Broody Hen Thread!

[microchick]

Yeah, it's pretty amazing that a sweet little broody Buff Orpington hen can run you out of the coop just by dumping a really impressive load of highly scented poo. My current broody won't get out of the nest box for any length of time unless I bodily remove her and put her in a separate pen until she relieves herself. If you think once a day is bad. Try every other day for a real olfactory treat.

 

[amythebooklady]

So this happened today! I do have a question. She was sitting on 12 eggs. 5 hatched. 2 were dead and she is now off the other eggs and in a different part of her coop with 3 under her. All look good and she is very protective of them.

Since she is off the nest is she done? I don't have an incubator but I do have another hen who appears to be broody although I haven't done anything about it because I haven't been completely convinced she is serious. Should I give her the eggs and see what happens? How long can the eggs go without mom sitting on them? Today is cool and rainy..about 50 degrees.

 

[yochickiemomma]

So I'm kinda ticked off at one of my broody hens. She's been setting for about 10 days.... doing really good. She got off the nest this morning to go out and I left for work. I just got home and found her in a different nest setting on different eggs. Not sure if she's been there all day but her normal clutch is cool to the touch and the eggs she was setting on were hot. Do i toss the cold eggs and give her fresh? Is there a chance the original clutch could still have some viable embryos? Should i jist break her from being broody? My day has been rough and this is just the icing on the cake. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

[PD-Riverman]

So I'm kinda ticked off at one of my broody hens. She's been setting for about 10 days.... doing really good. She got off the nest this morning to go out and I left for work. I just got home and found her in a different nest setting on different eggs. Not sure if she's been there all day but her normal clutch is cool to the touch and the eggs she was setting on were hot. Do i toss the cold eggs and give her fresh? Is there a chance the original clutch could still have some viable embryos? Should i jist break her from being broody? My day has been rough and this is just the icing on the cake. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

I would put her back in the right nest----good chance the eggs are ok. You can candle in a couple days(I do it at night) to see if they are still alive.

I share the way I do it just for info and does not mean it has to be done that way. I never have a broody to get back on the wrong nest, I never have to remove fresh layed eggs from her nest, I never have other hens trying to get in the nest with her. I set 72 broody hens in just 2015 and all hatched with no problems. The reason I do not have these problems is because I move ALL my broodies to a private "hatching pen". Moving them does need to be done properly so the chances of her not accepting the move is slim. Out of those 72 I mentioned---None rejected the move. Keep in mind that I did not move 72 different hens because some of my hens set 3 times that year and one set 4 times. Good Luck with your eggs!

 

[jnckids]

I would put her back in the right nest----good chance the eggs are ok. You can candle in a couple days(I do it at night) to see if they are still alive.

I share the way I do it just for info and does not mean it has to be done that way. I never have a broody to get back on the wrong nest, I never have to remove fresh layed eggs from her nest, I never have other hens trying to get in the nest with her. I set 72 broody hens in just 2015 and all hatched with no problems. The reason I do not have these problems is because I move ALL my broodies to a private "hatching pen". Moving them does need to be done properly so the chances of her not accepting the move is slim. Out of those 72 I mentioned---None rejected the move. Keep in mind that I did not move 72 different hens because some of my hens set 3 times that year and one set 4 times. Good Luck with your eggs!

You posted hope you move them somewhere didn't you? Was it this thread?

 

[PD-Riverman]

You posted hope you move them somewhere didn't you? Was it this thread?

Fill me in on what you are talking about?

 

[jnckids]

Fill me in on what you are talking about?

Sorry typo. It should have read "you posted somewhere earlier on how you move your broodies earlier" LOL.

I thought I had read a post from you about how you move your birds.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Sorry typo. It should have read "you posted somewhere earlier on how you move your broodies earlier" LOL.

I thought I had read a post from you about how you move your birds.

OK, I did. Some take me wrong but I want to help anyone that needs it---which is my purpose for being here----just want to help---share my experience-----help is something I did not have when I started but with this computer deal----anyone can get good help if they try.

 

[yochickiemomma]

I would put her back in the right nest----good chance the eggs are ok. You can candle in a couple days(I do it at night) to see if they are still alive.

I share the way I do it just for info and does not mean it has to be done that way. I never have a broody to get back on the wrong nest, I never have to remove fresh layed eggs from her nest, I never have other hens trying to get in the nest with her. I set 72 broody hens in just 2015 and all hatched with no problems. The reason I do not have these problems is because I move ALL my broodies to a private "hatching pen". Moving them does need to be done properly so the chances of her not accepting the move is slim. Out of those 72 I mentioned---None rejected the move. Keep in mind that I did not move 72 different hens because some of my hens set 3 times that year and one set 4 times. Good Luck with your eggs!

Thank you PD! This is my first time ever with broody hens. I'll go back through your posts and read your methods for moving a broody hen. I have a spare 2.5'X 4' coop I can isolate her in I was just trying not to stress her out. Thank you for easing my mind a little. I'll candle them when I move her this weekend.
I don't seem to have any issues with my broody Cochin she's an avid setter and very protective but not aggressive towards me so I'm going to leave her where she's at for now. There's only one other hen and a rooster with her in their coop (4'X8' w a 8X16 run).

 

[jnckids]

OK, I did. Some take me wrong but I want to help anyone that needs it---which is my purpose for being here----just want to help---share my experience-----help is something I did not have when I started but with this computer deal----anyone can get good help if they try.

Absolutely. I'm often typing on my phone so I could come across incomplete or short. I guess I was looking to see if you could link your method. I have had success once and screwed up the second time.