Broody Hen Thread!

[Emcrowston]

I am new to this broodie hen business, eggs are due to hatch tomorrow, but it seems momma has not been getting off the next to poop. I have cleaned as much as I can out without disturbing her too much, but the gags are a bit dirty. Do you think they will be ok? Thanks for any advice.

 

[Shellz]

Yes, I believe they will be ok.

 

[Emcrowston]

Oh I do hope so. I am very excited. I managed to hatch 5 buff orpingtons in an incubator last year and caught the bug. I have since bought 6 mixed stars and one of them went broodie so I obtained some fertile brahma eggs. I do hope they will be ok. Thanks for your reply.

 

[Shellz]

No probs! There's that layer called 'bloom' over the egg which protects it from bacteria getting in. I've heard some interesting stories about eggs being so dirty, but hatched healthy chicks anyway.

I've got the bug bad this year. Used my first incubator in January, then again at Easter. Bought hatching eggs from a breeder & used a new incubator. Now I have 2 broody hens! I usually have one a year, but 2 at the same time? Yikes! So I enabled them. Lol! Too much fun!

 

[Emcrowston]

I am hoping to get an incubator soon, but I was very surprised when my partner let me keep her broodie and get some eggs for her. I do hope there are a few females in the hatch. I was lucky with the buffs, four pullets and one cock. Hope my luck stays!

 

[Shellz]

That is lucky! My first incubated hatch had one rooster & 5 pullets. I like those odds!

 

[chickydee64]

I am new to this broodie hen business, eggs are due to hatch tomorrow, but it seems momma has not been getting off the next to poop. I have cleaned as much as I can out without disturbing her too much, but the gags are a bit dirty. Do you think they will be ok? Thanks for any advice.

HI, I would lift her off and put her out to poop. she'll be fine even if she is mad about it.
If she has not gone in a few days and poops while the chicks are hatching it is going to be a big really smelly mess
and get all over the babies.
I move my broody's off their nest all the time.........they poop, eat a little and get right back on scolding me every minute....
If I have a nasty nest ,happens sometimes, I clean it up while they are off.....

 

[Madpolak]

Reintroduction question. I have a broody that has one chick ( my first hatch not so successful). We have been putting her and the chick out in the yard next to the rest of the flock (1 roo two hens) and she seems to be acting like she wants to go back in with them. Chick is only four weeks old but we have two Ameraucana three week old chicks that we picked up. I want to put the single chick in with the pair and move broody back out into the flock. Anybody see any issues with that scenario? Thanks!!

 

[CochinBrahmaLover]

Our babies sharing a nest

 

[Chickenlover42]

i have a broody hen and im trying to let her hatch eggs, i have big and little chickens and two little roos but for some reason our eggs are not fertil. if i got chicks and put them under her at night would she take them? or is there a place to buy fertil eggs? any help would be awesome