Broody Hen Thread!

[loverofbirds14]

Yes, you can do it in the day but you can get more luck at night. A LF hen can take 30-ish chicks and raise them fine if they don't have to defend or keep them warm in cold temperatures.

Ashes - very common if there's multiple boxes. If you can seperate a corner or a different area with one big box that she could be locked in or just a single box would keep her. Don't make the area huge or she might have trouble finding her nest, a large dog box would be good. You can move her in the day, a lot of hens who will move around dont mind being moved in the day, but I'm finding with my Serema hen she's very adiment about where her nest is (refuses to move nests)

I gave my broody two chicks... She has already killed one of them.

 

[bobbi-j]

I gave my broody two chicks... She has already killed one of them.

How long had she been setting on eggs? Did you put them under her at night and take the eggs away?

 

[CAjerseychick]

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

Sorry to hear about the chick killing! It may have not been far enough along in her brooding cycle (I think they are supposed to set for at lest 10 days or so before you switch out with chicks)?...
Hmmmm as to the fertility of the Roos, I did hear (sorry a have a Jersey Giant Roo and he is very fertile)...that the little Roos may have trouble fertilizing the big hens...
I see here that people order fertile eggs all the time-- al the places you order chicks from have them (I am not brave enough to do that yet) and I see them advertized on Craigslist too under Farm and Garden....
And somewhere on this site are people hatching out Grocery store eggs!!!!
(Plus at my organic food coop you can buy fertilized eggs-- to eat!)....
Better luck soon keep us updated on your egg and chick adventures...

 

[loverofbirds14]

She had been sitting on eggs for at least two weeks, maybe more, we gave them to her at midnight without flashlights and took away four eggs. The other chick has a big hole in the side of his head, I don't think he'll live much longer.

 

[Emcrowston]

Well my update is that nothing appears to be happening, today is day 21. I really hope that I get at least one chick from the hatch. I will check her again later. I will not be able to get any young chicks for her I don't think so not too sure what to do if no chicks hatch.

 

[Alwayswantchics]

First time I'm going to let my Astrolorp sit on eggs. I'm only letting her have three from my flock. She just went today. Advice please. Do I have to move her? Can I just leave her with the rest of the flock?

 

[elsfieldchickens]

great pics everyone!

 

[juggojiin]

I have a couple of broody hens, so can I put eggs that I have already refrigerated under her to be incubated/hatched?

 

[Emcrowston]

My latest update is that I have one brahma chick, not sure of the colour, and one aracarna x marran just broken through

 

[Shellz]

I have a couple of broody hens, so can I put eggs that I have already refrigerated under her to be incubated/hatched?

 

Absolutely! Just bring them to room temp first.