall i let them sit out in the nesting boxes and let them get 'bored'.
Unfortunately until the original mama shamo leaves the area i setup for her and her chicks last week i cant really see any of these sitting on eggs in another suitable place.
I am also slightly concerned that the broodiness is spreading throughout the flock and egg production seems to have slowed down with the buff suusex hens, however they dont seem to be showing broody behaviours yet !
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