Broody Hen Problem

[Ronnie2]

I have a broody orpington, I moved her to the brood pen, !/3 size of coop, 6-feet deep by 8-foot wide. She hatched 9 out of 10. Thank You! She would have hatched ten out of eleven, my fault for not recognizing the other hen was scratching the first one's eggs out of nest, and I discarded that one. I thought is was natures way of discarding a bad egg. The eleventh egg, just never hatched in the nest. The second hen was pooping and wetting in the nest was moved to the brood pen this morning. She had a couple of days ago five eggs under her, when I moved her this morning, she had only 4-eggs, and I found one chicken leg, when I was cleaning out the nasty nest.

I would have moved her sooner, but the first pen was only 3-foot deep, no room to work, so I enlarged, and completed the renovation yesterday. This is both hens first brood lay. If she doesn't hatch some chicks, probably in a couple of weeks, should I give her a second chance, or go ahead and put her on the bar-b-que pit?

 

[MrPepers]

Give her a second chance. Sometimes they just need to work a few things out.

 

[RacehorsesRock]

Yeh give her another chance

 

[elaineinspain]

I have a first time broody orpington. I gave her 6 eggs two weeks ago. This morning she got off the nest and now she only has ONE egg under her! She is separated from the other chickens. If she breaks/destroys/eats that last one (I'm sure she's eating them because there are no remains of any eggs left in the nest) but if she destroys this last egg will she continue being broody for ever, waiting for a hatch, even without eggs? Or will she break her broodiness herself when she realises there are no more eggs under her? I've never had this happen before...

 

[Ronnie2]

My hens or just over one year old, and one did the same thing as yours, but after eating two eggs, she just up and abandoned three eggs. The consensus of the forum was to give her another chance. "Once they go broody, they will do it again, this next time she will possibly get the hang of it." The first hen got broody, and after sitting on nest, for about 10-days, without any eggs. I put 11-eggs under her. The one that did bad came and joined her, and started kicking the first one eggs out. I didn't have the knowledge to put the first one in the separated brood pen. I through the first egg kicked out, because in my pea size brain, I thought that was natures way of culling bad egg. The first one hatched 9-out of the 10. The 10th egg was probably to old to start with. Didn't candle any of them, took the chance. Never had a broken egg either. I feed the flock cracked oyster shell in an DIY PVC pipe, i found here on BYC, along with a lot of knowledge. Read, read all you can. I'm retired, and can do that

 

[Pat Mcaffee]

I recently had a broody that failed because the chicks had squishy chick disease. I put two ceramic eggs underneath her to make sure she stayed broody and then added real eggs. She's currently on day 18 and all of the eggs are developing well. Definitely give her a second chance and don't be afraid to take chicks away from her if she's abusing them. First-time mothers often have problems.

 

[Ronnie2]

What is, and how do you treat squishy chick disease? I do add a granule type, vitamins to my chicks water., 1-tsp. to gallon of water. It was recommended by our local feed store owner who raises chickens, (27). It is to help take care of chicks getting diseases. I wished I could tell you the name of it, I'm away right now.

 

[elaineinspain]

What is, and how do you treat squishy chick disease?
Hi Ronnie2
this gives you the scientific name for it http://www.merckvetmanual.com/poultry/omphalitis/overview-of-omphalitis-in-poultry

 

[Ronnie2]

I went to there website, very interesting stuff to know. I bookmarked it, and put it in my, to go reading list, for other veterinary medical knowledge. Thank you so much for much needed information

 

[elaineinspain]

I went to there website, very interesting stuff to know. I bookmarked it, and put it in my, to go reading list, for other veterinary medical knowledge. Thank you so much for much needed information

I've never had that problem. I always use a broody to hen, so maybe that's why...