Broody Hen Thread!

[goldie1234]

Day one and I've already made a mistake!!!!

I split 16 eggs between 2 broodies last night. This afternoon one of the girls was in the run off the eggs I have no idea for how long. She has been broody for a little over a week. She was eating so I didn't worry. About 10 minutes later I noticed she was on the roost. I panicked and felt her eggs. They weren't really warm so I stuffed all but one under the other broody and threw fake eggs in her box.

I went back down about 30 minutes later and she was back on her eggs. I then pulled a few from the other broody and removed the fakes. Have I screwed up? Should I block the run and put the feeder and waterer in the coop? They were both broody for a while before I gave them eggs. Now one has 11 and she has about 4.

Any advise?

 

[crealbilly]

C R A P - I got another RIR that went broody today. She pecked my arm up and down but I managed to get the 4 eggs she was sitting on. These RIR hens can get viciously aggressive when they go broody.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Day one and I've already made a mistake!!!!

I split 16 eggs between 2 broodies last night. This afternoon one of the girls was in the run off the eggs I have no idea for how long. She has been broody for a little over a week. She was eating so I didn't worry. About 10 minutes later I noticed she was on the roost. I panicked and felt her eggs. They weren't really warm so I stuffed all but one under the other broody and threw fake eggs in her box.

I went back down about 30 minutes later and she was back on her eggs. I then pulled a few from the other broody and removed the fakes. Have I screwed up? Should I block the run and put the feeder and waterer in the coop? They were both broody for a while before I gave them eggs. Now one has 11 and she has about 4.

Any advise?

Sadly that is the risk with shipped eggs and new broodies. Somebody may quit. You should always have a back up plan (like an incubator to pull out) if someone does quit.

I think you did the right thing. There are times I have "musical nests" as well.

Just watch this hen. Keep a smaller load under her. It may help to block her exit or provide an isolated run for her so that she doesn't get confused where her nest is. They will do that, and some get totally out of the mood then. Others set up shop in a new place. Either way the eggs are left cold to the elements. Making sure the hen can't forget where her nest is a good way to prevent that.

LofMc

 

[PD-Riverman]

C R A P - I got another RIR that went broody today. She pecked my arm up and down but I managed to get the 4 eggs she was sitting on. These RIR hens can get viciously aggressive when they go broody.

You going to set her or break her?

 

[fisherlady]

That sounds like a real plan.

And yes, CX produce a LOT of smelly poop. (So do turkeys, btw).

But even with layers, I've got plenty of poo. I too use the deep litter method only I've gone to pine shavings which makes a really nice mulch and disperses the poo better in my clay soil. (I had trouble with weeds from the grass seeds in the hay/straw bales and failure of the straw to mulch as well).

My farmer daughter and son-in-law drool when they see my soil.

I rarely have to dig out my own runs now. I've got friends and neighbors with gardens who come over, cheerfully, smiling, with buckets and shovels, who do that for me (there's a bit of Tom Sawyer in my soul.)  

LofMc

I love this!!! I am a huge fan of Mark Twain, lol.... we also have found a few avid gardeners who are happy to help out with the manure relocation problem which often pains backyard farmers....this spring we kept our meat birds on sand the first 4 weeks, it made awesome soil for cantelope and watermelon mounds according to one gardener friend. A win/win for us!

 

[the poppster]

A few things I've noticed over the years, to spot a full blown broody hen....
1) The growl and thump...the sweet girl turns Rabid!
2) The Flat as a Feathered Pancake....she sets down and spreads out in the chosen nest...head tucked away with no neck showing.
3) Te Broody Twitch...when you disturb her she will start to Twitch and even try to gather your hand under her with her wings.
4) The Chicken of Stone...you can pick her up and set her down in anoth0er spot and she just sits where ever you place her.
5) The Thousand yard stare...she hardly blinks...just stares into her little broody world...she's in a trance!
6) The Streak...out of seemingly nowhere this hen streaks past pausing to take a few bites of food...poop a Huge poop...fluff a bit of dust....gulp a gulp of water and disappears...a "What the heck? Was that?" Moment.
Feel free to add to the list! I'm sure those are just a few examples.

 

[fisherlady]

A few things I've noticed over the years, to spot a full blown broody hen....
1) The growl and thump...the sweet girl turns Rabid!
2) The Flat as a Feathered Pancake....she sets down and spreads out in the chosen nest...head tucked away with no neck showing.
3) Te Broody Twitch...when you disturb her she will start to Twitch and even try to gather your hand under her with her wings.
4) The Chicken of Stone...you can pick her up and set her down in anoth0er spot and she just sits where ever you place her.
5) The Thousand yard stare...she hardly blinks...just stares into her little broody world...she's in a trance!
6) The Streak...out of seemingly nowhere this hen streaks past pausing to take a few bites of food...poop a Huge poop...fluff a bit of dust....gulp a gulp of water and disappears...a "What the heck? Was that?" Moment.
Feel free to add to the list! I'm sure those are just a few examples.

These are good, the only one I can think to add is the 'I am bigger than you, leave me alone!!! Strut.... hen is trying to get her speed scratching done and someone come near her..... the head drops down, the wings widen out and the clucking, screeching and growling begins, leaving no doubt that anyone messing with this bird risks certain bodily harm!

 

[16 paws]

the poppster,

How many Serama eggs did you set? Will you let me know how it goes? I really want to try and hatch some as well.

 

[WVduckchick]

I just checked my serama eggs in my incubator on day 4. I got 19 eggs, shipped from Florida to WV and at least 14 are already showing signs of veining. A couple possible bloodrings and a couple possible clears. I'm trying not to let my hopes get too far up, but its already difficult! Lol

 

[crealbilly]

A few things I've noticed over the years, to spot a full blown broody hen....
1) The growl and thump...the sweet girl turns Rabid!
2) The Flat as a Feathered Pancake....she sets down and spreads out in the chosen nest...head tucked away with no neck showing.
3) Te Broody Twitch...when you disturb her she will start to Twitch and even try to gather your hand under her with her wings.
4) The Chicken of Stone...you can pick her up and set her down in anoth0er spot and she just sits where ever you place her.
5) The Thousand yard stare...she hardly blinks...just stares into her little broody world...she's in a trance!
6) The Streak...out of seemingly nowhere this hen streaks past pausing to take a few bites of food...poop a Huge poop...fluff a bit of dust....gulp a gulp of water and disappears...a "What the heck? Was that?" Moment.
Feel free to add to the list! I'm sure those are just a few examples.

#1 more like going from sweet girl to velociraptor in the blink of an eye.