Broody Hen Thread!

[20736]

cool!

 

[chickarooo]

Cool

 

[CarlyChick]

My orpington is only about 6 months old and I think she's broody already, is that possible?

She has all the symptoms (staying on the nest all day, trance-like, not eating much) but she's not super cranky. My 7 year old just takes her out of the nest and plops her on the ground; she doesn't seem to care (she'll just lay there for a few minutes then snap out of it and go back into the nest).

 

[hogster160]

My orpington is only about 6 months old and I think she's broody already, is that possible? 

She has all the symptoms (staying on the nest all day, trance-like, not eating much) but she's not super cranky. My 7 year old just takes her out of the nest and plops her on the ground; she doesn't seem to care (she'll just lay there for a few minutes then snap out of it and go back into the nest). 

Mine is 8 months and was broody for 2 weeks before I put eggs under her. She now is on day 11 sitting on 9 eggs. I do have her separated in the coop as I had others laying eggs in her nest and those are not fertile, no rooster here. And I forgot to mark the fertile ones so I will candle one more time and take those out, and mark the good ones.

This is my first time, so I'm really just letting her do her thing, she's doing we'll. I do take her off the nest 4 times a day, and generally someone else sits on the eggs while she's out. She eats poos baths and drinks and is back on her nest in about 30 min.

 

[TAMMACLEAN]

I thought that my girls were all done with being broody, but nooo. I turn around and two of my silkies are now broody! And of course I have nothing to give them...

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Mine is 8 months and was broody for 2 weeks before I put eggs under her. She now is on day 11 sitting on 9 eggs. I do have her separated in the coop as I had others laying eggs in her nest and those are not fertile, no rooster here. And I forgot to mark the fertile ones so I will candle one more time and take those out, and mark the good ones.

This is my first time, so I'm really just letting her do her thing, she's doing we'll. I do take her off the nest 4 times a day, and generally someone else sits on the eggs while she's out. She eats poos baths and drinks and is back on her nest in about 30 min.

...actually you don't need to take her off the nest. Broody hens will get off the nest generally just once a day to eat, drink, and give one large poo. Simply have food and water nearby so it is convenient for her...but no so close the water can tip over and get the eggs wet.

By forcing her to get off the nest and allowing other hens to continue to lay, you may be inadvertently encouraging other hens to hassle her over her nest which may discourage her.

It is generally best to keep the broody free from interaction and distraction from other hens. Aggressive broodies will hang it out and chase the others off, but more timid broodies can be discouraged off the nest and go elsewhere to brood leaving the nest with a non-brooding layer who will also abandon the nest.

My experiences, anyway
Lady of McCamley

 

[naightengale]

my black silkie has desided to go broody she is sitting 8 eggs.
that will be a silkie/ brown leghorn cross..or poss silkie...(just recently got the silkie roo so at this point they are dual daddys). i didnt have a roo for them and didnt have there breed specific pens build yet so they were in my laying hen pen...
any one have any ideas what my chicks are going to look like...the hens are 1 black and 2 splash.. then the poss daddys are a brown leghorn or a partrich silkie....should be interesting to say the least.

 

[hogster160]

...actually you don't need to take her off the nest. Broody hens will get off the nest generally just once a day to eat, drink, and give one large poo. Simply have food and water nearby so it is convenient for her...but no so close the water can tip over and get the eggs wet.

By forcing her to get off the nest and allowing other hens to continue to lay, you may be inadvertently encouraging other hens to hassle her over her nest which may discourage her.

It is generally best to keep the broody free from interaction and distraction from other hens. Aggressive broodies will hang it out and chase the others off, but more timid broodies can be discouraged off the nest and go elsewhere to brood leaving the nest with a non-brooding layer who will also abandon the nest.

My experiences, anyway
Lady of McCamley

Thank you, she has food and water, but won't eat it, that's why I was taking her off, she does eat outside, but I hadn't seen her actually leave herself. Is eating once a day enough for her? I'll watch her more tomorrow, see if I can catch her, thanks!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Yes, most broodies just eat and drink and poo once a day. They usually do it when you aren't looking.

Some get up more than others, but remember their job is to keep those eggs warm and humidified.

Usually, the less we interfere the better.

Lady of McCamley

 

[sonz77]

I'm going to have to live my broody to her coop pretty soon, should I leave her box and all or can I move her and the eggs into the nestbox??