BROODY HEN ADVICE NEEDED!

[amcbell]

I have a flock of 6 and was hoping to add a few chicks this spring using a broody hen to adopt and mother them. I've been watching closely and hoping that one of my girls would be ready soon to go broody and maybe raise some babies. One of by Buff Orpingtons for the last week or so has been showing some signs: lots of time spent on a nest she made in the coop (including sleeping in her new nest instead of the roosting pole like she normally does), plus making funny sounds when I approach...not exactly attacking or getting aggressive but definitely letting me know to back up...this is all new. She's also sitting on a few eggs that we haven't been able to collect. All good broody signs.

BUT, from what I'm reading, a true broody hen barely leaves her nest. My girl is spending lots of time there, but is still getting off at times to eat, drink, take dust baths and play outside with the others. But her behavior has definitely changed over the last week. My question is, are there different levels of broodiness? Is she getting ready to go broody? Or do different hens exhibit it differently and she is in fact already broody? And lastly, if she is broody or about to be, how would you begin timing the 21 days so that I can time the introduction of chicks properly? It seems like it could be a little muddy since shes spent the last week on sort of a pre-broody state.

Thank you for any and all input!

 

[AmyLynn2374]

I have a flock of 6 and was hoping to add a few chicks this spring using a broody hen to adopt and mother them. I've been watching closely and hoping that one of my girls would be ready soon to go broody and maybe raise some babies. One of by Buff Orpingtons for the last week or so has been showing some signs: lots of time spent on a nest she made in the coop (including sleeping in her new nest instead of the roosting pole like she normally does), plus making funny sounds when I approach...not exactly attacking or getting aggressive but definitely letting me know to back up...this is all new. She's also sitting on a few eggs that we haven't been able to collect. All good broody signs.

BUT, from what I'm reading, a true broody hen barely leaves her nest. My girl is spending lots of time there, but is still getting off at times to eat, drink, take dust baths and play outside with the others. But her behavior has definitely changed over the last week. My question is, are there different levels of broodiness? Is she getting ready to go broody? Or do different hens exhibit it differently and she is in fact already broody? And lastly, if she is broody or about to be, how would you begin timing the 21 days so that I can time the introduction of chicks properly? It seems like it could be a little muddy since shes spent the last week on sort of a pre-broody state.

Thank you for any and all input!

It does sound like she is broody. Typically broody hens leave long enough to eat and drink maybe stretch their legs and go poo. But, broodies do differ. Some won't leave the nest to even eat, while others will take longer to do their thing before returning to the nest. Is she spending more than an hour or so away from the nest during the day?
As for giving her already hatched chicks, if she is truly broody, you don't have to have exactly 21 days before giving her chicks. She won't know how long she is sitting, just that she wants to be a mommy. If she is going to be a good mommy you could probably try giving her chicks anywhere between 2-3 weeks after full broodiness and she'll take them.