Broody Hen Thread!

[trooper]

I have for the first time got a hen that has gone broody.She ruffles her feathers at me and growls at me when I get close to her nesting box.She has been like this for 3-4 days now.I need some advice on what to do.Can I move her and how much to see what is under her.I have a rooster and I've been told that it's a good chance that he will kill them.I've been waiting for this for quite awhile and I don't want to mess up

.I appreciate any and all information that I can get.I've had chickens for over three years,but I want to raise a few of my own.Thanks to all in advance

 

[Jharper]

I have for the first time got a hen that has gone broody.She ruffles her feathers at me and growls at me when I get close to her nesting box.She has been like this for 3-4 days now.I need some advice on what to do.Can I move her and how much to see what is under her.I have a rooster and I've been told that it's a good chance that he will kill them.I've been waiting for this for quite awhile and I don't want to mess up

.I appreciate any and all information that I can get.I've had chickens for over three years,but I want to raise a few of my own.Thanks to all in advance

Actually a lot of roosters will protect them because they are part of their flock.

 

[fisherlady]

We have 3 roos... a mix LF breed, a Black Australorp and a mixed Banty. All 3 of them are good with the chicks our hens hatch out. In fact our yound BA Roo (6 month) follows the hens and chicks around all the time and has appointed himself babysitter extrordinaire...LOL... he is cute to watch, he calls the little ones over for treats he has found and any who stray too far from mama find themselves being herded back at the first peeping noise they make.

We had an easter egger Roo who was also good with them. I have heard of folks having Roos who were nasty to chicks, but it certainly isn't all of them. I would say if you are concerned then I would just have a controlled introduction in a place you can easily intervene if needed and see how he acts. You may be surprised. And even if he is grumpy with the little ones the broody will probably set him straight in a hurry! I know ours don't tolerate any roo antics around the little ones.

The roos instinct is usually to protect his hens and the flock in general, they seem to view the youngsters as just another addition to protect.

 

[lilliesanchicks]

It is not the roosters I worry about around the chicks it is other hens.
The roosters have always been great with chicks.

 

[scriptkiddieJR]

If you can put up with her pecking at you give it a try but try to disturb them as little as possible.take a small bucket of warm water use a damp cloth and pull out one egg at a time and wipe them off. I have two broody hens at this time had to find eggs for them since the rooster is not doing his job. My little bantam game hen cross was on 15 eggs took me a few day to find her she is now in the pen next to my silkie/ee cross who was on 2 dud eggs ,both now have plenty of fertile eggs under them now. I have more eggs coming since I did swaps before I found some local. So I will be incubating a bunch of eggs as well ,unless more hens go broody

then they will get those eggs.

You're roo wasn't doing his job enough? Ours does it to much our poor girls

 

[lilliesanchicks]

You're roo wasn't doing his job enough? Ours does it to much our poor girls

My silkie rooster was not doing anything with the girls he is a few years old as well.
He would rather fight with the caged silkie/ee ,strangest rooster I have ever seen.

 

[Shellz]

Sorry to hear of the recent troubles. Yes, culling can be a very difficult part of the process. Some can do it & get past it & for some its just too hard to bear. It's ok though, there's lots of folks or hatcheries willing to sell chicks. Good plan.

 

[AnimalCrazed]

I have a red sex link a.k.a. golden comet a.k.a. red star a.k.a Whatever

and she has been broody two summers out of her three year life.... any one else find this odd? from what the "norm" for what others say about this mixed breed is that they aren't so posed to do this,(I know not all chickens follow breed standard) and with that I'm unsure how she would be as a mother. she is pretty persistent and takes longer to "talk" her out of it than the orpington I just broke...

Oh well, what can you do?

 

[Shellz]

OMG, my only hen left that hasn't been broody this year - yep, she's broody all right! I wish she had been first. At least I know she's a good mom. Her 2 daughters are setting 13 eggs between them. I hate to break her, but I have to. I'm down to my last 2 dozen eggs & my hatchery pullets won't be laying until around the end of August. Oh crappity, crap, crap!

 

[Laci7210]

I have 2 old english game bantams.. Hen and roo. The hen layed 2 eggs and I left them just incase.. She isn't sitting but it has been warm lately and they are in a enclosed little box that is used for shelter and a nesting box. There is straw in there too.. Will they hatch??? Or am I wasting my time?

Should I do anything different? I have 2 silkies that aren't laying yet but I heard that they are great mothers. Will they take the eggs? Thanks!!