Broody Hen Thread!

[lydiagirl99]

You need to hang on to that first picture and submit it when they start asking for pictures for the 2017 BYC calendar.

Congratulations on the new babies!

Thank You !

 

[mossyroo]

Teaching them that their spot is on the top roost.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Teaching them that their spot is on the top roost.

 

[Gge23]

Hello again everyone!
May I say all your new arrivals look absolutely gorgeous, beautiful little fluffy things ^_^
Out of interest, at what age do you let momma take her chicks out for a stroll with the rest of the flock? Mine are three weeks now but they're still a bit scrawny, I'm putting it down to them not having much to forage for and want to let them out on the grass, and momma seems to be getting a bit anxious to roam around again now. I just don't want the others bullying them that's all.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

I let mine raise them in with the flock from day one. Hopefully someone else can chime in that has some reintegration experience. Good luck.

 

[Gge23]

I let mine raise them in with the flock from day one. Hopefully someone else can chime in that has some reintegration experience. Good luck.

Yeh I probably should've done that to be fair...wouldn't have this problem now if I had done that!

 

[mossyroo]

This is my first try but my 2 broodies have been with the flock all along One of them has been taking her chicks out in the pasture since about week 2, the other seems more hesitant although I did have to round up 2 of hers last night. Don't know if she had them all out or not. They are all 4 weeks now. Now these 4 in the roost pics are the first ones out the pop door even ahead of mom.

 

[Gge23]

This is my first try but my 2 broodies have been with the flock all along One of them has been taking her chicks out in the pasture since about week 2, the other seems more hesitant although I did have to round up 2 of hers last night. Don't know if she had them all out or not. They are all 4 weeks now. Now these 4 in the roost pics are the first ones out the pop door even ahead of mom.

With her being my first broody I thought I better separate her whilst I learnt what I was doing, otherwise she would've been left with them.
I've let her out this afternoon and she seems to be ok with them, parading them around and showing them what's what. One of my other chickens had a peck at one of them, but nothing too sinister. Other than that there's been no trouble. She seems to want to stay around her coop so that's fine, I'll let her go at her own pace

 

[ShanandGem]

Hello again everyone!
May I say all your new arrivals look absolutely gorgeous, beautiful little fluffy things ^_^
Out of interest, at what age do you let momma take her chicks out for a stroll with the rest of the flock? Mine are three weeks now but they're still a bit scrawny, I'm putting it down to them not having much to forage for and want to let them out on the grass, and momma seems to be getting a bit anxious to roam around again now. I just don't want the others bullying them that's all.

I can't speak to putting her in with other adult birds but I have been letting my Mama hen out for some limited free ranging with her almost three week old chicks. She's a very good broody but I was struck by the fact that she seems to feel returning to the coop with one is acceptable when she started out with two. I have to catch her little one and put him back in or he would get left behind.

 

[Gge23]

I can't speak to putting her in with other adult birds but I have been letting my Mama hen out for some limited free ranging with her almost three week old chicks.  She's a very good broody but I was struck by the fact that she seems to feel returning to the coop with one is acceptable when she started out with two.  I have to catch her little one and put him back in or he would get left behind.

Hi!
Yes I have noticed she seems to like abandoning them...I brought out their afternoon treat, and because it is the first time she has been out of the broody area for the last 6 weeks she got very excited and came bounding over, completely forgot about her chicks and began indulging herself...which yes I don't blame her, but they looked ever so confused bless them! She tried to teach them to eat corn but the piece was nearly the size of its head so there was no way it was ever going to eat. She was very persistent though!