Topaz is still committed to being broody. At lunch time today when I moved her out of the little coop nest box she was once again sat on an egg.
For a moment I wondered if she had actually laid it herself which would be surprising as broody hens don’t usually lay.
I concluded that once again it was probably Honey’s egg. That morning before I had opened the right hand favourite coop, Topaz in her haste to get back in, went in the left hand coop. When I returned to check on her a little while later she was back in the right hand coop. I always wonder how she knows it may now be open.
I think Honey may have already laid in there and Topaz just when in and sat on it. Honey is laying every other day and didn’t lay yesterday so this seems the most likely explanation.
Fluffed up Topaz
This was Topaz at lunch time after I had moved her out of the nest box with the net.
It surprises me that she is so committed when she roosts overnight on the high perch. I would have thought the cool air underneath her overnight would have interrupted her broodiness but in the morning she can’t wait to get back in the nest box again.
I really want to start putting the girls into the coop again at night time but feel it would be better to wait until Topaz has finished being broody as I think she would just stay in the coop in the mornings and it would be one more time a day for me to get her out.
It remains to be seen who’s resolve cracks first. For now I am going to just hang in there and carry on as we are.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
When shadow was broody they all went into the coup at night with out a problem . It did not seem to bother them at all.
She was in the nest box though . When they trotted out in the morning she stayed put and I had to lift her out kicking and screaming .
That’s why I would rather delay. I shut the coops so that in the morning Topaz is out for a while before I let her back in. It saves me getting her out three times a day as I only need to do it at lunch time and at the end of the day.
She is so resistant to coming out that I really have to push her along with the net while she pecks at the handle the whole time. She is surprisingly strong. If I could only lift her it would be so much easier but she is so vicious with her pecks that I wouldn’t dare.
I’ll trade you your broody for one of my egg eaters. OMG, I solve one problem only to find another. The four are getting along famously and I couldn’t be happier. But I caught Peaches pecking viciously at one of the fake egg this morning. I have a bunch of blown out eggs. I think I’ll go get some mustard and fill up a bunch of eggs and give that a try. The babies haven’t even started to lay yet!
Oh my goodness it does seem that we just get over one problem ready to face the next doesn’t it!
At least with a broody we know it will come to an end in time.
I am glad the four are getting on well though.