Broody Hen Thread!

[nchls school]

I don't touch my Pheonix nests. The only interactions I have with them are feeding and watering. If they hatch, they hatch. I was just more concerned about one hen possibly attacking chicks under the other hen. The eggs are all the same age. I'm able to seperate the mean hen away if that's what needs to happen but I don't want to if I don't have to

I also raise Phoenix. As long as their eggs are hatching at the same time they will accept each other's chicks and probably team up to raise the chicks together.

 

[JacinLarkwell]

I also raise Phoenix. As long as their eggs are hatching at the same time they will accept each other's chicks and probably team up to raise the chicks together.

Awesome, that's what I'm hoping for. The light one was on the nest 2 or 3 days longer than the dark one but there are never any squabbles when one gets in and out of the nest.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hi All,

After going broody for the sixth time since March, I have finally succumbed to my Ameraucana.

I went out to my local friend/breeder who gave me 8 fertilized Swedish Flower eggs. Wizzygig, my broody hen, has been doing her motherly duty thus far (2 weeks now) and because of the nest box she has chosen, I will eventually have to move her and her clutch into a safer environment. She has chosen the middlebox on the lower row but that row is 14 inches from the bottom of the coop floor and really not large enough for her and the impending hatch. I will not be moving her and her clutch until I hear pips coming from the eggs - around Day 19ish and I make the move at night when she's in a dazed sleep.

I want to keep her and any potential chicks in with the rest of the flock so the integration won't be too difficult so I need some advice.

Should I NOT put her and her eggs into a separate pen? Some posters have said they don't and all turns out well. However, I am concerned for the safety of the chicks; I don't know how the other girls will behave (I have 10 girls total, including Wizzygig).

If it is recommended to put Wizzygig and her clutch into a separate pen, should the pen be placed inside of the coop which can get very hot now (meaning hotter inside the coop than outside and can spike inside +90 degrees and will get even hotter when we get triple-digits - we have installed a shop fan to draw out as much hot air as possible) or outside in the protected, covered run where the temps will be the same?

View attachment 2233420View attachment 2233421View attachment 2233423View attachment 2233424View attachment 2233425View attachment 2233426View attachment 2233427View attachment 2233428View attachment 2233430I keep getting conflicting information and really need to know how to handle this. There is only about 1 week before the eggs are supposed to hatch so I really need guidance.

I have posted pictures of Wizzygig in her chosen nestbox, the secured run, and the girl's coop. I also posted a picture of the pen my husband has made.

This is my first rodeo with hatching eggs naturally...all of my girls were ordered on-line and came in live.

Thank you, everyone....

Opinions conflict because situations and flocks differ.

However, I would not move her and the eggs at day 19. That is lock down and you greatly risk moving chicks out of position or if they've pipped then causing a shrink wrap situation.

I would not be inclined to move her now, actually, if the grey hen in the bottom middle nest is what you are referring to, she can hatch there. The chicks stay under the hen until she decides to abandon the nest at day 2 to lead them to food and water. If she has room to sit on the clutch, she has room to hatch them.

After hatch likely she will simply hop down and the chicks will follow. 14 inches is not too great a height to hop down...if they follow. Some might not and get stranded so you should be ready to intervene on the day after hatch. You can also place a little chicken wire ramp in front for the chicks to use.

After hatch mom and babes can be happily moved to wherever you want. Since there isn't much room, she will likely want to move after hatch. Using a small pen inside the coop is likely ideal as you do not know how this mother and flock will react. Sometimes it goes well. Other times, especially with first time moms and flocks, not so much.

Another option is to try to move the hen now, as she is not at the best location, however you are at great risk of her abandoning the clutch as many hens bond with the location more than the eggs. You are pretty much at a point of no return as hatch date is not far off and you don't want the hen rejecting the new nest with eggs now. Many hens panick in the new nest trampling their eggs. Always trial set hens with dud eggs, move to preferred nest, have them accept the new nest, then add the eggs you want to hatch in case they panick.

My experiences.
LofMc

 

[HappyClucker7]

I have a black Australorp, named Rocky, who went broody for the third year in a row this year. I decided to let her raise some chicks, so I bought 2 buff cochin bantams and 2 Easter Eggers. She adopted them, and is now a very proud mama.

 

[PenguPen]

Can a hen go broody right after laying her first egg?

 

[fisherlady]

Can a hen go broody right after laying her first egg?

Yep, I have seen many pullet broodies.... however, with that being said, you should certainly give her a health check to make sure she doesn't have parasites and her weight is good.
If you lift her out of the box and you set her on the floor and she stays pancakes and cluck before finally getting up to walk around all puffed up and cluck then you have a broody. Have fun, most of mine who have broodied so young are frequent brooder.

 

[analyticalblonde]

Opinions conflict because situations and flocks differ.

However, I would not move her and the eggs at day 19. That is lock down and you greatly risk moving chicks out of position or if they've pipped then causing a shrink wrap situation.

I would not be inclined to move her now, actually, if the grey hen in the bottom middle nest is what you are referring to, she can hatch there. The chicks stay under the hen until she decides to abandon the nest at day 2 to lead them to food and water. If she has room to sit on the clutch, she has room to hatch them.

After hatch likely she will simply hop down and the chicks will follow. 14 inches is not too great a height to hop down...if they follow. Some might not and get stranded so you should be ready to intervene on the day after hatch. You can also place a little chicken wire ramp in front for the chicks to use.

After hatch mom and babes can be happily moved to wherever you want. Since there isn't much room, she will likely want to move after hatch. Using a small pen inside the coop is likely ideal as you do not know how this mother and flock will react. Sometimes it goes well. Other times, especially with first time moms and flocks, not so much.

Another option is to try to move the hen now, as she is not at the best location, however you are at great risk of her abandoning the clutch as many hens bond with the location more than the eggs. You are pretty much at a point of no return as hatch date is not far off and you don't want the hen rejecting the new nest with eggs now. Many hens panick in the new nest trampling their eggs. Always trial set hens with dud eggs, move to preferred nest, have them accept the new nest, then add the eggs you want to hatch in case they panick.

My experiences.
LofMc

@Lady of McCamley....your input is greatly appreciated and makes sound sense! Thank you soooo much! I printed your feedback and shared it with my husband...<3

 

[analyticalblonde]

Hi All,

After going broody for the sixth time since March, I have finally succumbed to my Ameraucana.

I went out to my local friend/breeder who gave me 8 fertilized Swedish Flower eggs. Wizzygig, my broody hen, has been doing her motherly duty thus far (2 weeks now) and because of the nest box she has chosen, I will eventually have to move her and her clutch into a safer environment. She has chosen the middlebox on the lower row but that row is 14 inches from the bottom of the coop floor and really not large enough for her and the impending hatch. I will not be moving her and her clutch until I hear pips coming from the eggs - around Day 19ish and I make the move at night when she's in a dazed sleep. I would advise against moving a broody on the 19th day as it could easily end in disaster. It is much safer to move her when the chicks have hatched.

I want to keep her and any potential chicks in with the rest of the flock so the integration won't be too difficult so I need some advice.

Should I NOT put her and her eggs into a separate pen? Some posters have said they don't and all turns out well. However, I am concerned for the safety of the chicks; I don't know how the other girls will behave (I have 10 girls total, including Wizzygig).When dealing with an unknown it is better to play it safe. Put her inn a separate pen.

If it is recommended to put Wizzygig and her clutch into a separate pen, should the pen be placed inside of the coop which can get very hot now (meaning hotter inside the coop than outside and can spike inside +90 degrees and will get even hotter when we get triple-digits - we have installed a shop fan to draw out as much hot air as possible) or outside in the protected, covered run where the temps will be the same? I almost always bring new moms and their chicks into the house for the first week then back to the coop when the chicks are more agile, quick, and better able to cope with life outside. With my last two hens I did not do this and yesterday I found two chicks dead and eleven in bad shape; casualties of extreme heat and humidity. The eleven are now in the kitchen and doing much better. I have never had a problem reintroducing hens and chicks back to the coop.

I keep getting conflicting information and really need to know how to handle this. There is only about 1 week before the eggs are supposed to hatch so I really need guidance.

I have posted pictures of Wizzygig in her chosen nestbox, the secured run, and the girl's coop. I also posted a picture of the pen my husband has made.

This is my first rodeo with hatching eggs naturally...all of my girls were ordered on-line and came in live.

Thank you, everyone....You have a wonderful set up.

@nchls school Thank you so much for your feedback...I actually copied & pasted into a Word document so I could print it off and let my husband read it! Your advice has helped us and I wanted you to know....thank you!

 

[nchls school]

@nchls school Thank you so much for your feedback...I actually copied & pasted into a Word document so I could print it off and let my husband read it! Your advice has helped us and I wanted you to know....thank you!

You are most welcome.

 

[PenguPen]

Yep, I have seen many pullet broodies.... however, with that being said, you should certainly give her a health check to make sure she doesn't have parasites and her weight is good.
If you lift her out of the box and you set her on the floor and she stays pancakes and cluck before finally getting up to walk around all puffed up and cluck then you have a broody. Have fun, most of mine who have broodied so young are frequent brooder.

thank you!