Broody Hen Help

[silkiespekins]

Hi Everyone!

I have a broody hen who has been sitting for two weeks, I put some chicks under her after dark but she didn't take too them unfortunately..
So my question is, I have some eggs in my bator who are on day 18 today, do you think it will be okay to put a few of them under her today? Any feedback is appreciated! thanks

 

[song of joy]

What was her response to the chicks and how old were they?

If she attacked the chicks, I wouldn't be inclined to give her the eggs from your incubator, as she may do the same thing again.

If she ignored the chicks, you may want to give her a 2nd chance. Then, you'll know for sure whether or not she can ever be used as a broody again. My rule for broody hens is "two strikes and you're out", but some folks only give them one chance.

 

[silkiespekins]

The chicks were 4 days old (they were silkies, so still quite small), she basically just got up and walked away for a feed I watched her for about an hour and all she did was just walk straight past them and ignore them..

So she didn't attack them, she just ignored them, it may be half their fault as well as they had never seen a hen as a "mother" as they were hatched in an incubator..

Do you mean 2nd chance with the chicks or the eggs?

 

[song of joy]

The chicks may have been too old. It works best to foster chicks when they're less than 24 hours old (2 days old at the most), as they're most likely to imprint on the hen at that age. If she was a proven broody, she may have moved right into "mommy hen mode", and began clucking to them and brooding them, but if she's had no former experience, it explains why she ignored them.

Based on your description, I think I'd put some eggs from the incubator under her. During the 24 hours or so prior to hatching, there's 2-way communication between the hen and her unhatched chicks. The chicks chirp within the eggs, and the hen should periodically answer back. This gives them time to get to know each other and also prompts a shift in the hen's hormones and behavior -- from incubating mode to hatching/brooding mode. Perhaps if she's able to hear this peeping and hatch them out herself, she'll accept the chicks.

Best of luck to you, and please let us know what happens.

 

[silkiespekins]

The chicks may have been too old. It works best to foster chicks when they're less than 24 hours old (2 days old at the most), as they're most likely to imprint on the hen at that age. If she was a proven broody, she may have moved right into "mommy hen mode", and began clucking to them and brooding them, but if she's had no former experience, it explains why she ignored them.

Based on your description, I think I'd put some eggs from the incubator under her. During the 24 hours or so prior to hatching, there's 2-way communication between the hen and her unhatched chicks. The chicks chirp within the eggs, and the hen should periodically answer back. This gives them time to get to know each other and also prompts a shift in the hen's hormones and behavior -- from incubating mode to hatching/brooding mode. Perhaps if she's able to hear this peeping and hatch them out herself, she'll accept the chicks.

Best of luck to you, and please let us know what happens.

Oh right!
This is her first time going broody so I am not too sure how everything is going to go with her, I have my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly..
I have put two eggs under her, so I hope that when they hatch she loves them lol
I will keep you posted on how she goes.. we should know by the end of the weekend!!

thanks for your help!!!

 

[song of joy]

Oh right!
This is her first time going broody so I am not too sure how everything is going to go with her, I have my fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly..
I have put two eggs under her, so I hope that when they hatch she loves them lol
I will keep you posted on how she goes.. we should know by the end of the weekend!!

thanks for your help!!!

How did the hatch work out? Did the broody hen hatch the eggs and accept the chicks?