Backyard Brahmas!!

[carcar80]

THANKS guys!! I should probably add, these are eggs that have started in my bator, and are due to hatch starting next Friday.

I have just rearranged my two flocks in order to try this. I moved all my laying hens into the Brahma enclosure (these birds mingle during the day so already know one another so I don't expect TOO much issue)..

Took Broody Judy out of the coop in that enclosure and put her into my layer coop with my younger kids. Fixed her up a Rubbermaid box with some hay and a couple warm test eggs. We will see.

IF she will continue being broody, I wanted to split what's in the bator with her. I have 26 going strong, so obviously it wouldn't be an even split. I have a short trip coming up, so I figure that'll give me SOME chance of something going right, I'm just so worried about a power outage, etc while I'm gone, being storm season & all.

This also works out for my one remaining Brahma layer. With this one being broody, she was the only plaything left for Big Boy and I'm sure she'll gladly share him with the layers, lol.

So, fingers crossed for her broodiness to continue.

 

[carcar80]

Here she is now, enjoying a bath.. She took a giant poo and ate/drank too. Should I close her up in the box? Or will she go in herself? Broody hens do bathe, right?

 

[bumpercarr]

THANKS guys!! I should probably add, these are eggs that have started in my bator, and are due to hatch starting next Friday.

I have just rearranged my two flocks in order to try this. I moved all my laying hens into the Brahma enclosure (these birds mingle during the day so already know one another so I don't expect TOO much issue)..

Took Broody Judy out of the coop in that enclosure and put her into my layer coop with my younger kids. Fixed her up a Rubbermaid box with some hay and a couple warm test eggs. We will see.

IF she will continue being broody, I wanted to split what's in the bator with her. I have 26 going strong, so obviously it wouldn't be an even split. I have a short trip coming up, so I figure that'll give me SOME chance of something going right, I'm just so worried about a power outage, etc while I'm gone, being storm season & all.

This also works out for my one remaining Brahma layer. With this one being broody, she was the only plaything left for Big Boy and I'm sure she'll gladly share him with the layers, lol.

So, fingers crossed for her broodiness to continue.

Real broodiness is pretty easy to recognize. Besides the sitting on the eggs without you seeing her get off (believe me she usually does get off, but only when she thinks her eggs are absolutely safe....in other words, you're not around) but in my experience, the behavior of the hen is much more telling. When you approach her to either look under her or check on her condition she will puff up at you, growl at you and give you the "stink" eye to let you know that she does not want you around.

As far as giving her eggs to hatch, this is what I do and it works every time. I try (without getting my hand pecked off) to put a dummy egg in front of her. If she takes that eggs and rolls it under her, then I add the new eggs one at a time, putting them in front of her and seeing if she rolls them under her. The hard part is removing the dummy eggs, mine used to draw blood when I did that. If there is any chance of other hens laying in her box, make sure that the fertile eggs that you put under her are well marked so that you can tell which ones they are with a quick look. I use a construction pencil and draw a line all of the way around the eggs. There is good advice over on the broody hen hatch thread

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...-and-informational-thread/21690#post_13680897

 

[bumpercarr]

Here she is now, enjoying a bath.. She took a giant poo and ate/drank too. Should I close her up in the box? Or will she go in herself? Broody hens do bathe, right?

They do bathe, eat, drink and poo. If she's off for too long, go ahead and put her back in. If you just set her in front of her eggs, she should go back to the broody trance and settle down immediately on top of them.

 

[carcar80]

Thank you She has not been hateful other than one small peck yesterday, but the bird has not MOVED (aside from evidenced by her giant pile yesterday) for three days now. So like I said I'll cross my fingers.

She did have a LOT to say when I moved her though, lol.

I'll keep reading up, thanks again.

 

[carcar80]

They do bathe, eat, drink and poo.  If she's off for too long, go ahead and put her back in.  If you just set her in front of her eggs, she should go back to the broody trance and settle down immediately on top of them.

Trance. Yes. That's what I'd call her behavior the past few days. First day I thought she was laying, then a few hours later when she skipped free ranging I thought she was sick. Then, come roost hour, I said, "ohhhhhhhh"...

 

[bumpercarr]

Thank you

She has not been hateful other than one small peck yesterday, but the bird has not MOVED (aside from evidenced by her giant pile yesterday) for three days now. So like I said I'll cross my fingers.

She did have a LOT to say when I moved her though, lol.

I'll keep reading up, thanks again.

I've read some folks have broodies that aren't evil, but I've never had one. All of mine would become wicked, really wicked when they were broody! But I also left mine with the flock, so I'm sure that they learned to be defensive early during the brood.

 

[cabinchicky]

Yup chicken off the bone n can or freeze it. we roast most game with some red wine and apple quartered in or with it. Most wild fowl we cover with bacon strips n apple inside the cavity. ohmy now I wish we had some pheasant.

 

[carcar80]

Well poo. Looked out as I left for work and she was up on the perch in the run. Oh well, it was a good plan anyway. :/ LOL

 

[bumpercarr]

Well poo. Looked out as I left for work and she was up on the perch in the run. Oh well, it was a good plan anyway.

LOL

Don't worry. Often the first time they go broody they will go in and out for a little while. Kind of like pulling petals off a daisy....I think I am broody, I think I'm not broody...etc.