Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

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.

Naw, I would have not taken her off, but its ok. Buff Orpingtons usually do set some, but Nothing like a Old English game or a silkie----silkie being so small---I Love The Game Hens. They alone have hatched probably close 1000 chicks in the last 3 years for me.

 

[PD-Riverman]

My hens are serama bantams and the hatch rate has been high.

I do not have any experience with those because I never had any of them----well never wanted any. I never been "into: bantams even though I have 1 extremely friendly bantam rooster----he is my buddy. Bantams do not sell good in my area so I go with what moves.

 

[crealbilly]

You going to set her or break her?

Well honestly I'll just keep getting my arm pecked to death as I'm pulling eggs out from underneath her.

 

[crealbilly]

Hello, just for info, just hatched chicks will go right through that chicken wire----you might want to do something before then. Good Luck!

Thanks for that - I have a little bit of hardware cloth, I think it's like 1/4 inch sqaure that I can staple round the bottom before the chicks hatch.

I'm a little concerned though... I'm not sure she has left the nest to eat and drink yet - this morning she was sleeping I thought she might have died on the nest. But I'll check on her again later this evening and see if she has eaten or drank any of her private food and water.

 

[James Beller]

3/5 POLISH HENS HAVE GONE BROODY. THEY ARE THE BEST BROODIES I HAVE HAD. THE INSTINCT IS SO STRONG IN THEM. I AM SO EXCITED 2/3 HAVE ALREADY GONE ABOUT WITH CHICKS AND THE OTHER ONE JUST STARTED SUNDAY.

 

[Meadowbee75]

Hello! I'm looking for a fact-check here.

Someone on a FB group I'm in just made a statement that does not seem to mesh with anything I've heard about broody hens.

She said "hens become broody due to discomfort in their breast area. the pressure of the eggs helps relieve it."

I've been googling all morning trying to find anything "official" that says she's right. Nothing.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thanks for that - I have a little bit of hardware cloth, I think it's like 1/4 inch sqaure that I can staple round the bottom before the chicks hatch.

I'm a little concerned though... I'm not sure she has left the nest to eat and drink yet - this morning she was sleeping I thought she might have died on the nest. But I'll check on her again later this evening and see if she has eaten or drank any of her private food and water.

I do not now what day you are on but My Broodies DO NOT leave the nest the last 2 or 3 days for Nothing. Do not remove her if she is due to hatch.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Well honestly I'll just keep getting my arm pecked to death as I'm pulling eggs out from underneath her.

So does that mean you are Not going to set her Or Break Her??

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Meadowbee,
Umm no chickens go broody because by instinct they are driven to raise chicks to keep chickens from going extinct. Which breeds go broody depends on the instict drive of the chicken and if the natual instinct to go broody and raise chicks has been breed out of the chicken or not.

 

[PD-Riverman]

She said "hens become broody due to discomfort in their breast area. the pressure of the eggs helps relieve it."

My Father past when I was 21, he taught me as a child/young man that I should never believe anything I hear and only 1/2 of what I see. Might be a reason he taught me that---LOL.