Broody Hen Thread!

[elsfieldchickens]

Wow! That looks like a lot of babies!!! I should let one of mine raise more than 3-4. Lol

yes she has 29

 

[luvmypets]

Omg :O

 

[ocap]

I know this is for chicks, but I can't find anywhere to put this ahah hopefully someone will be able to help me

So my last duckling in the incubator is coming out of its shell ....... Foot first, is this normal?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/step-by-step-guide-to-assisted-hatching

 

[BLT79]

I had two go broody last week. 1 came off nest for awhile. I assume because the other hen had all the eggs. I thought she was just being a copy cat. Well yesterday they both came out at the same time. 13 eggs under them. If they all weren't set on first day of going broody, what does that mean? And since the other hen didn't fully set until a few days later, do I count two separate 21 day periods?

 

[fisherlady]

I had two go broody last week. 1 came off nest for awhile. I assume because the other hen had all the eggs. I thought she was just being a copy cat. Well yesterday they both came out at the same time. 13 eggs under them. If they all weren't set on first day of going broody, what does that mean? And since the other hen didn't fully set until a few days later, do I count two separate 21 day periods?

I would count day 21 from when the first began setting, but expect a staggered hatch due to the possibility that eggs were laid over multiple days. Since they are both brooding now I would set them off of the nest (or wait till they go out on their own, if they do that daily) and mark the eggs with a circle around them. This will allow you to remove any extras being laid by other hens or being collected by the broodies (I have witnessed broody hens carrying eggs from one nest to another, they can be determined and sneaky!)

With a dual broody you may not have as many problems with the staggered hatch. Often it means a hen has to decide to either get up off of the remaining eggs to take care of chicks, or neglect chicks so she can remain on eggs. Having the second broody hen means they should be able to take turns taking care of the new chicks and still finish incubating the late eggs. Hopefully all goes well with the hatch and the 2 broodies can continue to cooperate.

 

[BLT79]

I marked the eggs Saturday when both hens came off the eggs for a bit. Hope they come off again soon so I can gather the other eggs! Thanks for the tip on the countdown to the hatch! maybe they will work as a team! Will I need to take both mom's out with the babies when they hatch?

 

[fisherlady]

I marked the eggs Saturday when both hens came off the eggs for a bit. Hope they come off again soon so I can gather the other eggs! Thanks for the tip on the countdown to the hatch! maybe they will work as a team! Will I need to take both mom's out with the babies when they hatch?

Moving the hens after hatch depends on a few things... is their box safely accessible for the chicks? If it is at floor level then the chicks will be OK to come and go without assistance and you can leave it up to the hens when they want to move. We have had boxes slightly elevated (less than 4") that we have put a block of scrap board in front of to act as a step to allow little ones a way in and out. If it is an elevated box then you will probably have to move them after they hatch to prevent little ones from getting stranded outside of the warm nest area.
We usually try to move the broody hens to a floor nest somewhere within the coop by day two or three to avoid stranded chicks issues.

Once the hens hatch they are much more cooperative about a move. I usually do it on the second day. The hen will still object, but if you have her nest area ready... then move the babies to the new nest... then remove broody from the original nest and put her on the floor in front of the new nest she will normally quickly step into the new nest and settle down over the chicks to warm them. You can candle any left over eggs at the same time and decide if you want to give them back to her or remove them if you feel they are duds.

The only precaution I would give before the move... lift the hen carefully and check any remaining eggs for pipping. I don't move a hen setting on a pipping egg. If you notice pips on eggs then wait till they hatch. It may mean providing additional security to prevent the already hatched chicks from falling out of the nest and getting stranded. It won't hurt them to be confined to the nest with a fine mesh screen for a day (New chicks can fit through 1" chicken wire, so I don't use that for any type of chick fencing).... just make sure they are able to access both food and water by middle or end of day two.

 

[BLT79]

Moving the hens after hatch depends on a few things... is their box safely accessible for the chicks? If it is at floor level then the chicks will be OK to come and go without assistance and you can leave it up to the hens when they want to move. We have had boxes slightly elevated (less than 4") that we have put a block of scrap board in front of to act as a step to allow little ones a way in and out. If it is an elevated box then you will probably have to move them after they hatch to prevent little ones from getting stranded outside of the warm nest area.
We usually try to move the broody hens to a floor nest somewhere within the coop by day two or three to avoid stranded chicks issues.

Once the hens hatch they are much more cooperative about a move. I usually do it on the second day. The hen will still object, but if you have her nest area ready... then move the babies to the new nest... then remove broody from the original nest and put her on the floor in front of the new nest she will normally quickly step into the new nest and settle down over the chicks to warm them. You can candle any left over eggs at the same time and decide if you want to give them back to her or remove them if you feel they are duds.

The only precaution I would give before the move... lift the hen carefully and check any remaining eggs for pipping. I don't move a hen setting on a pipping egg. If you notice pips on eggs then wait till they hatch. It may mean providing additional security to prevent the already hatched chicks from falling out of the nest and getting stranded. It won't hurt them to be confined to the nest with a fine mesh screen for a day (New chicks can fit through 1" chicken wire, so I don't use that for any type of chick fencing).... just make sure they are able to access both food and water by middle or end of day two.

My hens have actually decided to boycott the nesting boxes and have laid in the back corner of my coop, which is already floor level. Do I need to remove them after hatch to protect them from the rest of the flock?


so since they are already floor level, are they considered safe?

 

[fisherlady]

My hens have actually decided to boycott the nesting boxes and have laid in the back corner of my coop, which is already floor level. Do I need to remove them after hatch to protect them from the rest of the flock?


so since they are already floor level, are they considered safe?

We allow our hens to brood in the coop with the flock for the most part... but our flock is proven 'chick friendly' other than a few 'stay away' pecks from grumpy hens there is very rarely any conflicts and we are on broody hatch #9 for the year so far with 2 more still sitting on eggs.

What we do provide for the hens is a few days of privacy to allow them to teach the little ones to listen to their vocalizations and to get up to speed on their little legs. We often do this just by using hardware cloth to make a small enclosure around the hen's nest area. They only need a few square feet, just to get up from the nest and show the little ones a few things about eating and drinking and maybe scratching. It looks like your girls chose to set under the leaning roost area? If so then you can simply provide a slanted wire on the back side of the roost boards that basically gives them a half tent shape area for a few days. I would use something to deflect the heaviest poo from directly over the nest if they are under roosts also.
Allowing the hens and chicks this type of enclosure also allows the other flock members to hear and see the little ones so when you remove the fencing and allow the hen and chicks to mingle with the flock after a few days it won't be as big of a shock to the flock.

Watch the other flock members closely over the first few days with the new additions to see if any are problem birds. The broody hens provide a lot of security for the little ones, but watching for problems and intervening if needed can reduce stress on the broody and you!

Some folks do choose to brood the new families in a totally separate area, and that is up to you.... decide what would work best in your coop set up, your flock dynamics and also with your time schedules. Although we have one coop and everyone gets raised together that situation may not work for everyone.

 

[BLT79]

We allow our hens to brood in the coop with the flock for the most part... but our flock is proven 'chick friendly' other than a few 'stay away' pecks from grumpy hens there is very rarely any conflicts and we are on broody hatch #9 for the year so far with 2 more still sitting on eggs.

What we do provide for the hens is a few days of privacy to allow them to teach the little ones to listen to their vocalizations and to get up to speed on their little legs. We often do this just by using hardware cloth to make a small enclosure around the hen's nest area. They only need a few square feet, just to get up from the nest and show the little ones a few things about eating and drinking and maybe scratching. It looks like your girls chose to set under the leaning roost area? If so then you can simply provide a slanted wire on the back side of the roost boards that basically gives them a half tent shape area for a few days. I would use something to deflect the heaviest poo from directly over the nest if they are under roosts also.
Allowing the hens and chicks this type of enclosure also allows the other flock members to hear and see the little ones so when you remove the fencing and allow the hen and chicks to mingle with the flock after a few days it won't be as big of a shock to the flock.

Watch the other flock members closely over the first few days with the new additions to see if any are problem birds. The broody hens provide a lot of security for the little ones, but watching for problems and intervening if needed can reduce stress on the broody and you!

Some folks do choose to brood the new families in a totally separate area, and that is up to you.... decide what would work best in your coop set up, your flock dynamics and also with your time schedules. Although we have one coop and everyone gets raised together that situation may not work for everyone.

thank you so much for all the tips. We did put in a leaning roost. it's actually an old ladder to the kids' playhouse. my chickens do not roost on it though. we have another roosting bar they prefer to use. they use the ladder just to climb up and down when bored or to go in and out of coop! these two hens are actually my most dominant so maybe they will be extra diligent at protecting them. the others are very docile so I will just keep a watchful eye when and if any hatch. I think I will also get that half tent going! thanks again!