Broody chickens

[25edvannoord]

Hey, guys I just created this thread for anyone who has questions about broody hens. I know that there are so many questions on broody hens, and noticed there wasn't a thread for it.
So here you go!

 

[25edvannoord]

So I know a lot of you here have had chickens for years, and have a ton of experience.
And I just had a quick question, is it good to buy ship chicks, or will they just be killed in the process?
And also what age and time of year have you seen your hens go broody.

 

[25edvannoord]

Also what are the chances that 1 out of 10 Australorps, and one other hen

 

[aart]

Hey, guys I just created this thread for anyone who has questions about broody hens. I know that there are so many questions on broody hens, and noticed there wasn't a thread for it.

Tons of info here....and ask a question couple folks still monitor to help out.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-hen-thread.496101/

 

[Sallimom]

One of my Buff Orphingtons is now broody. She is about 14 months old. I don’t have a rooster and am not interested in hatching any babies this spring. How long will she stay broody? Is there anything I can do to speed things up?

 

[aart]

Is there anything I can do to speed things up?

There sure is!

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[Sallimom]

There sure is!

If you don't want her to hatch out chicks, best to break her broodiness promptly.
My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.
View attachment 2087423

Thank you! This really helps!!!

 

[Sallimom]

Happy to report by Buff Orp is no longer broody! Pulling her out of the nest repeatedly and blocking her favorite nesting box seems to have worked. I did not have to resort to the crate, but I will remember it for the next time. Thanks!!!

 

[jeannedeaux]

Hi, I have a broody Easter Egger and I'm getting fertile eggs for her to hatch. Meanwhile, I'd like her to hatch in a crate on the floor, rather than up in the nest box, because it's always such a hassle to keep the chicks from falling, etc., and cuts down on available nests for layers. I've put her in a nice nesty crate but she always goes back up in the nest box so I've been shutting her in except for once a day to eat, et cetera. Now I see some of you use this method for breaking broodiness! I don't want to break her, so must I let her continue up in the nest box? Won't she eventually settle down and make this her nest if I keep her in there? Thanks for any advice.

 

[aart]

Hi, I have a broody Easter Egger and I'm getting fertile eggs for her to hatch. Meanwhile, I'd like her to hatch in a crate on the floor, rather than up in the nest box, because it's always such a hassle to keep the chicks from falling, etc., and cuts down on available nests for layers. I've put her in a nice nesty crate but she always goes back up in the nest box so I've been shutting her in except for once a day to eat, et cetera. Now I see some of you use this method for breaking broodiness! I don't want to break her, so must I let her continue up in the nest box? Won't she eventually settle down and make this her nest if I keep her in there? Thanks for any advice.

How long has she been in the crate except for the once a day outing?
Are there fake eggs on the nest?
A crate for breaking has no nest or even bedding in it.

When I have a broody I wait until she's been in the nest most the day and all night for 2-3 days...along with those other signs I posted.

Then I put her in the broody enclosure(4x6') with fake eggs in the floor nest, she won't like being moved, but if she is truly good and broody she will settle onto the new nest within a half a day.
Then I give her fresh fertile eggs and mark the calendar.

I like them separated by wire from the flock, it's just easier all around.
No having to mark eggs and remove any additions daily, no taking up a laying nest, no going back to the wrong nest after the daily constitutional.

I remove barrier about one week after hatch. The chicks are usually safe it's the broody who has to 'fight' her way back into the pecking order...which can be quick or take a few days.
Lots of space helps for re-integration.