blooming bantie gone broody again, shes sat for a week now, the cockeral; sitting beside her (sweet) Im tempted to put eggs under her I can bring them into a shed when the chicks hatch, but would be interested in oponions please. I know its late but shes so cosy and I have tried to budge her but she isnt having any

jenn

Eggs this time of year are usually watery and do not hatch well. You should really discourage her from sitting as the chicks will be born just in time for winter and are most unlikely to do well, the hen too will suffer from sitting still in the cold for so long. Has she moulted yet? Is she still laying?

I've got a silkie x who keeps going broody at the moment with all the mild weather, I just keep chucking her out of the nest box and taking any eggs out several times a day to try and help!
I agree with Cascara you don't want chicks at this time of year - yes it is mild now, but if it turns like it did last year you'll loose the hen and chicks - hens always drop weight and muscle while sitting which is fine when warm but she'll freeze if it gets really cold! And the chicks will not do very well at all as there are no bugs/grass/and not much sunlight in winter, unless you intend on letting them hatch and winter in your house till spring!! Also I don't know about your cockrel but mine aren't really interested as much in the hens at the mo as they are molting - the drive just isn't there! - so I doubt fertility will be great!

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thanks for replies and for advice, I did think the same, no shes not laid for 2 weeks now, in fact none of ours are laying, tghe RIRs that I bought in Sept as POL laid for a week then stopped, all the banties are not laying

Roll on spring, the ground is already really damp

jenn