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Broody Hens

post #1 of 2
6/26/12 at 6:55pm
Thread Starter 

I was wonder if, I decided to let one of our hens go broody and hatch out chicks, do I have to remove the hen and eggs from the main coop and isolate them from the other chickens or if it safe to leave them with the flock. Also, will a broody hen try to incubate eggs that are laid after she has gone  broody. For example, if I let her sit on 6 eggs, will she try to take all of the other eggs laid by the other chickens over the next 20 some days?

Proud parent of a 5 year old~ Australian Shepard,a 6 year old Border Collie, a 9 year old fat tabby cat, and a one toothed guinea pig. Oh, and 8 Black Australorps, 9 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 5 Jersey Giants, 5 Barred Rocks,4 Red Sex Links, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Leghorns, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Light Brahmas, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes 2 Easter Eggers and 1...

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Proud parent of a 5 year old~ Australian Shepard,a 6 year old Border Collie, a 9 year old fat tabby cat, and a one toothed guinea pig. Oh, and 8 Black Australorps, 9 Golden Laced Wyandottes, 5 Jersey Giants, 5 Barred Rocks,4 Red Sex Links, 3 New Hampshire Reds, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 Rhode Island Reds, 1 Leghorns, 2 Tetra Tint, 2 Light Brahmas, 3 Silver Laced Wyandottes 2 Easter Eggers and 1...

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post #2 of 2
6/26/12 at 7:31pm

It is good to be thinking about these things ahead of time.  Depending on the breeds you have, you may or may not have a hen go broody.  I had been keeping them for years and even had some breeds said to brood often but my first broody was a BSL.  Go figure.

 

You don't HAVE to separate the broody hen from the flock but it is a good idea.  First, while she is brooding it will keep the others from squeezing in and adding their eggs to her clutch and second, after the chicks hatch, they will be safe from the rest of the flock.  Separating them allows you to set up a feeder/waterer for the chicks and know that they will get enough to eat and drink, without the older hens eating it all.

 

Regarding your second question, yes, the broody hen will sit on anything that vaguely resembles an egg and won't discriminate between those she has been sitting on for two weeks and one that was just laid.  For that reason, its not really a good idea to let the others keep adding to her nest.  What will happen is that when hatch time comes, those set first will hatch and she will then abandon the nest so she can care for her chicks, leaving eggs behind that are further behind in development.  So it is better to give her a clutch to sit on and don't add to it after she starts sitting.

Enjoying my 10-acres of country heaven with 50+ chickens, turkeys and muscovy ducks!

 

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Enjoying my 10-acres of country heaven with 50+ chickens, turkeys and muscovy ducks!

 

Read about my fox attack here

Read a fox attack survival story here

How to build a hoop house in 10 easy steps here

 

Are you from Kansas? (Click to show)

Come and join us on the Consolidated Kansas thread.  Don't try to read it all - just hit "reply", introduce yourself and join in the conversation:...

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