Broody Hen Thread!

[DianeD]

What's "Broody"?

 

[bobbi-j]

When a hen wants to sit on eggs and hatch them.

 

[kukupecpec]

So sorry to hear that. How many days was she setting before she gave up? I'm so nervous about my EE Zelda, keeping fingers crossed she will go the distance ( is at Day 7 on fertile eggs but actually Day 12 if you count the five days on golf balls while I searched for the eggs). I didn't think EE's were inclined to go broody so I was surprised but she seems stuck tight to the nest. I'll be so sad if she doesn't make it, I'm already making plans for the chicks in my head.

One thing I've learned about chickens, they will always surprise you! And one of the great things about EEs, and the most frustrating, is that you really don't know what their genetic makeup is. They are mutts, crosses with all sorts of breeds, and any one of those could have been a breed known for going broody.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I LOVE my EE!

Yeah I love her mutt-ness, but I was bummed she gave up. I think I freaked her out by moving her, and she hasn't tried again.
Well NOW ymy BLRW has gone broody. Only a couple days, but MAN is she mean! She has never been an aggressive hen until I went to collect eggs the other day. I bent down to fix the hay in one of the nest boxes and she attacked my head! Little snot. So I'll let her set where she is, won't worry about moving her. But I'm worried, she went broody in a high nest box! I don't want the babies to fall out of the nest.

 

[el pollo rey]

Well my forth and fifth broody had there hatches this week end that leaves one on the nest and hopefully no more will catch the the broody bug and get back to buisness the total hatch from the first five stands at 32 new peeps in the barn yard not sure on cockerel to hen ratio we will wait and see I'm sure there are a few egg makers in the mix and the young guys will find a good home or be a good meal what ever comes first good luck to all with the broody hatches

 

[JNB]

I need some Guidance/ Advice.... I have a Broody Hen that has been this way for about a month. after a couple weeks of her taking all the other hens eggs as her own I decided to give her some fertile eggs to keep.. Its been 12 days of setting. I checked the eggs last night( I candled them using a LED flash lite) They look to be very empty. No veining or dark spots at all. I got the eggs from a neighbor so I wasnt sure of quality I did this mostly as a learning expierance to see how it would work out because Id love to be able to hatch my own chicks this way.
So my questions are.

1. Am I correct to assume that at 12 days with no dark areas or veining that the eggs have not developed and are not any good? Should I remove them from the hen or wait a little while longer?

2. Considering she has been broody for around a month give or take a few days... Would it be a bad idea to replace the eggs she now has with some new eggs from a different source? I have had eggs offered to me from a few other local BYC friends?

Im just not sure how to proceed???? So any help would be awesome. Thanks

 

[bobbi-j]

I would get her some chicks at the feed store, wait until after dark, take the eggs out from under her and replace them with the babies. I did this a couple of years ago with a hen that sat on apparently unfertile eggs for 25 days. She took to the babies right off. She had no idea she didn't hatch them herself. I wouldn't get her any more eggs.

 

[kamuelamom]

Update: My broody girl has fostered my three store bought chicks for 5 weeks now. A few days ago she began laying again, and has consistently laid for the last 4 days. Does this mean shes ready to return to the flock? I have a pullet pen waiting to house the 3 young chicks, who have grown so big , they are nearly catching up to her petite bantam size. I have placed all four of them in there for now, and can accommodate her with them as long as I should, but should I since she's laying again? Is her broodiness officially broken?

Would appreciate some advice. Thanks

 

[zippy722]

My broody has been sitting on eggs (not hers) for a week now. I'm a first time mama myself (as in a nervous nellie), as is my austrolorp. I haven't seen her get off the nest in over 3 days. I haven't had a camera on her 24/7 so it is possible she's gotten off, eating and drinking and pooing, and back on and I don't know it. I'm wanting to know if a brooding hen will die from dehydration (and starvation) by not getting off the nest enough, or will she protect herself above all else and get off the nest when she needs to? Thanks for the help.

 

[Jharper]

My broody has been sitting on eggs (not hers) for a week now.  I'm a first time mama myself (as in a nervous nellie), as is my austrolorp.  I haven't seen her get off the nest in over 3 days.  I haven't had a camera on her 24/7 so it is possible she's gotten off, eating and drinking and pooing, and back on and I don't know it.   I'm wanting to know if a brooding hen will die from dehydration (and starvation) by not getting off the nest enough, or will she protect herself above all else and get off the nest when she needs to?   Thanks for the help.  

Fix her a chick waterer and feeder next to the nest so she can get to water and food. If you aren't sure she isn't getting off.

 

[fisherlady]

I need some Guidance/ Advice.... I have a Broody Hen that has been this way for about a month. after a couple weeks of her taking all the other hens eggs as her own I decided to give her some fertile eggs to keep.. Its been 12 days of setting. I checked the eggs last night( I candled them using a LED flash lite) They look to be very empty. No veining or dark spots at all. I got the eggs from a neighbor so I wasnt sure of quality I did this mostly as a learning expierance to see how it would work out because Id love to be able to hatch my own chicks this way.
So my questions are.

1. Am I correct to assume that at 12 days with no dark areas or veining that the eggs have not developed and are not any good? Should I remove them from the hen or wait a little while longer?

2. Considering she has been broody for around a month give or take a few days... Would it be a bad idea to replace the eggs she now has with some new eggs from a different source? I have had eggs offered to me from a few other local BYC friends?

Im just not sure how to proceed???? So any help would be awesome. Thanks

As Bobbi-j said, getting her chicks would be a great option, but if you can't do that you could give her another batch of eggs but only after you make sure her body condition is good... check her for weight and general appearance, make sure she is healthy enough to sit another 3 wks. If you are getting her more eggs I would suggest it be done quickly and be prepared to offer her supplemental feed and tempting treats to keep her condition up. If she is already thin, then your only good choices are giving her the day olds or breaking her broody... the hen's condition is the biggest factor.

My broody has been sitting on eggs (not hers) for a week now. I'm a first time mama myself (as in a nervous nellie), as is my austrolorp. I haven't seen her get off the nest in over 3 days. I haven't had a camera on her 24/7 so it is possible she's gotten off, eating and drinking and pooing, and back on and I don't know it. I'm wanting to know if a brooding hen will die from dehydration (and starvation) by not getting off the nest enough, or will she protect herself above all else and get off the nest when she needs to? Thanks for the help.

They can be pretty sneaky about getting out, I would check her nest to see if there is any poo in it... if she did mess in the nest then she may not have gotten up, but more likely she's just managed to do it without being seen. If you are worried about her condition then offer her a small bowl with tempting, high protein treats or change her food over the chick starter for the highter protein. With our 3 hens which are currently in different stages of their broodiness we got them off the nest every other day or so when we were out at the coop, just to make sure they were out and stretching. I honestly don't know if they would set till they die... though I imagine it would be a concern during weather extremes or if the hen's condition isn't great to begin with.