My first thread ever: Thankyou and Linda vs. Broody Hen

Yes, I've been here several years but this is my first thread, so while we're all waiting for WyatteSmith's doom to happen, let me just say Thankyou to all those who've been praying and even giving me green karma due to the breast cancer diagnosis.
I bypassed the chemo (did that one 10 yrs ago after colon cancer and still have the peripheral neuropathy to prove it) and we're working on radiation. Halfway through 16 treatments. We'll survive and thrive!
Although hubby is nervous as heck...I'm never sick (until I break out in cancer is appears, since this is my 3rd time around).

Enough of that. We have a flock of chickens, and I needed to go collect eggs and check on food and water in the coop. We have Favarolles (a French/Flemish breed that is endangered) and they're usually docile. This time around we got a rooster so we could possibly breed chicks too. Bad idea, Jean-Luc (had to find French names for them all) insists that all visitors come past him for approval, and I didn't.

I just wanted the eggs. But there was a hen in the nestbox, and tapping on the outside didn't get her moving out. I thought she was napping, so I put my hand in to burrow under her, and she snapped to and pecked my hand...HARD. Nicole, or is it Henrietta didn't want any of my taking the eggs.

So I put out fresh layer pellets and then tried again. All this time Jean-Luc is keeping the other hens away from me and every once in a while getting nearer (with the intent of driving me off), so I grab a long handled scoop and the egg basket and swing the basket at him while I try to get Henrietta to let me grab the four eggs she's warming.

Had to pin her back with the soft silicone scoop keeping her head and beak away from me, while keeping an eye on Jean-Luc who is now clucking furiously and every once in a while crowing. In the 8x10 coop that's REALLY loud.

I did get my eggs, but if she's still broody tomorrow, I may have to leave one egg with her.

So, do you think I won the fight, or was it just a draw? Tomorrow should be interesting.

Last Edited by LindaE on 01/20/2019 06:54 PM