BackYard Chickens › BYC Forum › Raising BackYard Chickens › Chicken Behaviors and Egglaying › What to feed a broody if I let her just do it.
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What to feed a broody if I let her just do it.

post #1 of 5
2/26/12 at 9:50am
Thread Starter 

My EE "Matilda" has started laying again after more than 6 months in retirement.

She is about 5 or more years old and has gone broody every year since I've had her.

Her previous owner said she was a really good mom and raised a few batches.

We don't own a rooster but can get fertile eggs.

 

If she goes broody and we move her to a broody pen and give her some eggs, what do I feed her?

Is regular layer feed okay? And when the babies hatch what do I feed the babies? Chick starter crumbles?

Would Matilda show them the food and would she eat the chick starter too?

I'm the silly old biddy one, proud member of the crazy pullets of BYC and resident chicken whisperer. My cologne is eau de chicken poop.
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I'm the silly old biddy one, proud member of the crazy pullets of BYC and resident chicken whisperer. My cologne is eau de chicken poop.
Reply

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post #2 of 5
2/26/12 at 9:58am

If she goes broody, I see no reason you couldn't put some fertilised eggs under her.   When I had a broody hatching eggs, she had layers pellets.  Once the chicks were born, she had chick crumb  (plus, the first two days I gave mashed boiled egg).

 

 

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post #3 of 5
2/26/12 at 12:19pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks for the info. I'm hoping she does go broody. I'd love to watch her with little fluffy butts to fuss over.

I'm the silly old biddy one, proud member of the crazy pullets of BYC and resident chicken whisperer. My cologne is eau de chicken poop.
Reply
I'm the silly old biddy one, proud member of the crazy pullets of BYC and resident chicken whisperer. My cologne is eau de chicken poop.
Reply
post #4 of 5
2/26/12 at 3:49pm

Feed her regular feed.  When the babies hatch, put out chick starter - it won't hurt the hen to eat it, she's not laying anyway.  Just make sure all feeders/waterers are at chick level and she'll do everything else.

Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

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Breeding Welsummers and Barnevelders.

 

Having an Icelandic in the coop is like having a 2 year old in the house - they are into everything and don't follow the rules.

I have zero chicken willpower.

Reply
post #5 of 5
2/26/12 at 7:58pm

The other option, if you do not separate her from the flock (or if you do, when you integrate) is to feed everyone an all-flock feed until the chicks reach laying age while offering oyster shell in a separate hopper for the laying hens.  Lots of folks go that route.

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