Broody hen... Now what???

[cackydoodledoo]

Well here we go! I put her a nest box in the kennel with food and water. She has been standing in the box for 20 minutes now looking around like she is lost. First thing she poops in the box. I sure hope she figures out what she is supposed to do!!! Crossing my fingers and toes.

 

[dragonlair]

I use milk crates and covered kitty litter boxes for nest boxes and biddie brooders. totally by accident btw.....my Polish hens went broody last year, along with my Cochin. They all shared a single milk crate and successfully hatched out 24 eggs.

My chickens are kept in chain link dog kennels (fox and neighbor dogs and cats are a major threat). If they go broody, I just put them in a covered litter box in a corner by themselves or inside a dog crate. Their food is outside, and they do go out at least once a day to do their business.

 

[kaitlyn_rae2003]

I saw today that my broody hen, meredith had gotten off her eggs to eat drink and poo, so I took the opportunity to mark her eggs, she seems to be stealing newly laid ones when no one is looking! she has too many I think, but i have no clue how far they have developed so I dont know if i should jut let her try, or incubate them or toss them? Anyway, another hen hopped up while she was off and sat down. When meredith saw this, she was ticked! she pulled that little silkie off the nest by her neck. It was so interesting to me to sit and watch how instinctive and amazing this process is. she is only on day 4 so i am trying not to count my chicks before they hatch but she means business! Something I am not familiar with also happened, one of my NH reds hopped into her nesting area and pulled out some of her eggs from under her and sat on them, glued to meredith, almost like she was helping her keep them warm. It was awfully cute. Is that normal? I think this whole broodiness business is so amazing! I have no idea if she will hatch any out, or what will come of this, but I really hope so!!!

 

[cackydoodledoo]

When I went to check on her the last time last night she had two eggs that were kinda in front of her and not covered. Was kinda worried about them but this morning she had them all tucked under her.

 

[cackydoodledoo]

Now getting a little discouraged. Last night I let her out for a bit to stretch and found that there was poop on all the eggs. She has been getting up to poop in the front of the kennel as there is a big pile so don't know why she would mess on the eggs. She didn't seem to want to go back in the kennel. I had to put her back in and she went right back on the eggs. This morning though when I checked on her she was standing in the nest and was stepping all over the eggs so I don't know???? I guess we will give it a few more days and see?????