Yesterday Butterscotch laid her egg just before half past ten and just before we had to go out. I collected her egg and we left.
We returned shortly after half past eleven and I checked in on the girls. To my surprise Butterscotch was still in the nest box. Uh Oh! Does this mean she is going broody again! I lifted her out and closed the two little coop nest boxes as she is the only girl laying and had laid her egg already. Maybe she just didn’t realise that she had laid it.
This morning I went out to the girls at quarter past seven and gave them their morning treat of a few sunflower seeds. As soon as Butterscotch had had them she went straight into the little coop nest box.
As she had laid at half past ten yesterday I knew that if she was going to lay today it wouldn’t be until around half past eleven. Butterscotch is as regular as clock work. She lays about an hour later every day until she lays at the end of the day, then she misses a day, then lays at first light or just before the automatic door opens.
It was too early for her to lay but I was reluctant to shut her out as I would feel bad if she really did want to lay and laid it outside like she did once before.
At lunch time I lifted her out and there was still no egg. She went out without too much protest though and had a few spinach leaves, a few pellets, a quick drink of water and then went off for a dust bath. This was good to see. A little later she returned to the nest box.
Here we go again with a broody Butterscotch
At half past two I knew that she was definitely not going to lay today so I lifted her out again and closed the nest boxes.
A flat Butterscotch is a sure sign of broodiness
I ruffled her tail feathers and she went on her way. She isn’t protesting so I think as the other girls are not laying I am going to keep the nest boxes closed and try to nip it in the bud.
She has only laid fifteen eggs this time round whereas last time she laid twenty then twenty one. There is a pattern emerging though. She laid for three weeks then took two weeks off, laid for another three weeks, took two weeks off and has now laid for another three weeks. She has laid less eggs in the same time span probably due to the shorter days. She is a regular girl in all her egg laying patterns. It is looking like she is going to be a serial broody.
We had a cooked breakfast this morning with her last four eggs (two each, poached and on a slice of toast), with a sausage, two rashers of bacon and a few mushrooms. It was delicious and her eggs are really lovely. It is our Sunday treat and we thought we should make the most of her last four eggs as it looks like she will be taking a break again.
As our only winter egg layer we will miss her eggs and will have to resort to buying them until she starts again. Next year we don’t expect any winter eggs though so any we get this year from Butterscotch are a lovely bonus.
Click here to see the history of my flock.
Yes – she’s genetically programmed to go broody! At least she lays well in between spells of broodiness. I have had BigSil in the anti-broody coop for 2 days, but she can be very difficult to break; I’ll let her out shortly, but no doubt will have to put her back again at lock-up tonight.
Oh well, I’m not the only one. I am just imagining what it will be like in the summer when she is broody and the rest of the girls are laying. More nest boxes may be in order!
Do you think she’d ever be broody enough to hatch eggs for you?
At least she seems ok with your photo taking and observing. It’s so odd how some girls are good broodies and will let you pet them until the days over. (My speckles) Then there’s the possessed ones, who look often like they need an exercism and will growl if you even open the door. (Princess Peach…who has green eyes making her look evil enough already! ?)
I think she would make a good enough broody to hatch eggs if I left her alone but I wouldn’t want to do that as I would be afraid of hatching boys.
You are so right about how different broodies can be. Butterscotch is completely docile and when I lift her it’s like lifting a floppy doll. I can stroke her and move her with no problem. Topaz on the other hand does growl and peck and no way can I lift her. If I want to move her out of the nest box I have to use the fishing net that I keep for this purpose. She is the only girl I have ever had that will peck me. She looks like a monster of anger when she is like this.
They are such different characters. I am so glad that Butterscotch (as a serial broody) is the docile type. I feel sorry for her really as I think she would make a great mum but alas it is not to be.
Haha, I always joke about catching the hens in nets too. Actually correction, TRYING TO CATCH THE ROOSTER with the net. Now that would be fun, but I’d have to wear protection. ?
Poor Butterscotch must be so confused .
She seems to have accepted being unable to gain entry of the little coop nest boxes and hasn’t attempted to go into the chicken shed (coop) instead so I think the urge to brood is not quite so strong now. She is still losing feathers but never looks any different. She seems settled and happily behaving the same as the rest of them so I am happy that she is okay. She is now the first and fastest to greet me when I go up, just in case treats are on offer.