Broody Hen Thread!

[mrchicks]

My broody has been on her eggs since Saturday morning. As we get closer to hatch time I will have to move her, so thanks for the good tips here!

 

[emmimini1212]

This is what I did:  I made Dixie's Nest Transportable .  I put a Wicker basket inside the nest box she was staying broody in.  I put her golf balls (eggs at the time) and straw and fluff all in that nest...so she had a similar feel for her old nest.  Once I had her broody coop all built... I waited until 10:00 at night (dark out) and we pulled the removable wicker basket out and took it to the new broody coop with her and it's contents.  The new Broody coop was also darker and I think kept her from freaking out too much about going back to her preferred starter nest box.  This was all Sunday night, BTW!  Once I knew she was set I put the eggs I bought underneath her.  She hasn't moved much since.  I think the ease of transition also is individual for each bird so expect possible protest and her wanting to go to her old spot and hope for her to not mind at all like mine.

It's all such a fun learning experience so far.  I'm no expert, but gosh I love sharing my experience so far.

Well I'm a person who loves to take quick action so I just picked up my Broody put her where she was supposed to go and then put her now 14 eggs in the nesting box. It took her about 45 min to get where she needed to be but with a little bit of guidance all is well! I do like your idea though so I'll keep that in mind for next time!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thus far 4 of the 6 Rhodebars have hatched...looks like I've got 2 girls and 2 boys. Hoping the last 2 eggs hatch girls.

First time mom is doing really well...clucking and feeding them in the nest while she sits on the remaining 2 eggs.

Silkie is still sitting tight on thus far 6 developing Buckeye eggs.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I like the quick action method myself. Gitterdone.

Good for you. Sounds like it took a bit but you got her settled.

I think if you are going to move a bird. Moving it early on is a good idea. They'll probably realize, "Oh this is quieter, there is less interference, it's darker here, more private." Etc. etc. You'd think they'd recognize those qualities any how. But then there are the more "determined ones" ...too, I guess that want what they want.

Mr. Chicks is there a reason you are not moving her now? I think closer to hatch time might be a time you want to leave her be and to be sure there is no disturbance. Lockdown & Hatching, from what I gathered is a trickier time for the whole process. Is that correct? Fisherlady? Lady of McCalmly? or am I underestimating a broody's ability to adapt at Hatch time?

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I don't think I've posted these yet to this thread--randerson and Molly have seen it on our Hatch-a-long Thread but thought it might be helpful for others coming to this thread. I'm so excited about this.... This is Dixie in the new Broody coop. Moistened feed and water near by. Cozy nest in the corner to brood her eggs/chicks.

Memorial day!

Memorial Day!
Under Dixie is a Buckeye, Welsummer, 2 olive eggers set yesterday and all the way from Kentucky

-- 2 BLRW eggs. The 3rd BLRW egg had a detached air cell when candled. So that one is on my counter setting still for a day or two.

 

[fisherlady]

I like the quick action method myself. Gitterdone.

Good for you. Sounds like it took a bit but you got her settled.

I think if you are going to move a bird. Moving it early on is a good idea. They'll probably realize, "Oh this is quieter, there is less interference, it's darker here, more private." Etc. etc. You'd think they'd recognize those qualities any how. But then there are the more "determined ones" ...too, I guess that want what they want.

Mr. Chicks is there a reason you are not moving her now? I think closer to hatch time might be a time you want to leave her be and to be sure there is no disturbance. Lockdown & Hatching, from what I gathered is a trickier time for the whole process. Is that correct? Fisherlady? Lady of McCalmly? or am I underestimating a broody's ability to adapt at Hatch time?

My personal preference is to move a hen before giving her the eggs I want her to hatch... but I remove all real eggs from under hens I see acting broody and replace them with fakes and give them a couple of days to see if they are serious about setting... then I attempt to move them, sometimes they will move with no fuss, other times I go to plan B and decide how to make it work in (or near) the hens original chosen location... only after they are settled in the location they will remain for the period of their brooding do I give them eggs. It reduces the chances of any staggering hatches, it reduces broken eggs (from a freaking out hen who wants back in her other box) and allows me to evaluate how the hen is about being handled, and it gives me a few days to gather up the eggs I want her to hatch.
I have noticed with the broodies I have had that they get more and more short tempered as they get near their hatch date, mostly it is the last few days when they are in 'lock down' mentality that they don't like being bothered. It is natural... I can't say that I blame them at all for it... they are protecting their nest. I have never tried to move them near their lock down time, but unless the situation was extreme I wouldn't be willing to risk the hatch. Once the broody has chicks instead of eggs they seem like they are willing to move without any fuss.

Every situation and broody is different, so each person must evaluate and judge if they are willing to risk the possible consequences... think of the worst things that may happen... and decide if you want to risk that as the possible outcome. If there is some extreme circumstance that puts the broody at risk, then her safety needs to be priority... otherwise it is a judgement call.

 

[fisherlady]

I don't think I've posted these yet to this thread--randerson and Molly have seen it on our Hatch-a-long Thread but thought it might be helpful for others coming to this thread. I'm so excited about this.... This is Dixie in the new Broody coop. Moistened feed and water near by. Cozy nest in the corner to brood her eggs/chicks.

Memorial day!

Memorial Day!
Under Dixie is a Buckeye, Welsummer, 2 olive eggers set yesterday and all the way from Kentucky

-- 2 BLRW eggs. The 3rd BLRW egg had a detached air cell when candled. So that one is on my counter setting still for a day or two.

Beautiful set up for a broody! She's a lucky hen!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I don't think I've posted these yet to this thread--randerson and Molly have seen it on our Hatch-a-long Thread but thought it might be helpful for others coming to this thread. I'm so excited about this.... This is Dixie in the new Broody coop. Moistened feed and water near by. Cozy nest in the corner to brood her eggs/chicks.

Memorial day!

Memorial Day!
Under Dixie is a Buckeye, Welsummer, 2 olive eggers set yesterday and all the way from Kentucky

-- 2 BLRW eggs. The 3rd BLRW egg had a detached air cell when candled. So that one is on my counter setting still for a day or two.

I agree...very nice set up.
Good luck on your brooding....4 of my 6 Rhodebar eggs hatched today under a first time broody...and 6 of the Buckeyes (from Kentucky as well) are looking to be developing and are sitting under my Silkie to hatch in 2 weeks.

3 of my shipped eggs also had badly detached air cells and never reattached after several days of sitting, so I never set them...but hey I figure I got 10 eggs in tact to set, and of those 6 are clearly developing....not to bad after being shook across the country.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Bogtown Chick]

Thanks Fisherlady. I see looking at the picture now...that I'll want to clean up last winter's straw/litter out of the run before those chicks arrive.

We can improve that for the wee ones...

 

[Bogtown Chick]

I agree...very nice set up.
Good luck on your brooding....4 of my 6 Rhodebar eggs hatched today under a first time broody...and 6 of the Buckeyes (from Kentucky as well) are looking to be developing and are sitting under my Silkie to hatch in 2 weeks.

3 of my shipped eggs also had badly detached air cells and never reattached after several days of sitting, so I never set them...but hey I figure I got 10 eggs in tact to set, and of those 6 are clearly developing....not to bad after being shook across the country.

Lady of McCamley

LOL. I'm feeling lucky about 2/3rds being okay to put under the Broody too after travelling further than I've been in 5 years. Clearly...getting your eggs as local as you can...less miles between the egg and the hen is the way to be. But I needed to have what I needed to have- DH would call me bullheaded.

But that's a whole other thread....under Random Ramblings I'm guessing.

Oh I'm giddy about our latest project with Dixie and I think it's time for bed. Good night all. Can't wait to see what's happening with you all tomorrow. Congrats Lady on your new Rhodebars...if you get some pics...would love to see the new chicks. In the meantime I need to google the breed to see what the adults will look like. How fun!