Broody Hen Thread!

[lu bantam chickens]

first time trying with hatching eggs - now about 45 ish days tried candling no sign of movement way too long for chicken eggs to hatch
been broody since the end of July

 

[Perris]

that's not normal for sure, and those eggs might explode if you leave them much longer. I would chuck them immediately. If she does not give up when you remove the eggs, you'll have to break her. There are several threads about that if you don't know how to do it - just use the search function.

 

[aart]

first time trying with hatching eggs - now about 45 ish days tried candling no sign of movement way too long for chicken eggs to hatch
been broody since the end of July

Have you ever hatched before, so are familiar with candling?
Candling should be done by around 7-14 days to see if the eggs are developing of not.

that's not normal for sure, and those eggs might explode if you leave them much longer. I would chuck them immediately. If she does not give up when you remove the eggs, you'll have to break her. There are several threads about that if you don't know how to do it - just use the search function.

Ditto Dat!!!

This is how I break a broody.....it may take much longer if she's been broody for months.

My experience goes about like this: After her setting for 3 days and nights in the nest (or as soon as I know they are broody), I put her in a wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller wire on the bottom but no bedding, set up on a couple of 4x4's right in the coop or run with feed and water.

I used to let them out a couple times a day, but now just once a day in the evening(you don't have to) and she would go out into the run, drop a huge turd, race around running, take a vigorous dust bath then head back to the nest... at which point I put her back in the crate. Each time her outings would lengthen a bit, eating, drinking and scratching more and on the 3rd afternoon she stayed out of the nest and went to roost that evening...event over, back to normal tho she didn't lay for another week or two. Or take her out of crate daily very near roosting time(30-60 mins) if she goes to roost great, if she goes to nest put her back in crate.

Tho not necessary a chunk of 2x4 for a 'roost' was added to crate floor after pic was taken.

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Been watching youtube for candling eggs both have got to the chick stage in the egg but I guess stopped before hatching time

Thank you, they both have a good run around in day for a bit

 

[lu bantam chickens]

Well to say - yesterday when the girls got up and about I took the eggs out looked at there sawdust bed tray (rabbit corner tray) - mixed the sawdust with hand and noticed grey dust and mites so took out cleaned - cleaned out coop put news paper down floor tray small bit of auibchick bedding down food and water back and grit no bed tray, also water/ food and oyster shells in run as well as a good layer of aubichick bedding, last night they sleeped on news paper in the coop where the tray was they looked so cute

So today opened up the coop morning and we were up allotment for a good few hours and they were out running around back playing a bit with the other 2 girls - one slight pecks at them a bit, but that is the most we have seen them out and about for a long time
I build them another new perch and tonight they went on it to sleep so maybe they will snap out of being broody quickly

So could mites made the feathers come out/ lose them?

 

[Bec82]

Hi my broody has been sitting on eggs for 21 days and we looked under her today and one is starting to hatch! I'm assuming we just leave her to it? is it normal that she's still sitting on the eggs? how will they get out? sorry if these are really dumb questions! first timer

 

[JacinLarkwell]

Leave her. They hatch after consuming the yolk, so the mama can stay for a few more days. Don't lift her up.

 

[Perris]

Well to say - yesterday when the girls got up and about I took the eggs out looked at there sawdust bed tray (rabbit corner tray) - mixed the sawdust with hand and noticed grey dust and mites so took out cleaned - cleaned out coop put news paper down floor tray small bit of auibchick bedding down food and water back and grit no bed tray, also water/ food and oyster shells in run as well as a good layer of aubichick bedding, last night they sleeped on news paper in the coop where the tray was they looked so cute

So today opened up the coop morning and we were up allotment for a good few hours and they were out running around back playing a bit with the other 2 girls - one slight pecks at them a bit, but that is the most we have seen them out and about for a long time
I build them another new perch and tonight they went on it to sleep so maybe they will snap out of being broody quickly

So could mites made the feathers come out/ lose them?

there is a depluming mite, but at this time of year it's more likely that they are just moulting, so nothing to worry about. Just keep an eye on it. If they have access to a good dust bath they will be able to keep themselves relatively free of mites.

 

[Perris]

Hi my broody has been sitting on eggs for 21 days and we looked under her today and one is starting to hatch! I'm assuming we just leave her to it? is it normal that she's still sitting on the eggs? how will they get out? sorry if these are really dumb questions! first timer

Yes let her manage it - she will keep the temp and humidity just right for the hatching chicks, and may even assist if she thinks one needs help under there. Hen and chicks will be fine left alone for at least 24 hours; she'll probably bring them out of the nest day 2. Make sure there is chick food and water nearby for HER (the chicks' absorbed yolks will keep them going for 3 days) and that the water bowl has marbles or suchlike in it so the chicks can't drown in it. Enjoy! Having a broody and chicks is the best part of chicken keeping imo
Edited to add that it should be chickfood, as she will teach the chicks to eat whatever she eats, and chickcrumb is fine for everyone else too whereas adult food may be difficult for the chicks to eat.

 

[fisherlady]

So anyone who ever watched a broody will appreciate this