Broody Hen Thread!

[Back2Roots]

... leaving ping pong balls under her will only encourage her to sit longer, and each day she sits, she is losing condition. It isn't good for her health.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Day 18 report on hatching sadly when checking on everyone in their nest discovered a smashed chick still mostly in its egg under Limpy not sure what happened. fly free little angel chick until we meet again...


And checked on eggs in incubator and 4 appear to be in great condition so hopefully they will hatch and hopefully the rest of Limpy babies will hatch just fine.

 

[microchick]

So sorry. I know how that feels. Hopefully that's the last of the bumpy road and the last few days left will be smooth sailing.

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

Microchick thank you I hope so.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you for asking currently we don't have a rooster.. and no real plans for a hatching.. so I guess I just want to know that she won't just sit there and dehydrate or starve..

she's been there about a week.. and I guess she only sneaks out when my back is turned. My main concern was making sure she will be ok. there are no eggs under her.. so will she eventually give up? Should I take the ping pong balls out ? I can bring her food/water but will she take care of herself in that manner if I let her?

It only takes 3 days to break a broody hen----if done properly. Allowing her to just set---can take weeks and weeks for her to finally give up. Its Not healthy for her. Put her in a properly set-up broody breaker cage and in 3 days she will go about her life like normal---usually back laying in a short time. She might go broody again in 2 or 3 months, but if so as soon as she shows sign---or any hen---its easier on them if you will break them as soon as you see it happening---not wait a week or two. If you need help on setting up a broody breaker pen properly----just ask.

 

[twinsmom6]

It only takes 3 days to break a broody hen----if done properly. Allowing her to just set---can take weeks and weeks for her to finally give up. Its Not healthy for her. Put her in a properly set-up broody breaker cage and in 3 days she will go about her life like normal---usually back laying in a short time. She might go broody again in 2 or 3 months, but if so as soon as she shows sign---or any hen---its easier on them if you will break them as soon as you see it happening---not wait a week or two. If you need help on setting up a broody breaker pen properly----just ask.

yes. I would like to know how to set up a broody breaker cage. I took the ping pong balls out and moved her over a bit.. but did not pull her out of the nesting box. I checked in early this morning (before light) and she was back in the same spot sitting on nothing.
I really appreciate the help

 

[Puranin]

Anyone have any advice on how to get a hen to hatch eggs? I dont have any broody girls and would really like to see if I could get some chicks this spring. Would love to have some Brahma babies. So I need to know how to make a hen brood. Also how long does it take for eggs to hatch?

 

[Dani4Hedgies]

You can put a pile of ping pong balls in the nest box and this will sometimes send a hen who is hormonely inclined to go broody but its no guarantee.

 

[redsix]

yes. I would like to know how to set up a broody breaker cage. I took the ping pong balls out and moved her over a bit.. but did not pull her out of the nesting box. I checked in early this morning (before light) and she was back in the same spot sitting on nothing.
I really appreciate the help

Any kind of cage should work. Don't put anything in it with her. Put the food and water on the outside and modify the cage so she can reach her head out and get it.

 

[microchick]

I've had just as good of luck by using a standard wire pet cage. No bedding, just food and water in the cage along with a roost pole and set it so that air can flow under it at all times. Set it up on blocks or bricks. I set her so she is in with her flock, they can see her and her them. The important thing is that you have to have air flowing under her at all times. No drafts, just air, so you can set her in your coop or hang the cage. It takes about 3 days to break the behavior. If you take her out of the pen and put her with the flock and she immediately start clucking softly and fluffing herself up, back in the cage for another day or two and try again.

As posted, be prepared for her to go broody again in a month or so. Those hormones cannot be denied once they start working so you will be faced with breaking her again, getting her some eggs to set (they will be happy with 2-3) or if you do not want a broody, trade her for one who isn't. Many people would kill for a broody hen.

As for 'making' a hen go broody, it's a matter of debate if that works or not. BUT I have been able to get my Buff Orpington hens to go broody by putting a pile of fake eggs in a nest and just leaving them there. It switches them on like a light. I've seen it work twice for my hens. Generally,@Puranin, it's 21 days to hatch chicken eggs. Bantams can hatch in 19 to 20 days. Sometimes a stray chick will hatch at 22 or 23 days but that is risky as the hen generally leaves the nest when the first chick hatched is 36-48 hours old and will abandon any unhatched eggs in favor of the babies that need her care. It's very important to set all of your eggs at once. I have added an egg or two at 24 hours but even that is taking a chance of a staggered hatch.

Please feel free to ask questions. We all love to help.

And welcome to BYC!