Broodiness Cycle

[CB3fish]

Broody hen:
I past I have had broody hen's. If you have the space, i let them brood for 21-25 days, find a feed store with 1 -7 day old.chicks. on evening/night after day #23-25 , I turn off any lights , take out egg duds and slip.in live chicks. Next morning ( even that evening) she is thrilled her kids finally hatched. She then raises them for me. This has worked almost every time. I have slipped in from 3-10,chicks . She does work and seems.to.love it. Done this with Buff orppingtons, wydnottes & barred rocks.

 

[CB3fish]

Okay, but how long a time is the hen being a mother before she lays again?

 

[Col1948]

Hey guess what, I have another now gone broody, I will put her in the cage tomorrow, it's been raining here constant so didn't fancy messing with it today.
funny before I moved her out of the coop, she went foraging with the others but soon came back, I stood near the door and she was persistent and tried to get round me, I kept moving to one side and she went the other to get past.

 

[aart]

My questions is how long before the hen starts laying again?? How long will that hen be broody so to speak? Will it depend on the babies growing up?

Maybe 1-3 weeks after she weans the chicks....
...weaning can happen anywhere between 3 weeks to 4 months after hatch.

 

[Sandra Verbreyt]

Ruby is still broody. Its been about 6 weeks now. I take her out of the coop every day and keep her confined to running around the garden . She eats exercises and drinks all day then as soon as the coop is reopened she back in there quicker than a shadow . I think she will be ok as long as I keep her eating drinking and exercising. Hopefully it will break in the coming weeks but she seems to be happy during the day and just broods all night.

 

[Col1948]

I tried that but mine found a spot to just sit and brood till I opened the coop then she went straight in the nest.
That's why I ended up buying a dog crate.

 

[CB3fish]

Thank you one and all. I may put this hen in with a rooster, the two alone after the babies are no longer babies.

 

[CB3fish]

Yes, I did that with a hen who hatched out 4 chicks and I added 4 more at night and she accepted them happily.

 

[CB3fish]

Maybe 1-3 weeks after she weans the chicks....
...weaning can happen anywhere between 3 weeks to 4 months after hatch.

what ar

I tried that but mine found a spot to just sit and brood till I opened the coop then she went straight in the nest.
That's why I ended up buying a dog crate.

I tried that but mine found a spot to just sit and brood till I opened the coop then she went straight in the nest.
That's why I ended up buying a dog crate.

I had a broody hen before and I just chased her out of the coop a few times and she gave it up; this time, I gave this hen eggs and she hatched them and is good mother. I am curious how long before she returns to normal and begins laying?

 

[CB3fish]

Maybe 1-3 weeks after she weans the chicks....
...weaning can happen anywhere between 3 weeks to 4 months after hatch.

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