Broody Hen Thread!

[Wrightsx4]

It does have a lip on it to help stop the hay from FALLING out with regular in and outs, but she full on scratches it all out until she hits the hard plastic floor. Weird chicken lol

that is weird! Do you have an old rug or piece of carpet you could put under the hay?

 

[kukupecpec]

that is weird! Do you have an old rug or piece of carpet you could put under the hay?

I bet we do somewhere. What about a towel? I know I have a million of those that I use outside and could wash up and give to her.

 

[Wrightsx4]

I'd try anything soft and with enough weight/stiffness to not easily be tossed. It'll help cushion them a little.

 

[kukupecpec]

I'd try anything soft and with enough weight/stiffness to not easily be tossed. It'll help cushion them a little.

Alright I'm sure I can find something! Thanks for the help!! I'm sure it will make momma and eggs much happier.

 

[Jharper]

Omg, I have a ton of questions for you all! My broody hen actually hatched put chicks! I'm shocked! Seeing as I've only had chickens for a year I now nothing about this.

We went out today to feed and water. We noticed that one chick was trying to emerge. We had to leave. When we came back it hadn't made any progress. We picked up the hen(mich to her dismay) and 3 little chicks started peeping! Another one is also trying to emerge.

First. Should I help those two that are trying to emerge? Should I break away part of the shell for them? Them have made no more progress in 3 hours.

Second. Do we section off a corner of the coop for the hen and her chicks? I don't want the other hens to brutally kill them. I have 14 week old chickens that I tried to integrate a few weeks ago and they pecked one to death. So I'm worried about the this time.

Third. Should we get chick crumble foe them and get another water fount? Currently the water is outside of the coop.

Hope someone answers soon! This is exciting and scary at the same time, lol

I wouldn't b/c the chicks are still absorbing their yolks and veins.

 

[Keggen]

In comparison to hatching eggs and "raising" them myself to my broody hen, hands down my broody hen is a million times better! I'm so impressed by her, truly. Her babies were hatched about May 4th and already they're roosting with her!

 

[Wrightsx4]

I wouldn't b/c the chicks are still absorbing their yolks and veins.

yes I 100% agree. Sorry - I missed dodgewoman's most important question. They rest and finish absorbing the yolk sac sometimes for 12 hours or more. I hatched some marans that pipped then waited a full day.

 

[CAjerseychick]

UGGHHH why don't you you just give her whole new eggs that are the same age and close her up in the newer nest box over night with the eggs. She should stay in that box with the eggs. So that the hens don't keep leaving her more eggs.

Help I tried that and when I came out to check on her in her dog crate I opened the door and she ran out and drank tons of water and ran off into the bushes! Now I am afraid to move my other broody hen that is sitting on 6 eggs up in one of the nest boxes (3 ft off the ground, with no lip on the box edge-- its that Purina coop design you can get for free online)...

ALso I am afraid if I move the hen with the new chicks day of hatch(to a safer on ground location), will she then reject them?

 

[Jharper]

Help I tried that and when I came out to check on her in her dog crate I opened the door and she ran out and drank tons of water and ran off into the bushes! Now I am afraid to move my other broody hen that is sitting on 6 eggs up in one of the nest boxes (3 ft off the ground, with no lip on the box edge-- its that Purina coop design you can get for free online)...

ALso I am afraid if I move the hen with the new chicks day of hatch(to a safer on ground location), will she then reject them?

Sorry but I don't know why I typed Uggh on that. I think it was spell check on my phone. Sorry if it sounded mean.

 

[CAjerseychick]

Sorry but I don't know why I typed Uggh on that. I think it was spell check on my phone. Sorry if it sounded mean.

oh no worries I am just sad my "not so broody" hen ran off, and now the other one is off the nest too-- how long can they be off the eggs and eggs survive (its about 100 degrees outside today, maybe 80 inside the nest box)...