Broody Hen Thread!

[rooboo]

Thank you micro, I'm guessing they would be some real barrel heads. Here she is today all ruffled up because I pestered her.

And here's her crazy sister sitting in an empty nest. I guess it doesn't fall far from the tree. lol

 

[DinaKay]

So Ma's eggs were due to start hatching on the 17th...no chicks as of this afternoon. On days 14 and 15 we had severe storms. ..tornado a few miles away. Wonder if that affected the eggs. I pulled all the eggs when she came out to eat and put 2 fresh eggs in place, she was not happy upon return and looked in other empty boxes before she sat back on hers. Tonight I will replace those 2 eggs with 3 baby chicks I had to buy. She is so broody and will push another broody off her eggs..greedy girl. All the eggs had formed chicks but we're rotten

 

[Crista]

DinaKay. I m so sorry that happened.

But I thank you for sharing it b'c I wouldn't have known what to do. Tomorrow I'll head over to the feed store to see what will be avail just in case that happens to my girl this week.

 

[DinaKay]

@Crista that's what a couple of old timers told me...others may have different opinions. I have another hen setting as well, her eggs are 10 days younger. Fingers crossed on hers..due 27th.

 

[microchick]

I'm no expert by far but I do know that the change in weather that we had, warm to cold to warm again did affect Aggies eggs. She should have hatched 7 eggs at 21 days. She hatched 2 on day 21, 3 on day 22, 2 on day 23 then got off the nest with her 6 chicks leaving 2 eggs that I brought into the house to finish hatching and then reunited with their momma and siblings. 1 egg quit early with a blood ring and two eggs were infertile. A few of the hens donated eggs to her cause before I caught them so we set her under 11 eggs and 8 hatched in all. Can't complain about that one bit.

We did everything we could to keep her comfortable. The local power company sends us 'Thank you " cards, LOL.

Some things are just between the hen, mother nature and a power greater than them all.

 

[Crista]

[@]DinaKay
Will cross my fingers

. I keep hoping another will set but so far nada.

 

[spanishred]

So I have a dorking that went broody and hatched our 4 chicks they are 5 weeks old now. She is laying eggs already and acting like she is done with the chicks. They are in a separate pen in the shed, chicks don't seem big enough to be integrated and the mom is the bottom of the pecking order in the flock. Should we leave her with the chicks or put her in the flock again and introduce the chicks later? She's been getting a little aggressive with some of the chicks occasionally pecking at them.

 

[Klay]

Will a silkie adopt chicks even if she is not broody.

 

[Greg88]

Possibly, not likely but some will from what I have heard.
Others may chime in as well.

 

[Greg88]

My broody BO had 3 baby JO under her when I left for work. Hoping for more when I get home!!!