5 mo broody hen—too young to raise chicks?

[gabigirl21]

Alright y’all, what’s the T on the age of broody hens? More specifically is there such a thing as too young?

I’ve got a 5 month old Marans mix who has gone broody (?!) and she’s on day 4. Was contemplating moving her to a more ideal set up and potentially use her as a foster for some day old chicks. I’ve noticed some comments implying that if they’re too young the odds of rejection are higher.

What’s your experience?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I have never had one that young so no experience there. I have had problems and failures with hens that have successfully hatched and raised chicks before, though usually they do great. I've had much success with first time broodies, some as young as 8 months, though occasionally a first time broody has problems. So I've had occasional problems with both and a lot of success with both.

If a hen goes broody and I want her to hatch chicks I don't worry about how old she is or if she has been broody before. The same if I wanted her to foster chicks.

Something else you read is that you need to wait until the hen has been broody for about three weeks before you try. I've had a few hens that have tried to take over raising another hen's chicks when they have only been broody a couple of days so I don't consider that absolutely necessary, but I do think you'd be better off waiting a couple of weeks before you try. Just because some don't need to wait doesn't mean they all don't.

Whether you use a hen that has successfully hatched and raised several broods of chicks or your first time young broody you have a chance at failure. If you don't try I can guarantee you that she won't foster them. But if you do try, whichever hen you use, you need to be ready to raise them yourself.

 

[preciouschick]

Alright y’all, what’s the T on the age of broody hens? More specifically is there such a thing as too young?

I’ve got a 5 month old Marans mix who has gone broody (?!) and she’s on day 4. Was contemplating moving her to a more ideal set up and potentially use her as a foster for some day old chicks. I’ve noticed some comments implying that if they’re too young the odds of rejection are higher.

What’s your experience?

I have 7 month old silky that has been sitting for a week. She comes out to eat and goes back. I am wondering about chicks going up and down a coop ramp though. Also if the rooster and other hens will be good to them.?

 

[gabigirl21]

I have never had one that young so no experience there. I have had problems and failures with hens that have successfully hatched and raised chicks before, though usually they do great. I've had much success with first time broodies, some as young as 8 months, though occasionally a first time broody has problems. So I've had occasional problems with both and a lot of success with both.

If a hen goes broody and I want her to hatch chicks I don't worry about how old she is or if she has been broody before. The same if I wanted her to foster chicks.

Something else you read is that you need to wait until the hen has been broody for about three weeks before you try. I've had a few hens that have tried to take over raising another hen's chicks when they have only been broody a couple of days so I don't consider that absolutely necessary, but I do think you'd be better off waiting a couple of weeks before you try. Just because some don't need to wait doesn't mean they all don't.

Whether you use a hen that has successfully hatched and raised several broods of chicks or your first time young broody you have a chance at failure. If you don't try I can guarantee you that she won't foster them. But if you do try, whichever hen you use, you need to be ready to raise them yourself.

Wow, thank you! That was helpful

 

[3KillerBs]

When my Java went broody at that age I broke her because she wasn't done growing yet and I wanted her to be able to put her resources into reaching her full potential rather than hatching eggs.

 

[Mama Silke]

I had same thing happen to two of my hens and they both hatched about 50 percent of their eggs. If you don't mind chicks I would say give her eggs. Also don't let me change your mind if you already made it up, I am a chick lover, I will do anything for them.