Broody Hen Thread!

[Angelicisi]

She's awesome! Love this pic!

My Sizzle hen with a few of her Silkie and Sizzle babies. I have a Silkie hen sitting on 8 eggs. If they keep this up, I'll have more broodies than eggs to hatch :/

 

[Angelicisi]

She's doing well. I brought them inside and she seems much more cozy

 

[foreverlearning]

Quote:
I use Valbazen (Abendazole) as a preventive measure once a year and had a broody hatch 6/6 healthy chicks from eggs in the first 4 days of the first dose. My girls didn't have worms to my knowledge so that may effect results. (all healthy, preventive dose only)

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Just as I thought. Interesting! Thanks for all the input about wormer's and hatches!

 

[broodyhen2]

hi everybody
what is the best broody breed, I have heard that silkies are the best but that their feathers strangle their chicks is this true
thanks

 

[kmollyhughes]

hi everybody 
what is the best broody breed, I have heard that silkies are the best but that their feathers strangle their chicks is this true 
thanks

Yes, they are some of the best mothers and most are super broody. The whole chicks being strangled thing is a fluke. I think it very rarely happens. I've had silkies raise a lot of babies for me and I have never lost one from being strangled by their mothers feathers. If you're looking for a good broody breed, I highly recommend them. I've had a few super broody Marans, and a really good faverolle mother also. And I know Cochins are great mothers also.

 

[CaityS]

Is she cured? =)

I was on a couple days ago and read a thread of how to cure a broody hen. I do not have any roosters, so there is no reason for my hen to be broody. I kept her in a separate pen, away from the coop all day yesterday and last night. I felt so sorry for her sleeping by herself. This morning I let her out to graze and she has been acting "normal" since. She went in the coop once mid-morning, and I took her out. Since then she has been with the other hens all day. So...is she done being broody? When will she start laying again?

Thanks!

 

[JohnsonHomested]

hi everybody 
what is the best broody breed, I have heard that silkies are the best but that their feathers strangle their chicks is this true 
thanks

Our Cochin made a great broody and mother. She was very stubborn and determined, while others started and gave up she stuck with it. I've heard Orpingtons are great and ours tried but didn't handle being moved (to a more secluded spot). We even had an EE and Ancona sit on and successfully hatch out a clutch together. They are both such stubborn birds they couldn't get the other off and finally gave up trying.

 

[Searsmom]

Is she cured? =)

I was on a couple days ago and read a thread of how to cure a broody hen. I do not have any roosters, so there is no reason for my hen to be broody. I kept her in a separate pen, away from the coop all day yesterday and last night. I felt so sorry for her sleeping by herself. This morning I let her out to graze and she has been acting "normal" since. She went in the coop once mid-morning, and I took her out. Since then she has been with the other hens all day. So...is she done being broody? When will she start laying again?

Thanks!

It's my understanding that once they've gone broody, it will be about 18 days before they lay again. Anyone correct me?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It's my understanding that once they've gone broody, it will be about 18 days before they lay again. Anyone correct me?

Depends on the bird. There really isn't a hard and fast rule to my knowledge or experience.

And it depends on how deep of a brood she gets into. A mild case, she will lay sooner. A serious case, can be weeks until she lays again.

It also depends if she is fully out of brood mode or going in and out as the weather changes (warmth can trigger hormones)...that can prolong the broodiness and the delay in eggs.

Lady of McCamley