Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

Can't wait to see Puff's babies. Hope all 9 hatch.

Are the 3 roosters and 30 hens all running together? What sort of offspring is Puff expecting? (Without reading back to c if already posted)...

Hi Wendy,

Yes all 3 roos and hens are running together. Puff is sitting on 2 assorted bantam eggs and 7 Lavender Americana eggs. The roos are Jake, a Brabanter, Cosmo a bantam mix and Poppy a black bantam Cochin.
I kind of think Jake is the daddy. I hope he is because he just recently survived a bobcat attack. The bobcat had him in his mouth when I just happened to look down at the yard from my deck, I screamed and that scream was enough to send bobby running. I thought it was too late for Jake. I saw his body laying by the fence.

Within a minute or two I couldnt believe my eyes when I saw Jake get up. He was in shock for a week.He would just stand there. Did not roost. Would not eat at all. I thought again that he was not going to make it. I started syringe feeding him honey water, then masa flour watered down, yogurt and baby cereal. Finally after 6 days of no change he started drinking. He has made a full recovery since then. The bad news is bobby killed a hen right before he got Jake but I think Jake stepped in to fight for his girls. He has earned a lot of love and respect after all this so I really hope he is the daddy to the Lavender Americana eggs.
Here is a picture of my hero Jake...

 

[microchick]

16paws. Did bobby ever get what was coming to him?

 

[16 paws]

Hi 16 paws - yes they are currently residing in our laundry and my daughter and myself are handling the babies lots. We've both fallen in love with the partridge chick who is outgoing and gorgeous - 3 and a half hours after hatching she kept poking her head out from under mum to have a look around (Pixie kept shoving her back under herself as Mama knows best!). The partridge sat on my hand for 40 minutes this morning mostly sleeping and enjoying being patted. Her name is Button. We pray it's a her. I can see how addictive this is!

That sounds like so much fun. I love the names, Button and Pixie. Great that you can have them close by and get to watch their little antics. Life is good....

Marie

 

[16 paws]

16paws. Did bobby ever get what was coming to him?

No, Bobby is still out there. I am just taking extra precautions to keep him away from my flock.

How are your chicks? Have anymore pictures to share with us?
Marie

 

[16 paws]

Oh my....

Yes, I'm afraid I am in the same position.

Started with 4 hens...lost those to a fire in the coop! Oh No...so got 10 more chicks to brood (just in case some didn't make it)...they all did of course (except the roo which we gave away)...and then we added more and ended up with about 16 (?) then a hen (Buff Orp) went broody but quit.

Sooooooooo disappointed, I went out and PURCHASED a known broody Silkie. When she went broody I PURCHASED fertile eggs to put under her. Then a few large hens followed suit.
That's when the broody bug hit. Freed from incubators, and to keep fresh layers, I used every broody that went broody. At one time I had about 26 birds on 1/3 acre with MORE under broodies

....time to down size...so I fortunately found an equally addicted person with a large farm to whom I pass my older layers to.

So what did that mean? A state of equilibrium? Nooooooooo.....time to go out and purchase 2 MORE broodies! And then keep a rooster so I can easily get fertile eggs (and now breed for egg color)....

And now that my bantam Cochins don't seem to be doing particularly well at brooding? Time to trade for another Silkie and brood MORE chicks.

Oh dear...this is an obsession...and at some point I'll need intervention.....

But not yet.

I'm going to breed for that elusive egg color...like really dark choclate, and all manner of greens, and LAVENDER!

Hello, my name is...
LofMc

Hello,
My name is Marie and I am a chicken addict as well.....

Hate to admit it but its time to come clean.....

Just cant help myself, when things get rough in this crazy world we live in, what do I do?
Instead of reaching for a bottle of pills, a drink or a new man I somehow manage to add a darn chicken to two or three or more to my flock!!!!!!!

Sixty one years old and having the most fun I have ever had....

I do need help but right now just let me have this one little brood and after that we can seriously talk about where I can check myself in....
Anyone else relate????????

 

[microchick]

Chicks are growing like weeds. Little monsters one and all!

I'm working on new pics. Alone with an outdoor pen. Time to move outside for awhile with mom.

I hate to tell you this but there is no hope, no drugs, no therapy for our condition. Just buy more chickens....

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hello,
My name is Marie and I am a chicken addict as well.....

Hate to admit it but its time to come clean.....

Just cant help myself, when things get rough in this crazy world we live in, what do I do?
Instead of reaching for a bottle of pills, a drink or a new man I somehow manage to add a darn chicken to two or three or more to my flock!!!!!!!

Sixty one years old and having the most fun I have ever had....

I do need help but right now just let me have this one little brood and after that we can seriously talk about where I can check myself in....
Anyone else relate????????

Yes...I have resorted to chicken therapy as well....crazy life I live between running my home tutoring business (which I love), keeping up with the needs of a MIL in assisted living who is slipping into dementia, helping my middle daughter navigate a serious chronic illness....sometimes you just need comic relief....and the antics of those silly feathered gallus domesticus with the fluffy little peeps in tow breaks the insanity here.

So, yeah....I'm totally addicted. Safe alternative to antidepressants!

LofMc

 

[microchick]

Hey 16paws, I have you beat by 1 year. And yes, I'm having more fun with my chickens then should be legal also.

I just told my husband that if I ever saw a Bobcat even close to our coop I would be heading out to the timber with my hunting rifle and our three best hunting dogs and not be back till Mr Bobby's hide was securely nailed to the barn door.

In the mean time I'm looking at the other hens and telling them to GO BROODY! They are of course just cocking their little heads at me as if saying 'bread? got bread? got treats? no? go away then!' I have a plan y'see. Already been in touch with the breeder that I bought my flock from last year. Need Black and Lavender Orpington eggs. Need to stick them under a broody hen!

Yes, this is an obsession. On the bright side, My husband has found a way to get me out of bed early. All he has to do is say, Chickens want out, and I am out of bed, grabbing a hoodie and a slice of bread, pulling on my muck boots and venturing out to the barn. Oh, and he said, tell them you are scrambling an egg for the chicks also. He thinks that is shocking. I told him y'all would understand.

 

[malkered]

Hey 16paws, I have you beat by 1 year. And yes, I'm having more fun with my chickens then should be legal also. 

I just told my husband that if I ever saw a Bobcat even close to our coop I would be heading out to the timber with my hunting rifle and our three best hunting dogs and not be back till Mr Bobby's hide was securely nailed to the barn door.

In the mean time I'm looking at the other hens and telling them to GO BROODY! They are of course just cocking their little heads at me as if saying 'bread? got bread? got treats? no? go away then!' I have a plan y'see. Already been in touch with the breeder that I bought my flock from last year. Need Black and Lavender Orpington eggs. Need to stick them under a broody hen! 

Yes, this is an obsession. On the bright side, My husband has found a way to get me out of bed early. All he has to do is say, Chickens want out, and I am out of bed, grabbing a hoodie and a slice of bread, pulling on my muck boots and venturing out to the barn. Oh, and he said, tell them you are scrambling an egg for the chicks also. He thinks that is shocking. I told him y'all would understand. 

It certainly is addictive and I must admit caught me by surprise. I only started keeping chickens when I rescued one from squalor from a tenant at one of the houses I look after, I involved animal welfare and the hen was at risk of being culled so I took her in.

Two rescues and three hatches later I have 12 hens, two roosters, 4 chicks, have found great homes for my 7 spare roosters and three of my hens. I'm taking in 3 more rescue hens soon also.

I love every one of my amazing birds and they are a great stress relief.

Probably not a becoming passion for a 6ft Builder but there you go.

 

[laurieb01]

Hey 16paws, I have you beat by 1 year. And yes, I'm having more fun with my chickens then should be legal also. 

I just told my husband that if I ever saw a Bobcat even close to our coop I would be heading out to the timber with my hunting rifle and our three best hunting dogs and not be back till Mr Bobby's hide was securely nailed to the barn door.

In the mean time I'm looking at the other hens and telling them to GO BROODY! They are of course just cocking their little heads at me as if saying 'bread? got bread? got treats? no? go away then!' I have a plan y'see. Already been in touch with the breeder that I bought my flock from last year. Need Black and Lavender Orpington eggs. Need to stick them under a broody hen! 

Yes, this is an obsession. On the bright side, My husband has found a way to get me out of bed early. All he has to do is say, Chickens want out, and I am out of bed, grabbing a hoodie and a slice of bread, pulling on my muck boots and venturing out to the barn. Oh, and he said, tell them you are scrambling an egg for the chicks also. He thinks that is shocking. I told him y'all would understand. 

Ha! Sounds like me. I make scrambled eggs (with shells) for my girls all the time. I step out of the house and I'm surrounded by 8 little girls all jockeying for position. We aren't supposed to have chickens in our town which is weird because it's a little country town. But lots of people do and as long as your hen's aren't walking up the middle of Main Street blocking the Mayor (yes, this did happen a few years back) no problem. Those people were asked to get rid of their chickens. I don't know why they didn't contain them in the first place and no, a split rail fence won't do it.

Anyway, I am obsessed and would definitely be out of control if I wasn't afraid of being caught and told to get rid of them all. We just got 4 Serama eggs because I explained to hubby that Serama are so small, even if they all hatch it's still just like adding one more hen.