Advice wanted!!

[BDutch]

I have a nine month old pullet that for the past four days has been acting broody. But only part time. She stays on the nest for a few hours, then gets off and acts totally normal. I do have two chicks at the moment, and I would love for her to take them, but there are two problems.
1. She won’t commit.
2. The chicks are already two weeks old, and I don’t know if she would take them anyway.
What should I do? Should I try to give them to her during the day, when she’s on the nest being broody, or should I just forget it and try to break her?

My Dutch are often semi broody like that a few day before they really settle down.

Giving a broody 1-2 week old chicks is not a good idea if you ask me. She might hurt them badly.

 

[Anne02]

My Dutch are often semi broody like that a few day before they really settle down.

Giving a broody 1-2 week old chicks is not a good idea if you ask me. She might hurt them badly.

Okay, thank you! And it seems like you're right about the semi broody thing. Last night she stayed in a nesting box all night, and is still there this morning.

 

[Anne02]

Nope. Doesn't sound broody to me. Could be she's getting there, but not yet.
I have laying hens that have never been broody but they will give you a great growl and flatten out when on a nest. They will give you a good peck and if you hand them eggs, they will gladly take them and tuck them under ---- not broody.

You say yourself - she won't commit. That's not broody.

Sorry that your experiment failed, but also glad she didn't harm the chicks either. Some hens can kill a chick in hurry. The broody needs to have been full blown broody for at least a couple of weeks (close to 21 days is best) and the chicks need to be young (1-3 days old) - then you have a good chance of her accepting them. There's always exceptions though - chickens can be unpredictable.

Hopefully next time you will have a true broody and can have her raise chicks, I think you would enjoy watching the process of a Mama hen taking care of them - and you are right, less work on you. Chicks in a brooder inside can be fun for a few days, but then you want them outside LOL

I know. I was really hoping that she would take them, even just so that they could be out of the house.

 

[Anne02]

My guess is the presence of the chicks is messing with her hormones and putting her in a semi-broody state, so she's not broody but not quite "normal" either. She may go full broody (at which point you'd need to decide if you want to let her set or to break her) or may return to a normal state.

But the chicks haven't been near her. Yesterday was only the second time she's seen them before.

 

[BDutch]

@Anne02
You have to decide now to break the broodiness or give her a couple of eggs (5-9) for natural breeding. Best on the ground with marked eggs.

 

[Anne02]

@Anne02
You have to decide now to break the broodiness or give her a couple of eggs (5-9) for natural breeding. Best on the ground with marked eggs.

Yeah, I'm going to ask my dad if I can let her sit. Buuuut I'm guessing he's going to say no, because I just hatched some chicks and I have ducks in the 'bator. Do you think she would take duck eggs? The lady I bought them from gave me a couple extra. They have three weeks left in the incubation.

 

[Eden83_haaretz]

Good luck with your chicks

 

[BDutch]

I have no experience with duck eggs under a chicken. But I have read that people have done this with succes.

Maybe you’re peeps need to go for a swim when they are a few days old and this broody will not do such thing. Or do you have runner ducks?

Feed is different too

Best ask this in a new thread in the hatch or duck section. Or try to find an article to read.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

The hen will take duck eggs

 

[Anne02]

Maybe you’re peeps need to go for a swim when they are a few days old and this broody will not do such thing. Or do you have runner ducks?

Feed is different too

Best ask this in a new thread in the hatch or duck section. Or try to find an article to read.

The hen will take duck eggs

Yeah, I figure she’ll take them, but my dad said she can’t have the duck eggs. He told me that if I want her to have chicks then I can try giving her the ones I have again. I might be able to convince him to let her have been just a few eggs though.