Broody Hen Thread!

[1cock2hens]

broody number 4 / the salmon faverolle started yesterday.

 

[aart]

Got a serial broody. 3rd or 4th time since she hatched in March.
Been hard to break, multiple days in crate, then she just goes back at it after a week or so. Really hard to break with a 105°F heat index, moved her around to patches of shade all day with an ice bottle in the crate, too hot in the coop.

 

[1cock2hens]

I had a buff orpington go broody two weeks ago and 2 gamehens go broody today, let the fun begin

I was off on the date, is two weeks today that by buff has been broody, 1 week left!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Okay...call me crazy. I have caved to 3 persistent broodies.

I already brooded a lovely set of Barnevelder breed backs and got 3 girls and a boy....now I've set Cream Legbar-Barnevelder eggs about a week ago in the broody hutch still occupied by the first batch but young teens are quiet and the hen experienced and tucked in a quiet corner. I'll have to lock the coop in about a week to keep the pullets out...and cull the rooster.

But the main coop has 2 hens that absolutely refuse to give it up, and Barney (my Barnevelder rooster) also covered my little bantam Cochin who is an adorable dust mop and suddenly started laying fertile eggs after that visit.

What could I do....I set some banty eggs and a couple more Cream Legbar. Really, what am I thinking. I don't have enough lock out room for this...and I know I'll have to isolate those nests during lock down as I've had babes crushed in them.

So I will be doing some serious juggling here in about 2 weeks if all goes well.

But hey, I should have the most adorable Cochin-Barnvelder dust mops (momma is a mille fleur)...and hopefully some more Barnebar olive egger sex links.

I plan to replenish and get down to my Barnevelder pullets (which 2 are looking perfect) and Barnebar olive eggers, keeping one of the roos to make sure I keep the blue line.

ah yes...dreams...if I can just shuffle enough boxes at the right time.

LofMc

 

[trudyg]

I plan to set up my coop area this weekend for my broody, who is at day 15 (or so) today. What about outside? My chicken yard area has goat wire (3" X 4" holes). Should I put something around the perimeter from ground up to about 10" so the babies can't get out or will they stay with mama and not run off?

 

[featherhead007]

Chicks?... If they can get thru the fence, they will!

 

[Redhead Rae]

I plan to set up my coop area this weekend for my broody, who is at day 15 (or so) today. What about outside? My chicken yard area has goat wire (3" X 4" holes). Should I put something around the perimeter from ground up to about 10" so the babies can't get out or will they stay with mama and not run off?

I put half inch chicken wire on the inside of my chainlink fence to keep chicks in. The stuff is 1 ft high. it works really well.

 

[aart]

I plan to set up my coop area this weekend for my broody, who is at day 15 (or so) today. What about outside? My chicken yard area has goat wire (3" X 4" holes). Should I put something around the perimeter from ground up to about 10" so the babies can't get out or will they stay with mama and not run off?

Absolutely...got a funny story about that.
I used chicken wire inside 2x4 welded wire, but chick got head stuck and died, switched CW out for 1/2" HC.
Will you move broody after chicks hatch or...why not leave her with the flock?

 

[trudyg]

My plan is to leave them in the regular coop with the rest of the flock. That's where the nest is now and I can't see changing it. I have a dog crate rigged so mama can eat and poop without the others eating her special treats and can remove the crate and put up a longer wall to fence off an area inside the coop for them to stay the first week or so, then out with the rest of the flock and let mama take care of them. I use baby gates for this, just zip tie them to poop board supports that are already in place. I will probably use bird netting for the outside fence, tie it to the lower edge of the fencing, I did that with chicks I had last year and only recently took it up--since I didn't plan on chicks this year!

 

[aart]

My plan is to leave them in the regular coop with the rest of the flock.

Oh OK, this part confused me, made me think you wanted to move her

I plan to set up my coop area this weekend for my broody, who is at day 15 (or so) today.