Broody Hen Thread!

[Checkers1558]

cool i have a barred rock too her name is checkers . but she is not broody

 

[fisherlady]

having not been super successul at my first attempts at hatching, I have two chicks that are a week apart. One under the broody, one in the bator. The one from the bator is a week old now and the other two weeks. I moved the brooding box I have the younger one in next to the brooding pen because she seemed pretty lonely and I thought that would help. The broody seems very interesested in the little one and I am wondering if it is safe to add her in with the other chick. These are the only two out of 11 and my wife will kill me if the broody kills the little one. Is it safe to try this? I have been told to do it at night when the hen settles in. Any opinions on this?

Can't hurt to try, but make sure you can be there to observe and intervene if needed. We had 3 broody hens recently, 2 hatched the same weekend and were housed in the same part of the coop together with plenty of room to pick their own space inside and out. One hen (Gracie) didn't mind the chicks from the other hen (Pidgy) hanging around and they would all come running when Gracie called that she'd found a treat... but Pidgy absolutely wouldn't tolerate any of Gracie's chicks coming around her and would actively chase them away when she thought they were too close.
Third hen (Janeway) then hatched out 6 chicks after the first two groups were nearly 4 wks old. I know it gets confusing but there is a moral to the story! LOL
Gracie quit being in the 'mommy mood' when her little ones were about 4.5 wks old and went back to the egger side of the coop. Her 'orphans' stayed in the broody half to get a bit bigger before adding them to the general population. Janeway and her brood of little ones were placed into the broody half of the coop. That night when we locked up we got quite the surprise... apparently Janeway is going to be one of those broodies who want any baby they can get their wings on! We found her happily nested with her 6, and the 4 'orphans' all together in the nest box! They have continued to thrive as a blended family now for two weeks, though the 'orphans' are willing to roam more and more during the day, but they still act like Janeway is their mom and come when she calls and tuck in with her at night, and they get along great with the little ones and share food and treats without any disputes... has been a joy to watch.
(the white head peeking out under Janeway's chest is one of the 'orphans')

OK, riddle me this: how often does a broody hen go broody? The reason I ask is, after hatching out chicks this early Spring (march 6-8), one of my Banty hens went broody again over the weekend?She is perfectly content sitting on a small clutch, so I moved her last night to a broody box.Any experience with this phenomena?

Gracie hatched out a brood the end of January, stayed with them 8 wks, went back on the roost for about 2 wks and went broody again, Hatched out a brood in May and she just went back on the roost about 2 wks ago, so will see. She's already been caught hanging out in her broody nest again, so figure it won't be long...

YAY my thai gamefowl hatched her baby chicks today. One died in the egg and the other hatched but was pushed in a far corner so most probably couldn't get any warmth and died.. it was still wet Will post up pictures tomorrow, they are sooo adorable.

Its currently winter in Australia and the temps have been falling to about 5 degrees celcius so tonight we had to move her inside their little 'hut' because she wouldn't do it herself. No way would they survive till the next morning (or maybe they would? we weren't taking chances lol). In anycase, she is one ruthless broody - mistook two of her babies for my hand and pecked them really hard off the ground, poor chicks. Do you think they will be okay? My heart literally skipped a beat because they are so tiny and delicate.

Gracie hatched hers in January cold, and did fine! If concerned that she can't cover them all then provide a low watt supplement near her nesting area in case it is needed. We use a 'lizard' type ceramic heat lamp for this, no light, just heat. Gracie isn't very big, and had a big brood, we didn't want a hot lamp in her broody area, but the ceramic was just the right size for the job and it was just warm enough then in the broody hutch that the water didn't freeze. If the mother hen is big enough to easily cover the babies then I wouldn't worry at all.

I can attest to "the dead of winter" decision to go broody.... I mean, really, my little silkie hen, what are you thinking...?

Totally agree!!!!

 

[KrazyChromatics]

Well i guess I'll be joining this thread... While at work a customer walks in and offers me a free black australorp hen that went broody on her

went broody 5 days ago and she cant break her... so she will join my flock and i will encourage her to go broody again as i imagine the move itself will break her... but.. sweetness! I have a jap. fan tail hen with 2 little peepers right now, and i just so happen to have a spare broody run... and the best part? Hubby didnt yell when i told him to grab a cage before he came to get me from work... haha.. i feel so devious .... and i know nothing about australorps... haha

 

[scriptkiddieJR]

Well i guess I'll be joining this thread... While at work a customer walks in and offers me a free black australorp hen that went broody on her went broody 5 days ago and she cant break her... so she will join my flock and i will encourage her to go broody again as i imagine the move itself will break her... but.. sweetness! I have a jap. fan tail hen with 2 little peepers right now, and i just so happen to have a spare broody run... and the best part? Hubby didnt yell when i told him to grab a cage before he came to get me from work... haha.. i feel so devious .... and i know nothing about australorps... haha

Congrats!

 

[chicken farmer]

I have a barred rock that's right a barred rock setting on 11 eggs!!!!!!!!

hahaha

post a pic

 

[showbarnmom]

I have been debating on incubator or broody, and broody has won over. A lady I buy from has two bantam cochins that go broody all the time, and both have been "in the mood" for a few days.

What is the likelihood of a move breaking the broodyness?

 

[chicken farmer]

I have been debating on incubator or broody, and broody has won over. A lady I buy from has two bantam cochins that go broody all the time, and both have been "in the mood" for a few days.

What is the likelihood of a move breaking the broodyness?

At first they will be a little curious and scared and wondering around the coop and pen and other chickens and once they feel secure and at home they will pick a favorite nest spot and lay a clutch and go broody.....

 

[darkfox907]

My Production road island red has been sitting on an egg for about a month now and nothing has happened yet....((not sher what too do..))

-Yes, this is her first egg she's been broody on
-We have wild roosters in our yard, so I think one of them is the daddy
-No, I have no idea what to look for when candling, would love too know how though.

She continues to sit on it and hasn't thrown it out yet, but will occasionally go out to eat and drink.

I was planning to pull the egg out today, but I am so scared I may kill it, because I've been told she would have thrown it out by now so yah.....HELP!!!

P.S. It has a bit of an oder, is that normal?

 

[Checkers1558]

i dont breed chickens and i don't have roosters either . All i have are hens. Don't eggs hatch when there 21 days old?? That is weird that your eggs are not hatching. Good luck hatching your eggs !!!!! if i could help you i would.

 

[chicken farmer]

i dont breed chickens and i don't have roosters either . All i have are hens. Don't eggs hatch when there 21 days old?? That is weird that your eggs are not hatching. Good luck hatching your eggs !!!!! if i could help you i would.

Yes they do hatch around 21 day but can be a little before or after.