Broody Hen Thread!

[dodgewoman]

I came home today to find my broody mama with her 3 little ones out in the run! They just hatched possibly Friday and she already got them out in the run. She was staying close though and the other hens seemed like they could have cared less. Much different then when I tried to integrated my 10 week olds with them! It was so cute to watch her plop down and talk to them so they stayed close.

 

[Jharper]

I came home today to find my broody mama with her 3 little ones out in the run! They just hatched possibly Friday and she already got them out in the run. She was staying close though and the other hens seemed like they could have cared less. Much different then when I tried to integrated my 10 week olds with them! It was so cute to watch her plop down and talk to them so they stayed close.

Mine usually get out the day or day after the last one hatched.

 

[CGinJCMO]

Quote:
I agree. My hen occassionally spent HOURS off the nest and so far 4 have hatched well (two more pipped so we'll see how they hatch).

CG

 

[CGinJCMO]

Not sure if this has been asked before, but those of you with broodies raising clutches in a coop, how long before mama hen decides to take her babies outside? Our first clutch is two weeks old now and I feel bad that the broody gets picked on so much when the other hens come into the coop to lay. The chicks are very active and agile and I'm kind of surprised the mama hasn't ventured outside with them yet. At what time does she usually do that? (It's already in the mid-90's here, so no worry about weather.)

My broody took hers out today(Monday)...they just hatched Saturday. She would have taken them out Sunday but they weren't brave enough.

CG

 

[Jharper]

 

I agree.  My hen occassionally spent HOURS off the nest and so far 4 have hatched well (two more pipped so we'll see how they hatch). 

CG

Just make sure that they aren't trying to sit on the same nest at the same time and forget about the other one.

 

[CAjerseychick]

I agree. My hen occassionally spent HOURS off the nest and so far 4 have hatched well (two more pipped so we'll see how they hatch).

CG

O thanks you guys that is reassuring I am just keeping my fingers crossed-- it will be our first hatch....

 

[AlezaJ]

Hello everyone!!
I've got a black australorp sitting on 18 eggs due to hatch around the 20th of June. I'm getting 5 1 week old guineas at about that time. If I put them under her towards the end of her hatch will they take to eachother ??

 

[JRsMom]

I have 2 blue orp. hens that have gone broody. This is Daisy's 3rd attempt to hatch chicks.
Last time she broke 2 of the 5 eggs she was sitting on, then walked away from the rest.
This time, I gave her 2 eggs, and gave Berta the other hen 1 since this is her first attempt.
Last nite or this morning Daisy broke one of her eggs again!! I cleaned up the nest box while she was eating and put the remaining egg back in. She sat on it for a while but now she came back out and is scratching around. Berta is doing an excellent job of sitting, should I just give her the other egg? How long can Daisy stay off the nest without harming the egg? I really want some baby chicks from my girls!!

Both hens went broody roughly the same time (within 1 or 2 days)

 

[Jharper]

My Cochin bantam an her wee little ones!

My BA and her broody stare!

My RIR and her brood.

 

[CaCO3]

CaCO3, thanks for your comments. Here bare area has been that way for at least a few months. Thanks for sharing the possible causes as well. I can't take a good look at her now since she's sitting, but don't recall seeing anything abnormal. And I have seen a stray feather or two in the nest but not a load of them. I also thought about eggs being up against the skin being warmer as well. If you find the pics, I would appreciate seeing them. Thanks again,

bantam frizzle cochin broody-





orp broody-