Broody Hen Thread!

[korlia]

Hi Guys, me again! As I've said before I am brand spanking new to chickens as well as the broody stuff

. My pekin bantam went broody and I got 8 eggs from the breeder where I got her from. She hatched a few while we were away on holiday. Long story short the guy that looked after my chickens said that all of the chicks disappeared out of the broody pen that I had them in. It looks something like a rabbit hutch, with a small wooden kennel at the back and a fully covered small run in front. The run is covered with chicken mesh. The only thing I can think of is that they must have gone through the mesh somehow??

There were 3 eggs left which they removed, they didn't contain any chicks. No here is my question. My hen is still acting like a broody. Sitting on the nest with the week old chick underneath her? I've seen her out in the run about once a day or less. She takes a quick bite, drink water and back to the nest after a big broody smelly poop. Is this normal? I've seen the chick out in the run on it's own and then it goes back inside to the hen. Should I put them in another enclosure now or is that how a hen act with a week old chick? I am confused...

 

[korlia]

Hi Guys, me again! As I've said before I am brand spanking new to chickens as well as the broody stuff:cd .  My pekin bantam went broody and I got 8 eggs from the breeder where I got her from.  She hatched a few while we were away on holiday.  Long story short the guy that looked after my chickens said that all of the chicks disappeared out of the broody pen that I had them in.  It looks something like a rabbit hutch, with a small wooden kennel at the back and a fully covered small run in front.  The run is covered with chicken mesh.  The only thing I can think of is that they must have gone through the mesh somehow??  There were 3 eggs left which they removed, they didn't contain any chicks.  No here is my question.  My hen is still acting like a broody.  Sitting on the nest with the week old chick underneath her? I've seen her out in the run about once a day or less. She takes a quick bite, drink water and back to the nest after a big broody smelly poop.  Is this normal? I've seen the chick out in the run on it's own and then it goes back inside to the hen. Should I put them in another enclosure now or is that how a hen act with a week old chick? I am confused...

Sorry I meant to say all of them escaped except one. So we only have the one chick left...

 

[kmollyhughes]

This mama took in an orphan from a homicidal broody over a week ago. She raised the chick and successfully hatched out four more babies yesterday. She's a very proud girl! Mamas a silkie with 1 backyard mix, and 4 black copper Marans.

I was shocked she stayed on the eggs that whole last week! Good girl!!

 

[elsfieldchickens]

This mama took in an orphan from a homicidal broody over a week ago. She raised the chick and successfully hatched out four more babies yesterday. She's a very proud girl! Mamas a silkie with 1 backyard mix, and 4 black copper Marans.

I was shocked she stayed on the eggs that whole last week! Good girl!!

thats amazing i love broodys there the best!

 

[justin24]

Hay you guys can i join

 

[TiaRC]

Hay you guys can i join

Yup join away

 

[jammyjammy2112]

Got a second chick this afternoon. Didn't get a good look at her yet, momma is all over her. Yesterday's chick is doing well, drinking a lil bit and pecking around. But it doesn't stay out too long before it heads back under momma. I was starting to worry that momma bantam was sittin on duds and not getting lil chick to water, but I guess she knows better than me. Also have pipping on a third egg, looks like that one may appear tomorrow!

Is that common to have eggs from the same clutch hatch that far apart? One Saturday, one Sunday, and one Monday. I know that they were laid the same day...I pick eggs every day and I left one day's clutch for her to sit on.

Will try to get a pic tomorrow after work when they may be a little more mobile. Good night peeps!

last summer my silkie went broody twice she was the best allways hatched chicks never failed but she never suceeded on raring it was my fault doh 1st time i locked 2 out of the chcken coop and they died by mistake she had 2 chicks left but i was feeding them layers pellets i didnt no better they died of kidney failour then she went broody in augest one out of 7 eggs 1 hatched on a friday and 1 more hated on a monday weird all set at the same time she raired them they were4 months i left them out into the run they got pecked to death but iv lerned from my mistakes and willl never do anything like that again but sadly she past away about 4 days befor christmas due to a mink attack mink killed 2 more on christmas day so 10 hens left killed but i did hatch 1 of her babys in the incubator pure bred white silkie i just said id pop 1 of her eggs in it hatched and i sold it and i no the new oner and has a great life and is allmost fully grown so she lives on my only good broody killed im going to buy 2 silkies soon and hatch orpingtons in my incubator :

 

[glebreton]

I have 2 chicks that are doing well. One pipped and never made it out of shell. Last of the four eggs is still under my hen with no signs of pipping. Today is day 25 and if there is no pipping on the last egg when I get home today, I will remove it. My hen is staying on the last egg and her 2 chicks are constantly under her. Its time for her to start mothering them instead of sitting on what is apparently a dud

 

[korlia]

Any help?

 

[fisherlady]

Any help?

Sorry, I never had that situation.. my only suggestion would be to tempt her with some favorite treats and see if she will call her baby out to eat and hopefully get up herself. You can also try changing out all of the bedding when she does get up so it looses the smell of her comfy nest she's been on for 3 weeks. Try to get her off of the nest every couple of hours till she begins behaving normally again. Hope it works for you.