Broody Hen Thread!

[chickydee64]

So I have two broodies right now and I estimate the hatch date to be tomorrow (although I'm not sure exactly what day they started sitting). One is a cochin, the other is a turken. This morning the chickens were out free-ranging and I heard an egg-song. I'm not getting many eggs these days (moult, reduced daylight etc) so I popped out to see if I could figure out who had laid, since I'm curious to know who my best layers are.

I couldn't find an egg! I looked in the nesting boxes and the other places that some of my goofball hens prefer to lay, and also all around the yard. The Turken was out ranging with them and was still singing the song long after everyone stopped (she continued intermittently for at least 20 minutes). This makes me think she was the one who started it. I took the egg (only one left, a few got kicked in a kerfuffle with the other broody) and put it under the Cochin since the shell was starting to feel cold and I was afraid she had abandoned the nest.

Has anyone else had a broody sing an egg-song, or be the instigator? Makes me think she stopped being broody... she's been the flightier of the two broodies, spends a lot more time off of the nest, etc. We don't have them segregated from the flock or from others since we weren't really prepared for this and we're just rolling with it to see how it goes (our first time).

It is possible she is just enjoying helping set the eggs......I've had hens do this.
I have one now that sets on the eggs when broody goes to eat and do her thing........will set there for a bit when the broody returns then goes on her way......
They are all is individual............it's fun to watch them.................good luck with your hatch........

 

[docbeans]

Looks like she stopped being broody, just shy of 3 weeks. She wasn't just helping set the eggs, she had been on her own nest this whole time.

She was out all day, never returned to her nest (even though there were still dummy eggs in it). Flaky girl!

 

[ChickenGirl22]

My hen is brooding right now. We have her sitting on six eggs and they're going to hatch really soon. I'm super excited!!!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Looks like she stopped being broody, just shy of 3 weeks. She wasn't just helping set the eggs, she had been on her own nest this whole time.

She was out all day, never returned to her nest (even though there were still dummy eggs in it). Flaky girl!

Yeah...sometimes they will just do that...not stay the course...which is discouraging because they aren't laying and they aren't brooding well.

I think you mentioned you had them in a joint area. I find my more timid hens need isolation and seclusion to stay the course as they get pushed off the nest easily by other hens who want to lay or simply get unnerved by the distractions of others.

Better luck next time. Good thing you've had a faithful Cochin to take up the slack.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Gardengirl73]

Well, my 28 week old Ameraucana/Leghorn hen Henrietta has been broody for three weeks now. The problem is that my 5 year old son accidentally collected her one egg with the others when she went to get a drink. By the time we found it (candling), it was too late. She has been sitting on a fake egg for the last two weeks. I have had a half dozen White silkie/ Jubilee Orpington eggs in the Brinsea for the last 17 days. Since she is a brand new broody, I was more than a little worried to pop them under her. Tonight I shoved two beneath her hoping she won't reject them. I am freaking out. If she seems good with that tomorrow, I will add the rest. If there is anything else I should be doing please shoot it out there. Broodies are a whole new thing for me.

 

[RickaRae]

I can't offer any advice except that if she does take them, having a broody hen for your chicks is awesome! We just had our first broodies hatch last week & it's nice not having to have the heat lamp & a mama showing them how to be a chicken! ;-)

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, my 28 week old Ameraucana/Leghorn hen Henrietta has been broody for three weeks now. The problem is that my 5 year old son accidentally collected her one egg with the others when she went to get a drink. By the time we found it (candling), it was too late. She has been sitting on a fake egg for the last two weeks. I have had a half dozen White silkie/ Jubilee Orpington eggs in the Brinsea for the last 17 days. Since she is a brand new broody, I was more than a little worried to pop them under her. Tonight I shoved two beneath her hoping she won't reject them. I am freaking out. If she seems good with that tomorrow, I will add the rest. If there is anything else I should be doing please shoot it out there. Broodies are a whole new thing for me.

Since you are so close to lock down, the most important thing will be to get her on them and then leave her alone. It's best to not move eggs after day 18. While I am a little hesitant with having a hen go from 1 egg to 6 eggs to hatching date so quickly...chances are instinct will kick in and she'll be just fine. She will do what is necessary for the eggs to hatch. Keep watch but let her do her work.

After the chicks hatch, check to make sure they can't squeeze themselves into some weird place or wander off from the hen and can't get back (and yes, they can be pretty stupid even around a blind corner). The weather is colder now, and I've lost chicks that way in cold weather. They can get very cold very quickly.

Good Luck
Lady of McCamley

 

[Gardengirl73]

Thank you RickaRae and Lady of Camley for the advice and encouragement. She seems to be doing very well so far with the eggs. It probably helps that they are small silkie eggs. Her fake egg is huge. Only two left to tuck under today. She seems quite determined to stay the course. We will be enclosing an area in the coop for her and the chicks to keep them snug and safe for a bit. Very excited to see how it goes.

 

[Gardengirl73]

Henrietta is sitting on at least two babies since around two o'clock. Fluffy yellow with little head crests. They seem to look like silkies with the down color of baby jubilees. So flipping cute! I'm not going to peek again until tomorrow. Don't want to disturb her. Although she has barely moved from her nest in 3 weeks, despite sitting on a fake egg for two of them. Can't wait to sneak a photo in a couple days!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Henrietta is sitting on at least two babies since around two o'clock. Fluffy yellow with little head crests. They seem to look like silkies with the down color of baby jubilees. So flipping cute! I'm not going to peek again until tomorrow. Don't want to disturb her. Although she has barely moved from her nest in 3 weeks, despite sitting on a fake egg for two of them. Can't wait to sneak a photo in a couple days!

Congratulations!

Look forward to the photos.
Lady of McCamley