Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

I won't be home for this hatch and it's the first in a very long time. I was going to move her away from the flock but "chickened out". Problem is a young roo is 10 months. He constantly chases and rapes the girls. I have 2 other roo,'s with good manners. Will this young idiot bother her and the chicks?

Huggerlady, you are asking a question that "we" can only guess at a answer, I do not think you would want to gamble with your chicks life. The other two or the young roosters might take them out as fast as they hatch----might not. Question--You can not block her away from the rest---if you do not want to move her? Remember 1" chicken wire is not a good block to use---the chicks will walk right through it for the first few days and the Mother hen can not protect the chicks if they are on the other side of wire. Good Luck

 

[the poppster]

Can bantam chicks get through 1" mesh? I'm trying to figure out where to house my broody once the chicks hatch. The chicken tractor she is brooding in has 1" square welded mesh all round. The 'house'end has wood over the outside of the mesh. I am concerned chicks could get trapped between the mesh and the wood. Its not the ideal brooding spot but she didn't like it when I tried to move her. If the chicks will be able to get through the mesh I'll have to move her when they hatch so I'll need to plan that now.

Yes! they will walk right through it. 1/2 inch hardware cloth works well. Keeps the weasels and squirrels out as well.

 

[microchick]

Don't underestimate what they will try to get through as far as fencing is concerned. My three week old Buff O chick from my broody hatch tried to get through chain link fencing. He almost made it to except for the fact that his hips had grown to the point that they wouldn't squeeze through and he wound up stuck half in half out of the run screaming at the top of his lungs for help. Luckily I was outside working in my garden and heard him and got to him before the dogs discovered him. My husband was able to take a pair of wire cutters and cut him free. The first thing I did was cover the bottom 4 feet of their nursery run with 1 inch chicken wire which was small enough to keep them in at that point in time. I sure wouldn't trust bantams to it though.

 

[WVduckchick]

Would like some guidance from you pros. I have a new broody OEGB -- my first broody ever! She is in their only nest box. She just started a few days ago. Last night 2 girls were in the box, but this morning, the main girl was the only one in there. They may be sharing the duties, I haven't determined yet.

What I would like suggestions about is whether I should put a wire divider inside the house to keep the others away, and put food and water inside for Momma?? It is open space from the ramp door on the right, all the way to the wall on the left. (its one big long box, already has a solid divider down the center, where the pens are separated). And if I put up a divider, when should I do it??

The pen is now occupied by OEGB's, not the chicks in the picture, but this was the best perspective pic I had.
My broody OEGB is in the nest box on the left.


Overall perspective:


Broody Harriet

 

[microchick]

WVduckchick, I would definitely separate your broody from the rest of the flock, including giving her her own nesting box so the other hens cannot donate eggs to her cause. You do not want to have to deal with a staggered hatch. Congratulations on your new broody and happy hatching!

 

[Morrigan]

I'm sad and at my wit's end. Any help would be appreciated. This morning is day 20.5. I went out to check my broody and she was only sitting on 1 of her 5 eggs. The other 4 looks like that rolled out from her and were at the edge of her nest. I think the box I used as a nesting area may have been too big. All were quite cold to the touch, no sign of peeps or pips.

She has been a super dedicated brooder in the past, but has always had poor hatch-rates. I wasn't certain it was her, bad weather or the quality of the eggs. She is an attentive and excellent mother once they hatch, so I keep trying.

I'm not sure where to go from here. Is there any hope for those eggs? I candled them at day 12 and all were developing at that point. When she returned to the nest after her bathroom break she settled herself on all the eggs again.

My initial thought was to wait until the end of the day tomorrow (day 21), just in case and then if there is nothing, I was going to get a couple of chicks from the tractor store to see if she will foster them and break the brood.

I will add that in the past she as sat to the bitter end on eggs that proved to be total duds or even rotting. So, she's not one of the selective hens that gets rid of the bad eggs.

I always get so optimistic when I put the eggs under her and every time I end up disappointed. I wish broody hens weren't so hard to come by.

 

[WVduckchick]

WVduckchick, I would definitely separate your broody from the rest of the flock, including giving her her own nesting box so the other hens cannot donate eggs to her cause. You do not want to have to deal with a staggered hatch. Congratulations on your new broody and happy hatching!

Thanks! Ok, I will go ahead and get that ready this evening.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm sad and at my wit's end. Any help would be appreciated. This morning is day 20.5. I went out to check my broody and she was only sitting on 1 of her 5 eggs. The other 4 looks like that rolled out from her and were at the edge of her nest. I think the box I used as a nesting area may have been too big. All were quite cold to the touch, no sign of peeps or pips.

When she returned to the nest after her bathroom break she settled herself on all the eggs again.

I wish broody hens weren't so hard to come by.

Mercy, I know that bothers you, but there is hope for them if you put them back under her. I always do a bowl bottom shaped nest and never have eggs roll out.

I am shocked that you said she took a bathroom break on day 20---did you remove her from the nest or she got off on her own?? Out of 150+ hens set in the last 3 years None of the 150 took a bathroom break during the last 2 to 3 days---I see people post on here that theirs does---I just never have it to happen---might be the difference in how we do the broodies because I have set Many different breeds.

As far as broodies, I never seen broody hens be hard to come by if you select a good breed----I just get some of the old English game---They are broody/setting/hatching/machines. I got 3 hatched now with another one I am going to put eggs under tonight with another one I feel is going broody.

 

[Morrigan]

Mercy, I know that bothers you, but there is hope for them if you put them back under her. I always do a bowl bottom shaped nest and never have eggs roll out.

I am shocked that you said she took a bathroom break on day 20---did you remove her from the nest or she got off on her own?? Out of 150+ hens set in the last 3 years None of the 150 took a bathroom break during the last 2 to 3 days---I see people post on here that theirs does---I just never have it to happen---might be the difference in how we do the broodies because I have set Many different breeds.

As far as broodies, I never seen broody hens be hard to come by if you select a good breed----I just get some of the old English game---They are broody/setting/hatching/machines. I got 3 hatched now with another one I am going to put eggs under tonight with another one I feel is going broody.

She's been clamped onto the nest without a break since day 18. When I saw all the cold, forlorn eggs, I figured I might as well set her on the ground for minute to give her a chance. She wasn't keen on leaving the nest, but did her business scratched for a minute or two and then went back on the nest.

I thought I was buying a really broody bread in Buff Orpingtons, but out of 8, only 2 proved broody. One died last winter so now I'm down to 1. My mistake was buying thru a hatchery.

 

[nchls school]

I am not sure about all my hens, but I have seen some of my broody hens on break right up until the eggs externally pip; a couple have been off the nest even after the eggs have pipped. I have never taken a broody off the nest in order for her to eat, etc. My hens are serama bantams and the hatch rate has been high.