Broody Hen Thread!

[cheepcheep riri]

Question, we're wanting to move our broody and her chicks to a separate coop(away from the rest of the flock) while we're away for the weekend. We were hoping her eggs would have hatched earlier in the week, but they just started today and we'd need to move them by tomorrow.

Is this too soon to move our boody and her babies? Would it be better to just leave them with the rest of the flock while we're gone? Our main concern with leaving them with the flock, is that we plan to leave the main coop open for them to free range while we're gone. Someone will be stopping by to feed them, but nobody will be home on a consistent basis.

How many hens?
How big of a coop do you have?
Do you have a roo?

 

[lisaterrell88]

They all think they have to sit on this nest. Which I think is weird cause they are game gens and I figured they wouldnt share like they are but they are so sweet to each other.

 

[randerson846]

I went to my friend today and he gave me 18 fertile hen eggs, and he gave me 3 fertile duck eggs as well and I don't want them to go to waste, as I also wanted to hatch them so what do I do, can I hatch them together or what.
(I have a sixty egg incubator so space isn't a problem) Help!

 

[jruhle]

Oh good, she's only been broody a couple days and none of the hens are bothering her. She's a big fluffy girl so she should do great! Last time I used a buff orp and she smothered the ducklings with motherlyness

 

[HarrietB]

I have a broody one a clutch of about 13 eggs, and she was moved into her lovely broody coop yesterday so she can have some peace and quiet! Today she hasnt budged out of her nest to eat or drink so its been over 24 hours since she has had anything! a few of the eggs are due to hatch on friday/saturday. Any ideas on if she hasnt moved because the some of the chicks are due over the next two days or is she grumpy because she has been moved to a private pen? Either way, should I be worried about the lack of food and water?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

[COLOR=333333]I have a broody one a clutch of about 13 eggs, and she was moved into her lovely broody coop yesterday so she can have some peace and quiet! Today she hasnt budged out of her nest to eat or drink so its been over 24 hours since she has had anything! a few of the eggs are due to hatch on friday/saturday. Any ideas on if she hasnt moved because the some of the chicks are due over the next two days or is she grumpy because she has been moved to a private pen? Either way, should I be worried about the lack of food and water?[/COLOR]

She is in lock down...you are fortunate she took the move well...so now all that is left is leave her undisturbed as she waits for pips and zips and then chicks. Keep food and water within easy reach but not so it can tip into the nest...won't be long!

 

[Dknichelson]

How many hens?
How big of a coop do you have?
Do you have a roo?

2 Adult hens, both broody, one roo and three 2 month old pullets, plus new babies. The coop is not big, about 32 square feet plus a hen house that the 3 pullets sleep in(silkies sleep under the hen house). It was built with having 4 hens in mind and things have just turned out differently. Our roo is very sweet. He took to the new pullets well a few weeks ago and has been fine with the new additions today. Ideally, I'd like to move broody mama and chicks tonight, but it doesn't look like their done hatching...

 

[randerson846]

What breed are good broodys

 

[chicken farmer]

Today I looked in the coop when I got home and there was a little brown bantam mix chick standing beside her while she was laying in the nestbox haha. She has been sittin on 13 eggs(6 silkies,7bantys) and they are due this Tuesday so I was wondering how it hatched about 4 days early and I forgot I took a couple eggs from a broody banty hen and put them under the silkie cause she couldn't cover them all. And the silkie hen got off the nest cause she knew she has to get it food/water so there was 12 eggs that were a few days from hatching layin in the nestbox so I took them and put them in the incubator and when they hatch I'm gonna give them to her and she will have a big brood and she'll be happy!!! I'm glad she is having another round of motherhood(her second time last spring was the first)

 

[Lady of McCamley]

What breed are good broodys

While it definitely boils down to the individual hen, the breeds that are noted for having very common and even annoyingly frequent broodies are Silkie, Cochin and Game Bird.

Another breed noted for being good for broodiness is Orpington, although none of mine ever went broody in earnest.

I have had other birds become broody...I've had several Black Stars and Welsummer/Welsummer mixes....although Welsummer is not generally noted for commonly being broody.

A few on this thread have had commercial layers go broody (one in particular a White Leghorn..practically unheard of!).

I really wanted to brood with hens, so I purchased a known faithful broody Silkie at a chicken swap...she is the backbone of my brooding program as she faithfully goes broody every 3 to 4 months such that I can plan my hatching program with her in mind. I then use any additional bird who is willing and able.

Right now I have my Silkie and Wyandotte/EE mix (my best guess as her parentage is unknown) that are sitting on clutches.

Henderson's breed chart notes broodiness so you can check it to see which breeds are noted for that: http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html

Good luck in finding a broody hen.
Lady of McCamley