Broody Hen Thread!

[jammyjammy2112]

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

just take her off the nest and put them in the garden she will sit on them alot for the first week anywway but she should take them foraging and eating everyday starting at about day 2 or 3 but i allways lift my mama hen off the nest at the start and take her eggs

 

[Lady of McCamley]

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...

While what your hen is doing may be a sign of poor mothering with a persistent brood, momma hens will often continue to sit on the nest anticipating delayed hatchings while babies run in and out from under her (but generally not out into a run without her)... this behavior tendency is the reason why it is not good to set eggs on different dates as mom will sit trying to hatch unhatched babies and forget about the hatched ones, or tend to the hatched and not sit on the nest.

All that to say, this can be normal behavior but not desirable behavior. I think you said you removed all the eggs...which is the first thing I would have told you to do so that she is forced to be more attentive to the little chick and stops worrying about hatching more.

My guess is mom will figure out she's got nothing else cooking and decide to start teaching the little chick how to be a chicken...in my observations that usually happens about day 5 in earnest, maybe sooner in warmer weather...so not much happens until after the first week...so you may not be that far off the time table.

Foreverlearning had some good suggestions about redoing the nest to break her brood if that is what is going on.

I would suggest making it so that the chick and mom must stay together...ie making it so chick can't get far away from mom...that may help mom remember she has a little one at her feet. I would watch closely to make sure mom is not frustrated with the chick in her face and pecks at it.

Or...do nothing and watch to see how the little chick does...if it comes and goes on its own but is always welcomed by mom....chicks don't need a lot of care like a human baby...they just need warmth when they need it, and they will run to that warmth whether it is a heat lamp or a broody mom.

I would not put mom and chick into the main flock (if that is what you meant by move). Mom needs to protect that little chick, and that might not happen yet.

My thoughts.

Lady of McCamley

 

[swirler]

We're thinking of integrating our seven chicks, and re-integrating Mama, into the main flock of four layers (three Marans, one Wyandotte) now. They're two months old and fully feathered (but it's hot at the moment anyhow). They have a big vegie garden to run around in, and we can put in their familiar chick refuge : a lean-to of lattice with branches at the entry that will discourage the big hens from getting in. Mama is just beginning to sometimes to see them as competition for treats, though she still protects them from potential danger.

Any thoughts?

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Dilemma. 3 weeks ago my Brahma Icelandic hatched an egg after 4 weeks of being broody. I think now she has cabin fever. 7 weeks in a very large wire dog crate with 3-4 outings a day into the storage room. She is becoming aggressive to me and this is not an aggressive breed. Tonight she seriously pounced on her chick and then charged it. Didn't hurt it but meant to do it! She has been a fantastic momma until this.

Now I think its time to separate them. Send mom back to the coop. My problems are; the storage room is almost steady at 10 degrees Celsius. There is a red heat lamp on 24/7 for some warmth and an over head room light on more them 12 hours a day for light. I'll need to move the heat lamp closer now to keep the chick warmer without momma but what about her being all alone? Toss a very plush stuffed toy in for cuddles? I'm working 8-10 hours a day. Will she/he be ok by itself? At 3 weeks it already is farther ahead then chicks I've raised without a mother hen. Maybe the feathers are filling in faster because she's cooler then the chicks I raised before?

Any help? I'd like to toss momma out tonight while its dark but tomorrow night would work too. Btw momma has started to do the broody molt I think.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

We're thinking of integrating our seven chicks, and re-integrating Mama, into the main flock of four layers (three Marans, one Wyandotte) now. They're two months old and fully feathered (but it's hot at the moment anyhow). They have a big vegie garden to run around in, and we can put in their familiar chick refuge : a lean-to of lattice with branches at the entry that will discourage the big hens from getting in. Mama is just beginning to sometimes to see them as competition for treats, though she still protects them from potential danger.

Any thoughts?

I think that sounds like a good plan...Mom is there to watch out, but they are old enough to fend for themselves.

You are providing good hiding places for them to run to.

Just make sure food and water and placed around so that the older hens can drive the younger ones away consistently.

It will take a few weeks to several months for them to integrate fully...you will see the younger ones flock together darting away from the older ones...but in time the pecking order will be worked out and harmony will reign for all.

What I've experienced.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Dilemma. 3 weeks ago my Brahma Icelandic hatched an egg after 4 weeks of being broody. I think now she has cabin fever. 7 weeks in a very large wire dog crate with 3-4 outings a day into the storage room. She is becoming aggressive to me and this is not an aggressive breed. Tonight she seriously pounced on her chick and then charged it. Didn't hurt it but meant to do it! She has been a fantastic momma until this.

Now I think its time to separate them. Send mom back to the coop. My problems are; the storage room is almost steady at 10 degrees Celsius. There is a red heat lamp on 24/7 for some warmth and an over head room light on more them 12 hours a day for light. I'll need to move the heat lamp closer now to keep the chick warmer without momma but what about her being all alone? Toss a very plush stuffed toy in for cuddles? I'm working 8-10 hours a day. Will she/he be ok by itself? At 3 weeks it already is farther ahead then chicks I've raised without a mother hen. Maybe the feathers are filling in faster because she's cooler then the chicks I raised before?

Any help? I'd like to toss momma out tonight while its dark but tomorrow night would work too. Btw momma has started to do the broody molt I think.

That is a bit of a dilemma. Normally, at this point, with these circumstances I would leave the chick in the broody hutch and let mom out. (Had to do that with one of mine recently... mom was done but the chicks weren't ready for the big flock)..but I had 2 chicks to keep each other warm and company and then integrate together into the main flock when it was time.

If mom is restless but a good mom, I toss mom and chicks out together if the mom is still doing her job as she will protect the baby from the flock....BUT your Brahma mom doesn't appear to be wanting to be a mother any more....and with that weather, I don't know the chick could handle it on its own yet trying to integrate into the flock. 3 weeks is pretty young.

Hmmmm.....If it were me....I'd leave the chick in the broody place and put the hen out. Put that heat lamp closer, but don't get it any warmer than the chick is already used to as you want the chick to continue to develop faster. (Yes, broody raised chicks do feather in and grow faster). If the chick gets lonely (which it likely will), put a clock, plush toy, maybe another flock member that would like to foster it.

The only other alternative is to give mom more room and try to move them together to a new place and watch her like crazy....but she's already attacked the chick...and your away at work all day...so back to chick in broody pen, mom out.

My thoughts
Lady of McCamley

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

That is a bit of a dilemma. Normally, at this point, with these circumstances I would leave the chick in the broody hutch and let mom out. (Had to do that with one of mine recently... mom was done but the chicks weren't ready for the big flock)..but I had 2 chicks to keep each other warm and company and then integrate together into the main flock when it was time.

If mom is restless but a good mom, I toss mom and chicks out together if the mom is still doing her job as she will protect the baby from the flock....BUT your Brahma mom doesn't appear to be wanting to be a mother any more....and with that weather, I don't know the chick could handle it on its own yet trying to integrate into the flock. 3 weeks is pretty young.

Hmmmm.....If it were me....I'd leave the chick in the broody place and put the hen out. Put that heat lamp closer, but don't get it any warmer than the chick is already used to as you want the chick to continue to develop faster. (Yes, broody raised chicks do feather in and grow faster). If the chick gets lonely (which it likely will), put a clock, plush toy, maybe another flock member that would like to foster it.

The only other alternative is to give mom more room and try to move them together to a new place and watch her like crazy....but she's already attacked the chick...and your away at work all day...so back to chick in broody pen, mom out.

My thoughts
Lady of McCamley

I'm already trying to put protective wire over the heat lamp, can't make a circle outta a square! Better idea coming but will have to wait for later and will aim for tomorrow eve. Got a thermometer in there now trying to judge the heat displacement from that heat lamp.

thanks for getting back to me so fast Lady!

 

[swirler]

I think that sounds like a good plan...Mom is there to watch out, but they are old enough to fend for themselves.

You are providing good hiding places for them to run to.

Just make sure food and water and placed around so that the older hens can drive the younger ones away consistently.

It will take a few weeks to several months for them to integrate fully...you will see the younger ones flock together darting away from the older ones...but in time the pecking order will be worked out and harmony will reign for all.

What I've experienced.
Lady of McCamley

Thanks. I thought we might put some food/water for them inside the hiding place until they get themselves sorted out.

Something weird (to me) - this is my third batch of mixed hatchlings. Every time, the birds of the same breed have flocked together as babies and even as adults, even when they were incubated and hatched all together. Why do they do that/how do they know? Do others observe this?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thanks. I thought we might put some food/water for them inside the hiding place until they get themselves sorted out.

Something weird (to me) - this is my third batch of mixed hatchlings. Every time, the birds of the same breed have flocked together as babies and even as adults, even when they were incubated and hatched all together. Why do they do that/how do they know? Do others observe this?

Good idea to put food/water inside the hiding place so chicks can always get to it while the big birds protect what they view is theirs.

Yes...I HAVE noticed that birds of a feather flock together. Weird...and probably where that saying comes from.

Lady of McCamley

 

[jammyjammy2112]

We're thinking of integrating our seven chicks, and re-integrating Mama, into the main flock of four layers (three Marans, one Wyandotte) now. They're two months old and fully feathered (but it's hot at the moment anyhow). They have a big vegie garden to run around in, and we can put in their familiar chick refuge : a lean-to of lattice with branches at the entry that will discourage the big hens from getting in. Mama is just beginning to sometimes to see them as competition for treats, though she still protects them from potential danger.

Any thoughts?

i did that and will never do that again and mine where 3 months