Broody Hen Behavior Starting from Hatch

[centrarchid]

Two broody hens being watched to make video clips. American Game rearing her second brood of 2020 which has six chicks that started hatching last night. Two eggs remain, but at least one is a stinker. A mostly Aseel that is between 3 and 5 years old (source said they he had a hen with her female offspring loose leg bands over winter) has seven chicks that started hatching two days ago and left nest for first time yesterday.


First hen is being moved around in nest box so I can monitor both.

We already had a hawk incident. Could not see hawk, Purple Martins, Eastern King Birds and Barn Swallows said it was close and hens and I believe them. Both hens gave warning all chicks from both fell flat to ground or froze in in place like their mothers. Roosters as also said something up. I got up to check tree the wild birds were dive bombing. I think hawk was Coopers that is working tree and fence lines all over the place here.

 

[centrarchid]

The American Game hen we call Blue.

The Aseel hen

 

[centrarchid]

Game hen retrieving eggs.

Game hen tucking eggs.

 

[Ruthster55]

If there were no industrial chicken operations and no incubators ... chickens would become similar to Games!

Game hens are the most amazing mothers I have seen. They also teach barnyard mixes what to do.

Silkies don’t compare. No experience with Cochins or Brahmas.

 

[centrarchid]

If there were no industrial chicken operations and no incubators ... chickens would become similar to Games!

Game hens are the most amazing mothers I have seen. They also teach barnyard mixes what to do.

Silkies don’t compare. No experience with Cochins or Brahmas.

I think all other breeds are derived from games if you go back far enough. Some have some really recent addition of oriental games, especially the heavier bodies duel purpose breeds. Selective forces acted out by commercial hatcheries are likely selecting hard for a reduction in broody cycle.

I wish an American Dominique was in same stage of broody cycle. She would be similar, but would come across as slow getting chicks to roost up and forage far a field. One of my game hens with three week old chicks has seven game chicks and four American Dominique chicks. My daughter and I just did an experiment to see who followed hen up to roost 4 feet up. Results were 6 of 7 games and 1 of 4 dominiques going up without assistance.

In coming days I will try to record broody hens crowing. The Aseel does something different with that I have never seen before.