Broody Hen Thread!

[microchick]

Thanks Microchick,

I will get some pictures tomorrow after I get my hand bandaged up.....

Yeah, but at least you know the hens have a reason for being surly when they have chicks under them. I have a perfect imprint of a beak plus a puncture wound on my finger from our stupid hormonal rooster. I gotta get that boy some girls of his own.

 

[katatonic123]

@DinaKay Had a girl go broody at 21 weeks after about 2 weeks of laying. Took 8 eggs to hatch day, 6 were either hers or her sister's of the same age. Only 1 didn't hatch and I think that was more due to the circumstances of the day than the egg/chick.

 

[DinaKay]

I have always heard that pullet eggs are not the best to hatch.  I think it is due to the smaller size there is less room for the embryo and more of a chance that they might have problems.  Maybe someone else will chime in who has tried it.

After more researching that's the conclusion I've come too as well. SOOOO I picked up some fertile EE eggs for her to hatch

Still considering leaving a couple of hers too. Moving her to her safe place away from other laying hens tomorrow..a girl needs her privacy! Really I just don't want to have to check for new eggs..she's not the sweetest thang

 

[Mezzer]

I put store bought eggs in with my few remaining fertilized eggs today to try and encourage them to go broody...those hens looked at me like I just asked them to lay a golden egg and took off from the coop as fast as they could. O_0 sheesh

 

[DinaKay]

@katatonic123 glad to know that. Some of their first eggs had really hard shells, but the last couple of weeks has been what I call,normal. Thanks

 

[Justplainchickn]

So wouldn't you know it, I placed eggs under my broody hen and it snows. She is nesting in a draft free area not insulated But I did pack some nice thick straw for her to nest in. It got down to mid to high 20's last night and probably won't hit above 40's today. Is there a point when I should add some extra heat to the nesting area or do I just let my broody hen do her thing? It is supposed to hit the single digits tonight, roughly 6 F, so not sure what to do there.She only has a short walk down the ramp to food and water but with the crazy Colorado spring storm weather I'm wondering if I should put it closer? I fear those eggs cool down and dying while she leaves for food and water.

 

[Justplainchickn]

I put store bought eggs in with my few remaining fertilized eggs today to try and encourage them to go broody...those hens looked at me like I just asked them to lay a golden egg and took off from the coop as fast as they could. O_0 sheesh

I used golf balls or those wooden eggs from the hobby store to encourage the chickens to know where to lay. It worked so well, she went broody and continues to even after I leave the nest empty. I didn't have to worry about broken or rotting eggs while they were in training. Also heard it discourages possible egg eating if it does break. That is funny though, Chickens are going to do what they want when they want! It's amazing the "looks"they can give you, just letting you know you not totally in charge.

 

[Greg88]

I bought some of these.
Had to mark them because they are so realistic I kept trying to pick them up with the other eggs!
Same weight, textured, and color of my BO eggs

 

[fisherlady]

So wouldn't you know it, I placed eggs under my broody hen and it snows. She is nesting in a draft free area not insulated But I did pack some nice thick straw for her to nest in. It got down to mid to high 20's last night and probably won't hit above 40's today. Is there a point when I should add some extra heat to the nesting area or do I just let my broody hen do her thing? It is supposed to hit the single digits tonight, roughly 6 F, so not sure what to do there.She only has a short walk down the ramp to food and water but with the crazy Colorado spring storm weather I'm wondering if I should put it closer? I fear those eggs cool down and dying while she leaves for food and water.

If she has thick nesting material and a draft free area then she will be fine...we live on a ridge in middle Pennsylvania and our birds brood year round, we have had good hatches in January weather and last year it was often below zero for extended periods and the hens still did well. The hens usually take shorter breaks during cold weather and longer when temps are higher...we let them decide. Don't add heat to the brooding area unless your hen is a breed which would normally need supplemental heat in the winter. Make sure she has good quality food and treats and fresh water and let her do the rest.

 

[fisherlady]

I bought some of these.
Had to mark them because they are so realistic I kept trying to pick them up with the other eggs!
Same weight, textured, and color of my BO eggs

Those are nice... we found a lady who does ceramics in our area and took a dozen of our eggs to her to show her what we wanted...she basically made duplicates of ours right down to the varying shapes and colors for $1 each, we got 2 dozen and we also had to mark them. Try researching for folks with home ceramic businesses in your area and give it a try.