Broody 101?

[Jencleg]

As a new chicken mom, I know NOTHING about what broody means.....

any have any "broody for dummies" info for me?

 

[Rammy]

Broody means you have a hen that wants to sit on her eggs and hatch them out. Usually you will know when the hen sits in the nest box all day every day. Sometimes when you reach for the eggs she may peck you and make a growling noise and puff up her feathers. I just had one go broody on me and Im eggsited!!


Rammy

 

[itsy]

What happens if you give a non-broody hen some chicks when she's in the nest box?

 

[Jencleg]

So my stupid questions are~ In order to hatch them, they have to be fertilized...does she know when they are fertilized? or would she sit on just anything? Which comes first the broodiness or the eggs? IF one becomes broody and there are no fertilized eggs on site, is that when you can order some and put them under her to hatch?

 

[uncle rico]

The hen has no idea if they're fertile or not. Many times she'll go broody with nothing under her. Once she goes broody though, you can order some fertile eggs and put them under her. The hen will take care of the rest, and 3 weeks later, if all goes well, you'll have chicks.

 

[Jencleg]

Quote:
Sweet! Thank you...I was so confused!!

 

[Kansaseq]

I had a broody sitting on and viciously guarding a golf ball

Don't mess with the broody hen!!

 

[Judy]

here you go:

http://www.themodernhomestead.us/article/Broody-Hens-1.html

 

[AKsmama]

Quote:
I wouldn't do that. Non-broodies will more than likely kill chicks. There's not much you can do to entice a chicken to go broody, if that was the reason for your question.