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Being broody is a hormonal phase. In many breeds of chickens it has been bred out of due to it causing a disruption in laying hens. So breeds bred for egg production often will no longer go broody but breeds like bantams which are mostly ornamental will still go broody on a regular basis. A hen...

Broody hens will lose weight while broody. If she's laying than she's not broody, she could be starting to go broody. Most sick hens won't lay eggs or if they do they won't be right, so if she's laying nice eggs they are probably fine. Certainly having a new person taking care of them can stress...

That is odd behavior. She could be broody or sick. Staying outside past dark isn't normal. If she's broody she will puff up and making clucking and screeching noises when removed from the nest. If she's unwell she will be dull and listless. Sorry you are having troubles, both with yourself and...

Have you checked her for mites, often they breed out of control on a setting broody. That would be my first thought, check the face, vent and under the wings for creepy crawlers. I will dust my hens during there setting period. I have had chicks hatch than also get full of muted from the mom and...

One year I had a gang of six, d'uccle and frizzle cochin bantams that followed me everywhere when I gardened, they would see me coming with my bucket and run, and flap across the yard. They ended up hanging out in one flower bed for the summer while they grew up. It was hysterical to have so...

Some breeds the broodiness has been mostly bred out of them and they don't go fully broody or they don't know what they are doing. I probably wouldn't trust her with eggs without a back up incubator.

I have found that other hens seem jealous of new moms, and sometimes when trying to release momma back into the group she will be attacked by other hens. That's why I keep them confined for two weeks. The chicks get strong enough to get out of the way and the other hens get used to seeing them...

old hen is fine, otherwise OHLD, works too, don't bother me none. Thanks hhgarris, that's how I break my broodies too. Though my bantam I just block their nestboxes, once one starts they all go. They will continue to be broody on and off all year round. Sometimes I just leave them sitting on...

They will sit tight for a day or two, I put food and water about a foot or so away. The chicks don't need to eat for a day or two. They will come out a bit during the first week. The second week mom stops sitting so much and starts to look for food for them. If nice out I start letting them go...

Wow, now I am more grateful for having no troubles. I don't usually let mine hatch until June or July, I'm thinking the extra humidity at that time of year keeps the chicks from being sticky. Either way I've learned something new and something thing to watch for, very sorry about your little...

Check her for mites, sometimes they get overwhelmed by them when sitting. I've left many bantam just sitting. That's odd she didn't want her chicks back. That fluffy butt is adorable.

I had a first time mom do that last year, tried to kill the chick after it hatched, she just wanted to sit too. I let her go back to sitting on nothing and gave the chick to an experienced broody. They don't always know what to do, they are just following instinct.

Oh, I've never had that happen, now I might look too, sorry. Some kids should be eaten.

The day of hatching your hen will no longer leave the nest until all have hatched or 2-3 days passes, usually most hens leave on day two. You can peek, I'm not sure I would lock her in until they start hatching, most broodies hatch on day 20, then you want to confine the family somewhat, as...

I'm not too far behind you, I will have around 80 chickens at the end of the year. I worry about mine too. It's a fun hobby.

Very cute.

You may not have posted enough yet.

Congratulations

I would leave them be. The chicks will get out of their shells. I have never had a broody hatched that hasn't. You can probably start to see them peeking out tomorrow.

The chicks will start talking to the hen in the egg about a day before they hatch. I have had a look, and I have left them go. It can depend where they are sitting and whether the chicks can get out but not return. There's nothing you can do to help them hatch, they will do fine. Be careful if...