Broody Hen Thread!

[16 paws]

You do???? I'm not listening to that. Nope.

Lol! I never try to break my broody's, I just thank my lucky stars.

I am getting dangerously close to 50 now counting everyone and I cant bear to part with them after I get attached(which is the first minute I see them) so I really have no choice. I feel I will be committed here sometime soon if I dont stop....lol

 

[16 paws]

I just had to break up my first chick fight. If it wasn't so violent it would be funny but it was surprisingly physical. One of the bigger BO/Welsummer crosses got into a squabble with it's smaller BO sibling. By the time I stepped in, the little BO was beating the snot out of it's larger sibling, with a beak full of neck feathers that it wasn't going to let go of. I separated them and they went right back at it again. I broke the little idiots up three times before they finally stopped. By that time the smallest of the two wanted out of the pen somehow thinking that one of the BO hens in the main pen was it's mother by the way it was acting. Aggie went to it twice but it kept squealing and running the fence line until it's adversary came over and gave it a hard peck on the head as if saying 'STOP IT!'. At that point I scooped the little one up, stuffed it inside my hoodie until it settled down and then shut the whole bunch back up in their nursery.

I have no idea what set off the confrontation but it was quite heated considering the tender age (4 wks) of the oponents.

Glad you were there to stop the ruckus. Sounds like someone needs a timeout...

 

[Crista]

...

mossyroo,
You need to get yourself some silkies or bantam cochins they are brooding machines!!!Who needs a bator? I am trying to break one or two every week
I am not complaining but I do have to keep my

Bringing in a broody machine sounds great, but can you just add her into an already established flock? Or keep her
in her own pen ? I have plenty of eggs and nobody setting

 

[microchick]

Glad you were there to stop the ruckus. Sounds like someone needs a timeout...

You said it. I left them in the nursery with the heat lamp on them for about an hour, let them back out and they immediately went about the business of dirt bathing. They shared a piece of bread and all was well when I went by the barn just now.

Silly birds. Just like kids, they needed a nap.

 

[16 paws]

Quote: I would keep her separated at first, where she can see the others and they can see her but no touching.

 

[Wendy High]

Haven't been able to keep up, but for those following along,
Yesterday wire cage momma hen wanted out. Best dust/dirt bath I've seen yet.

This morning I saw 2 chicks. 1 under front left chest & 1 under rear right wing. Still eggs in nest so may be a couple more days till she comes off for good. (Of course, I did not have camera on me to capture 2 newbies when they poked their heads out to see all the excitment. Momma quickly scolded them and they went back under. Not to come out again when I went and got camera.

Good day to all! Enjoy this thread very much.

 

[fisherlady]

Haven't been able to keep up, but for those following along,
Yesterday wire cage momma hen wanted out. Best dust/dirt bath I've seen yet.

This morning I saw 2 chicks. 1 under front left chest & 1 under rear right wing. Still eggs in nest so may be a couple more days till she comes off for good. (Of course, I did not have camera on me to capture 2 newbies when they poked their heads out to see all the excitment. Momma quickly scolded them and they went back under. Not to come out again when I went and got camera.

Good day to all! Enjoy this thread very much.

Congrats on the first two, be prepared to spend huge amounts of your time now just baby watching!
Will look forward to seeing pictures soon!

 

[Wendy High]

nchls1101,
Yes, very interesting. Keep us posted.

 

[Wendy High]

Congrats on the first two, be prepared to spend huge amounts of your time now just baby watching!
Will look forward to seeing pictures soon!

Thank you. Can't wait to get pics and post em. The website is feeding the addiction.

 

[nchls school]

mossyroo,
You need to get yourself some silkies or bantam cochins they are brooding machines!!!Who needs a bator? I am trying to break one or two every week
I am not complaining but I do have to keep my flock numbers in check now.....dont I????

X 2. BUT serama and Japanese bantams are even more broody inclined. I have three serama pullets that have finished raising their third batch of chicks and are now working on their fourth clutch. The three pullets, all, are one year old on May 1st. My Japanese pullet has started brooding at 5 months 1 week of age. Indeed, who needs an incubator when I'm about ready to stand out in the coop yelling, "STOP THAT". HAHA[/COLOR)