Broody Hen Thread!

[Hannahs Hollow]

I can do that! But what about going outside in the run and what not? Will she keep them in the coop most of the time?

she'll be inclined to keep the chick in the penned area for the first few days to a week. my own house coop and for my broody is 4 feet long by 2 feet wide. This gives her enough room to have a nest, food and water and an area to broody poop! In another week or so she and the babies will have access to the outdoors through a chickie door and ramp to another penned area approximately 3 by 3. this is my first time doing the penned off area. Previously I had kept them in the house. However the integration back into the flock is a pain. I found myself having to bring the hen and babies or just the babies because the moms gave up, outside everyday for hours. takes up a lot of time as the babies were not acclimatized to the weather and surroundings. this time I am trying to leave the babies with the mom and hopefully she won't go broody again a few weeks later!

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Thank you hollymh!

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
I agree with Hannahs... she will most likely happily keep them in a small area in the coop for the first few days, this allows them to learn her vocal cues and how to listen to her, it also improves their speed and evasion skills. Ours are in the coop with the flock in a seperated area for the first week or two (mama decides when she wants to go into the main coop) After the first 3 or 4 days I open the doors to their area when I am outside in the coop area to allow supervised visitation with other flock members and the broody can choose to take the youngsters on field trips also. This 'visitation' time allows me to gauge how well the broody deals with other pushy flock members and also allows the youngsters to learn to avoid the problem flock members in short sessions... and they do learn quick.
After the first week or so, if you aren't seeing problems with fighting or overly aggressive behavior then you can decide when to remove the barrier or allow them more interaction time.
I find mama likes to free range with the chicks after about day 3, I supervise it pretty close the first week, but free ranging seems to be the most stress free way for the flock to get used to the young ones (if weather and property set up allows). I do make sure the broodies have a cozy and 'safe' spot for their nights with the youngsters, I don't like them to be bothered when they are nesting, it doesn't need to be totally fenced off, but should be in an out of the way spot and easy for the hen to feel she can defend it.

 

[hollymh]

I agree with Hannahs... she will most likely happily keep them in a small area in the coop for the first few days, this allows them to learn her vocal cues and how to listen to her, it also improves their speed and evasion skills. Ours are in the coop with the flock in a seperated area for the first week or two (mama decides when she wants to go into the main coop) After the first 3 or 4 days I open the doors to their area when I am outside in the coop area to allow supervised visitation with other flock members and the broody can choose to take the youngsters on field trips also. This 'visitation' time allows me to gauge how well the broody deals with other pushy flock members and also allows the youngsters to learn to avoid the problem flock members in short sessions... and they do learn quick.
After the first week or so, if you aren't seeing problems with fighting or overly aggressive behavior then you can decide when to remove the barrier or allow them more interaction time.
I find mama likes to free range with the chicks after about day 3, I supervise it pretty close the first week, but free ranging seems to be the most stress free way for the flock to get used to the young ones (if weather and property set up allows). I do make sure the broodies have a cozy and 'safe' spot for their nights with the youngsters, I don't like them to be bothered when they are nesting, it doesn't need to be totally fenced off, but should be in an out of the way spot and easy for the hen to feel she can defend it.

Thanks! I have a double coop with a little addition off on the side I will set up for them after she hatches them all out. She is the top hen so Im not overly concerned about the others, more so just getting everyone raised up happy and healthy!

 

[nana74331]

If you was closer to me, I have 14 eggs that the hen decided to quit sitting on today. They have only a week to go. Brought her and the eggs in the house, put them in cage with her 3 week old chicks. She just wasn't interested, so we put her outside. Now the little chicks are all taking turns bunching up on the eggs. We have them in the cage covered with shavings in front of an electric heater.

Kathryn

 

[AliceGee]

My silkie hen just hatched out 5 chicks. She shares the coop with 4 other hens and a rooster. I had to build a little ramp coming out of the nest box because it was a bit high and one going to the ramp that leads outside. At two days old they already know how to use them and they're very happy to follow mum outside to the run which is quite large for some food and water. Being silkies they are soooo tiny, I can fit all 5 in one hand, yet they wander around with their mum and all the other hens and roo. At first the roo and hens ran away from the chicks and then they'd freeze and stare at them when they'd come close to them but now they're all fine. The roo gave one the lightest peck when it was getting a bit pushy with him and mum didn't run to the rescue but she didn't really need to, he was fine and just ran back to mum. I suppose every flock is different but this is the first time any of mine have seen chicks yet they're all very good to them and at just two days they're keen to stay out almost all day, even though they start to fall asleep and mum tries to get them to go back to the nest!! They're adorable! Good luck! Watching them learn and grow is so much fun!!

 

[silly4buttons]

My silkie has been sitting on eggs for 3 weeks and they were due yesterday still nothing she lets me candle them this time I tried the water candling test no wiggles I made sure it wasn't piped should I removes it I have a batch of eggs in my incubator that are due to hatch 2/26 would it be ok to put some of those under her so she can hatch something

 

[fisherlady]

My silkie has been sitting on eggs for 3 weeks and they were due yesterday still nothing she lets me candle them this time I tried the water candling test no wiggles I made sure it wasn't piped should I removes it I have a batch of eggs in my incubator that are due to hatch 2/26 would it be ok to put some of those under her so she can hatch something

That would work... I have frequently had hens sit for 4 to 6 weeks if I had trouble getting eggs for them. The biggest thing to make sure of is that her health is good... if you go back a few pages on this thread, or search my posts on here you will find a number of them with treat suggestions to bolster them during the longer sit. Good luck with her hatch!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My silkie has been sitting on eggs for 3 weeks and they were due yesterday still nothing she lets me candle them this time I tried the water candling test no wiggles I made sure it wasn't piped should I removes it I have a batch of eggs in my incubator that are due to hatch 2/26 would it be ok to put some of those under her so she can hatch something

It can take several days more for chicks to hatch...21 days after being set is the typical average. Environmental conditions can alter that by a day or two either way.

I personally would never put a fertile egg I want to hatch in water for risk of removing the bloom that protects the egg from bacteria and especially not at point of hatch for fear of harming the embryo by interupting air flow or hatch position.

I would wait another day or 2 at most, then candle by light. Likely nothing is happening by then, but you can tell if any chicks are even developing.

then, yes you can put the incubator eggs under her to brood if she still appears willing.

Lady of McCamley

 

[lovely guy]

If she is such a new layer then I would attribute her behavior more toward her laying hormones settling in than broodiness. Many, many of my hens will sit on an egg if they find it, some give a little squawk and settle over it really quick as if to say 'who in the world left this here?'... it is an instinctual reaction for them, I think, but the mood passes after a bit of sitting and they leave it.

You can't make her be broody, some hens are, some aren't and all decide for themselves when they are going to do it... if she is of a known broody breed then it is maybe more likely, but still not a guarantee. You will have to wait and let her decide, leave golf balls in the nest boxes of the coop. to encourage her or her coop mates and don't try to force her to set on eggs or be by herself if she isn't ready to. after she voluntarily sits tight for a few solid days you can think about moving her to a broody hutch if you want, then if she stays sitting tight you can give her hatching eggs.

you said in an earlier post you were desperate for chicks... at this point I'd say your best option for them is to find a source of day olds to raise in a brooder yourself.

she is a catalana hen............i dont know if they are of the broody breed............