Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

This is why having your own chickens is a Good thing------You raise them any way you want. You can leave your broody with the other chickens if you want----she is yours. She Might even hatch GOOD, she might not hatch at all because of interference. Most common problem is the broody getting off the nest to take a break---when she comes back another hen is on her eggs----laying another egg----the broody gets in another nest with a couple eggs---probably stay there all night. The other hen leaves the broody nest after laying a egg-----now the eggs lay there all night----get cold and die. The next day the broody takes a break and comes back and gets on the original nest----with all the dead eggs----You do not even know this happened----until day 23/24/25 when no eggs hatch, PLUS there is Many Other problems that can happen.

I am reading "some" seem to not worry---if she hatches----good, if Not---Good---not meant to be type attitude. If my broody sets on eggs for 3+ weeks---I want her to have chicks----If I did not want her to have chicks---I would have broke her in the beginning instead of allowing her to set for weeks. AGAIN, your broody, do with her what ever you want.

For those that want chicks, that will get so upset if they don't hatch, etc---read on, I am going to give you some advise---peace of mind. This is the way I do it----- I have set about 150 broody hens in the last 3 years----out of 150----ALL hatched---ALL Of Them. Out of 150 broodies all the fertile eggs hatched,(might have lost a egg or two out of all these sets). The Reason ALL My Broodies hatched is I put in a little effort to Move All them to private hatching pens. Just a pen for them to be alone, have enough room to get off their eggs to stretch their legs poop and get some food and water and a little dirt to dust bath----when they get ready to go back to their nest of eggs------guess what-----no getting on the wrong nest because there is Only one nest. I own my chicken just like the rest of you and this is My Way to take care of my broodies.

If you rather gamble---maybe she will hatch----just leave her with the rest. My method has proven to me there is a way to get 100% hatch results---if you want that.

Again---yours are yours---do them like, you want. Good Luck!!

 

[kendallb12]

I also wanted to mention that this is her first broody session! Maybe she didn't turn them right or distribute the heat right. Thank you for everyone who helped. about to do a float test. I will keep you updated on the float test results!

 

[RachaelR32]

I know, theoretically, that you can go to a lot of trouble trying to turn a hen into a brood mom and hatch eggs but i still believe you guys are way overthinking this.

First just let them sit where they want and the brood mom, if there is one, will show up. She will be the one sitting when everyone else is running around and if you leave the eggs you will notice one nest seems to be filling up and one or 2 hens always seem to be fighting over who gets to sit on them. About that time you mark a few eggs, collect the rest and see if they keep sitting. I didnt protect the brood nest from other hens, i let them all sit on the eggs if they wanted to. Eggs dont care who sits on them, they just need to be kept warm. At that point note the calendar, keep collecting unmarked eggs and see if any chicks show up in 21 days. If so you have a good rooster and at least one good brood mom. Now you can separate the broood mom and chicks into a brood pen large enough for her to take care of them and have their own feeders. i keep the pen in with the flock so the chicks become part of the flock.

If not then either the mom didnt stay on them enough or the rooster had a vasectomy when no one was looking because he didnt want to pay child support.

Thats how i did it, had a lot of fun, got some chicks and didnt kill myself with worry in the process.

I really don't think my girl would hatch anything if left with the flock. The young cockeral kept trying to mate with her on the nest leading to her screaming like a mad one and chasing him off. No doubt it would have resulted in broken eggs as well as an upset broody.

You must have different flock dynamics.

 

[kendallb12]

I did a float test, all floated. not very high float but floated. I took pictures but not sure how to put them here.. didn't really see movement I saw a little movement but not much maybe nothing at all. I might start a new clutch. how many eggs is a good number for a broody BO to sit on

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Kendallb12 where are you located at? Would really suggest you just find some day old chicks and slip them under her tonight and remove the eggs as having her sit another 3 weeks is very hard on the hens body.

 

[gpeters3]

I know it sounds like im trying to sell my method, thats not my purpose. My feeling is that eggs are cheap and if the first batch fails, try again. Have fun with it, observe what goes on, try to optimize when you can.

Just for the record, my bantam brood mom was the lowest in the order but when she was on the nest she got brave and protected herself. Its almost like the added responsibility gave her purpose. I didnt have any problems with other hens causing damage and several helped keep the eggs warm when mom was off the nest. I was new then too and excited about having some chicks. My advice is to observe what they do and adjust accordingly to keep somebody on the eggs. When they hatch pay attention to how the mom or other hens react to the chicks. Move them as soon as possible after hatching for their safety to a brood pen with its own feed and water and enough room for mom to move around a little. The chicks, if healthy, already know how to eat and drink, just make sure they can reach it.

It just seemed to me that some were getting stressed out and frustrated so tried to describe a simpler method. If they are really back yard chickens it should be fun not stressfull.

 

[WildHens]

I did a float test, all floated. not very high float but floated. I took pictures but not sure how to put them here.. didn't really see movement I saw a little movement but not much maybe nothing at all. I might start a new clutch. how many eggs is a good number for a broody BO to sit on

Level of floating doesn't mean much..u want to do 1 egg at a time.. put it in very slowly as to keep the water still as possible. .and then watch to see if that egg wiggles any. It may be slight, it may bounce, there's and fee threads on here with great instructions. .make sure water is warm..like 101 or so (you'd have to check exact temp on here bc I'm not sure)

 

[WildHens]

This is why having your own chickens is a Good thing------You raise them any way you want. You can leave your broody with the other chickens if you want----she is yours. She Might even hatch GOOD, she might not hatch at all because of interference. Most common problem is the broody getting off the nest to take a break---when she comes back another hen is on her eggs----laying another egg----the broody gets in another nest with a couple eggs---probably stay there all night. The other hen leaves the broody nest after laying a egg-----now the eggs lay there all night----get cold and die. The next day the broody takes a break and comes back and gets on the original nest----with all the dead eggs----You do not even know this happened----until day 23/24/25 when no eggs hatch, PLUS there is Many Other problems that can happen.

I am reading "some" seem to not worry---if she hatches----good, if Not---Good---not meant to be attitude. If my broody sets on eggs for 3+ weeks---I want her to have chicks----If I did not want her to have chicks---I would have broke her in the beginning instead of allowing her to set for weeks. AGAIN, your broody, do with her what ever you want.

For those that want chicks, that will get so upset if they don't hatch, etc---read on, I am going to give you some advise---peace of mind. This is the way I do it----- I have set about 150 broody hens in the last 3 years----out of 150----ALL hatched---ALL Of Them. Out of 150 broodies all the fertile eggs hatched,(might have lost a egg or two out of all these sets). The Reason ALL My Broodies hatched is I put in a little effort to Move All them to private hatching pens. Just a pen for them to be alone, have enough room to get off their eggs to stretch their legs poop and get some food and water and a little dirt to dust bath----when they get ready to go back to their nest of eggs------guess what-----no getting on the wrong nest because there is Only one nest. I own my chicken just like the rest of you and this is My Way to take care of my broodies.

If you rather gamble---maybe she will hatch----just leave her with the rest. My method has proven to me there is a way to get 100% hatch results---if you want that.

Again---yours are yours---do them like, you want. Good Luck!!

I agreed 200%.. I always always separate mine..sometimes I put their boy in with them (usually my silkies), bigger breeds go in a alone... I use extra stalls in the barn, they get a covered cat litter box as a nest, I set food and water far enough from the nest that they have to get off but closes enough that when they do venture out with little ones for the first time no one gets lost or has so much room they get separated from mom. .after the first couple days, I give them the whole stall.. only lost 1 baby years ago and that was bc I gave them the whole stall immediately and the little one got lost and chilled.
Not saying my way is right or wrong, but my way definitely works for me and my birds ♡

 

[gpeters3]

I did a float test, all floated. not very high float but floated. I took pictures but not sure how to put them here.. didn't really see movement I saw a little movement but not much maybe nothing at all. I might start a new clutch. how many eggs is a good number for a broody BO to sit on

I 'personally' would start small and work up to max clutches. I would just give her 3 or 4 and see how she does. Ive seen numbers mentionrd as high as 18. Personally i think thats rediculous. If you want that many, use an incubator.

Unless you have the room for a large flock, trying to hatch too many would be a headache for you and the chickens. I have a 12x9 coop and 32x9 run with 22 birds and, quite frankly, i think it may be a little crowded.

The lady i got some of my hens from raises them for sale and only keeps them a few weeks in a metal cattle water tub with no mom. She uses a heat lamp like the stores. She doesnt need any space because she doesnt keep them.

 

[gpeters3]

I really don't think my girl would hatch anything if left with the flock. The young cockeral kept trying to mate with her on the nest leading to her screaming like a mad one and chasing him off. No doubt it would have resulted in broken eggs as well as an upset broody.

You must have different flock dynamics.

I was new at the time but ive been around farms most of my younger life so just let them be chickens til i could see how they got along. My first batch i let into the flock too soon and some were killed. My next batch i brooded in the nest box (had 5 nests) and let other hens share sitting duties as they were willing and moved the brood mom and chicks as soon as they hatched into a wire brood pen in the coop to keep them in contact with the flock but protected. I only had 4 or 5 hens then and one rooster in an 8x8 coop. One hen was mean and caused some trouble but careful observation and common sense prevailed and they all lived together fairly well.

Cant wait to see what happens with 22 and 2 may be toms