Broody Hen Thread!

[Honora]

It is a mystery as to why I have not had a broody before now. This batch of hens come from a long line of broodies. Actually, I did have a few false starts last year, and it seemed this year. The siblings of these girls are on their second and third clutches. Two went broody twice last year.
Regardless, I finally have a broody. She waited until I was done with babies for the year. Because she thought that was a good idea!

Apparently, she thought I was wrong about having enough babies.

Mine just did the same thing. That hen really wants babies. She tried to steal the chicks from the other hen & now she is broody. She was sitting on one egg; I took it away & now she is sitting on nothing! I keep throwing her off the nest but she goes right back to sit on nothing. Too bad, I am not hatching any more chicks till Fall! You are out of luck, hen!

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I have my first broody hen on day 20 of her egg sitting. She has 5 eggs under her. She has been a good sitter. Funny how that works... production red who isn't supposed to sit. My question is, since my broodie is sitting in a laying box and it is up about 3.5 feet, should I move it to the ground when and if the chicks hatch??? Should I segregate mom and chicks?? Any advice, LOL???

Oh, and the cross is Barred Rock/Red Production.

Congrats!

What I do with mine who stay in the general population, is just watch them closely. Usually at day 18 I close off access from the rest of the flock so mom is undisturbed during hatching. Then once I know the hatching is over, I usually put food and water where the chicks can get some but the other birds (except mom) can't get to it, just a day so that the little ones can get their legs and such working. Once they are using mom for a jungle gym, I remove the barrier and make sure that I have cushioning under the nest in case they fall out or I will help the babies to the ground if mom is ready to coax them down, esp. if it is a big drop. However, it is amazing the fall a fluff ball will endure and get up and run away.

Then I closely observe how the flock mates treat the chicks and how mom "guards" the chicks. Some moms and flocks do well with each other, sometimes they don't. The usual peck to put someone in order is fine, as long as it isn't overly aggressive and/or draws blood. I am more likely to lock up an offending hen rather than mom and chicks, as long as it is only one or two who aren't playing nice.

Just my version of how I do things. Everyone works it a little different. Good luck and hope all goes well.

 

[BullChick]

Get rid of all your roosters. Just a few months after I got rid of mine I had my 1st 2 broodies at the same time.

LOL! I am set to process all but the main rooster and one other next week.

 

[rssnbabybear]

This looks like an awesome place to post this question: I have a hen that decided to go broody this week. I was hoping to order chicks and have her sertogate. How long does she have to be broody to accept chicks? I was thinking of getting chicks July 6th/8th which means she will only be broody 2 weeks.

 

[BullChick]

This looks like an awesome place to post this question: I have a hen that decided to go broody this week. I was hoping to order chicks and have her sertogate. How long does she have to be broody to accept chicks? I was thinking of getting chicks July 6th/8th which means she will only be broody 2 weeks.

I believe that two weeks is the minimum that is recommended. So, it sounds right.

 

[sharol]

Quote:
It will depend on the hen. My little Araucana hen had been on eggs that weren't developing for 2 weeks when I gave her some incubator chicks, and she welcomed them. I just tucked them under her about 5 a.m. before the sun came up. I traded chicks for eggs, and it worked fine. She had hatched chicks in February, though, so she knew about chicks.

 

[wannahomestead]

omg I must have counted wrong! My hatch day wasn't suppose to be until Sunday/monday, but I came home to 4 chicks and at least another pipping! I'm completely unprepared!

I went to go pick up momma because I only got 1 egg today, and I figured maybe the other laid in that nest box, and when I picked her up I heard an angry peep, and was totally confused for a moment

I have stuff to do now, and I don't know where to start!

 

[BullChick]

omg I must have counted wrong! My hatch day wasn't suppose to be until Sunday/monday, but I came home to 4 chicks and at least another pipping! I'm completely unprepared!

I went to go pick up momma because I only got 1 egg today, and I figured maybe the other laid in that nest box, and when I picked her up I heard an angry peep, and was totally confused for a moment

I have stuff to do now, and I don't know where to start!

Breathe! There is nothing you need to be doing! She will be on the nest for a few more days. Tonight or tomorrow, be sure you have chick feed and safe feeders and waterers for the babies. That is it.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

omg I must have counted wrong! My hatch day wasn't suppose to be until Sunday/monday, but I came home to 4 chicks and at least another pipping! I'm completely unprepared!

I went to go pick up momma because I only got 1 egg today, and I figured maybe the other laid in that nest box, and when I picked her up I heard an angry peep, and was totally confused for a moment

I have stuff to do now, and I don't know where to start!

All you need to do is make sure mama and babies are in a safe place for now. Preferably where other birds will not try to join her. Then let her do her thing. Good luck and congrats!

 

[wannahomestead]

Breathe! There is nothing you need to be doing! She will be on the nest for a few more days. Tonight or tomorrow, be sure you have chick feed and safe feeders and waterers for the babies. That is it.

Thx. I need to section off this portion of the coop for them, get chick feed and water setup.

I hope the rest hatch out soon. I THOUGHT this was day 17. So far 4 hatched, another pipping, a total of 10 eggs.