Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

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!

Sounds like you have a good chance of brooding within the flock then... dominant hens definitely make is an easier thing, especially for a new experience for the flock!
I know many separate, and that is fine, and should be decided based on individual needs... but for us it has been awesome having our broodies raise the little ones with the whole flock. The chicks are integrated at just a few weeks, they learn to put themselves to bed with the rest of the flock and they just slide into coop life with very little theatrics.

Our first broody hatch of the year was Valentine's day... since then we have had 8 more (with 3 being this past weekend)... we already sold many of the earlier hatches other than 10 who were held back for our flock use. We have a group of 5 who were just given up by their broody mama a few days ago that were out free ranging in our yard and woods all weekend on their own and they made routine trips to the coop for water or found us to beg treats but otherwise they were without adult supervision.... they did just fine and put themselves into the coop each evening and were up on roost boards just like the big birds... I don't think you get that level of integration in any other way other than letting them grow up within the coop...it is just so cool to walk out into the yard, call... 'here chook, chook, chook' and have birds of every age come running from all directions to see what goodies they are getting.

 

[BLT79]

Wow, sounds like you have some good chickens. I hope we can keep them in their. Makes integration easier. I wish I could free range. How many do you have? What breed? Didn't know they went broody that often. They are on 13 eggs. Not sure how many will hatch but I can't keep roos. Already have 2. My friend hatched 6 eggs in incubator and 1 out of the 6 was a boy.

 

[fisherlady]

Wow, sounds like you have some good chickens. I hope we can keep them in their. Makes integration easier. I wish I could free range. How many do you have? What breed? Didn't know they went broody that often. They are on 13 eggs. Not sure how many will hatch but I can't keep roos. Already have 2. My friend hatched 6 eggs in incubator and 1 out of the 6 was a boy.

We have about 29 or 30 adults, 5 are roosters (2 of which won't be staying long)
Some hens are Black sex links, a gold SL, 2 buckeye hens, a handful of barnyard mixes (2 with feathered feet, so maybe a cochin background? Bought them as adults so not sure)
A handful of Silver Pencil Rock hens (4 out of 5 were broody before 1 yr old)
2 hatchery Black giants... both broody before 14 months old
1 silkie hen who is perpetually broody

We evidently lucked into some broody genetics somewhere along the way... but I think part of it is the 'broody flu' phenomenon, seems like being in the company of broody hens and chicks seems to tip a hen over the edge when they are considering it.... not always.. but sure seems like seeing a broody tends to start a broody! LOL

Any rooster we keep needs to pass the broody chick test also... any who are nasty to chicks don't stay. We happen to have a bunch who have been awesome with youngsters but we have sent a few to freezer camp due to poor tolerance of babies also. We know the environment we have in the coop and have worked to keep the personality of birds who keep it peaceful. We even choose our hatching eggs (for barnyard mixes) based on parent personalities, not just their size and egg abilities. It has taken some time but now we have a good balance and it is easy to care for the coop when the drama is minimal.

 

[Chilali]

I had two broodies on eggs for a while now... Lost one entire nest that I had tried to keep with the flock when a more dominant hen randomly decided to attack the broody for no reason on day 17. I took the eggs that weren't crushed and quickly put them under the other broody (who accepted them with no more than a couple of gentle pecks... she's a proven mother and doesn't fuss much), but none survived. The eggs under the separated broody did well, though, and she hatched four of five successfully and all seem wonderfully healthy. The littlest chick needed some help getting out of the shell because it tried to hatch sideways, but all I did was crack the top so that its head wasn't stuck and it came out the rest of the way on its own. Five days old now and doing absolutely wonderfully.

How old should the chicks be before I try to integrate with the flock? I normally don't introduce incubator babies until 3-4 months (depending largely on breed and personality of the individual chick), so I wasn't sure if I should wait that long with the ones under the broody or if she would guard them... I've never let a broody raise a bunch under my supervision before, so I'm not sure where to go from here.

EDIT: As a note, the separated hen and her chicks are in a setup that's very safe for both hen and chicks. They've got plenty of access to feed, clean water, and the nest box is on the floor with just a small panel at the front that the chicks are able to hop over with no issues, so they're fine to stay there as long as needed... and I have a very large brood cage they can use if the current broody box setup seems too small in the coming weeks. The babies currently in that brood cage are almost big enough for flock integration, so they should be out of there long before the larger cage becomes necessary.

 

[fisherlady]

I had two broodies on eggs for a while now... Lost one entire nest that I had tried to keep with the flock when a more dominant hen randomly decided to attack the broody for no reason on day 17. I took the eggs that weren't crushed and quickly put them under the other broody (who accepted them with no more than a couple of gentle pecks... she's a proven mother and doesn't fuss much), but none survived. The eggs under the separated broody did well, though, and she hatched four of five successfully and all seem wonderfully healthy. The littlest chick needed some help getting out of the shell because it tried to hatch sideways, but all I did was crack the top so that its head wasn't stuck and it came out the rest of the way on its own. Five days old now and doing absolutely wonderfully.

How old should the chicks be before I try to integrate with the flock? I normally don't introduce incubator babies until 3-4 months (depending largely on breed and personality of the individual chick), so I wasn't sure if I should wait that long with the ones under the broody or if she would guard them... I've never let a broody raise a bunch under my supervision before, so I'm not sure where to go from here.

EDIT: As a note, the separated hen and her chicks are in a setup that's very safe for both hen and chicks. They've got plenty of access to feed, clean water, and the nest box is on the floor with just a small panel at the front that the chicks are able to hop over with no issues, so they're fine to stay there as long as needed... and I have a very large brood cage they can use if the current broody box setup seems too small in the coming weeks. The babies currently in that brood cage are almost big enough for flock integration, so they should be out of there long before the larger cage becomes necessary.

Mine are integrated by 5-7 days for outdoor free ranging, and usually for all intents and purposes they are integrated in the coop also, although they usually have a nest area in a quiet corner away from the central hub-bub of the coop. For more timid hens or first time broodies I provide them a secure area for the first few weeks if they want it. At night the hens can move the chicks into a quiet corner of the central coop area or go back to their more secluded area (still in the coop, but in our 'people area' where we keep feed and supplies, divided by chicken wire from central coop) Most of the hens are back into the main coop area by the time the chicks are 2 weeks, some a bit sooner, some a week or so longer, one hen happens to love her broody hut in the people area and would stay in it year around if she was allowed, I think! LOL

Much of the decision for broody hen/chick integration depends on flock dynamics and broody hen's attitude. Keep them secure when you aren't around to supervise but start letting the hen have a choice after a week or so, she will probably start showing signs she wants out to roam with the little ones. Remember that free ranging with the flock can be a good method of integration, it allows them room to move away from conflicts and still allows the other flock members to approach once in a while, or one at a time...it is also a good time to observe for possible problem flock members so you can better plan the integration.

If free ranging isn't possible the broody should still have an outside run area that is within full site and sound of the rest of the flock so they get used to the new additions.

 

[BLT79]

I knew marans could go broody but didn't think anything of it. I just really liked them! So it's a bonus. if I didn't have a rooster it would be a waste of eggs! haha!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Anyone have any trouble with little black ants getting into the nest?

We had a down pour yesterday which always drives out the tiny sugar ants...the broody's nest has ants now, crawling over some spilled food and some poo...which I took care of as best I could as it is lock down...no hatches yet, but one egg had a hole pipped this morning (heard peeping and scruffling last night)...but not anything more today when I checked this afternoon.

I HATE these little black ants...the Rhodebar nest had them too, but the chicks had hatched and I was able to clean the nest out and spray the area with Orange Guard...but the Buckeye chicks are in the process of hatching (or should be...unfortunately not much is happening).

I know some chickens will eat the ants, but does anyone know if the black ants will interfere with the hatching? (Like crawl into the egg with the chick through the pip hole and cause problems?)

I've done all I can right now. Just curious. (And hoping they won't mess with the hatch).

Lady of McCamley

 

[fisherlady]

A few pictures I took today of our latest broody hens and their weekend hatches...
One poor girl is currently molting on top of being broody!
Ilea's hatch ..

Janeway's group...

And Heckle, who was hatched last August herself. So not even 9 months yet, but her mama is a faithful broody for us and her daddy is a great broody rooster, so she has the genetics!

Chicks are all either Silver pencil rocks or heritage white Rocks.

Edit to correct... I just went back through my pictures and realized that Heckle was hatched on September 14th of last year, not in August (that was another broody hatch in August) ... so she is just now 7 months old?? Wow, I didn't realize just how young she had been when she decided to set!

 

[Phoenixxx]

Anyone have any trouble with little black ants getting into the nest?

We had a down pour yesterday which always drives out the tiny sugar ants...the broody's nest has ants now, crawling over some spilled food and some poo...which I took care of as best I could as it is lock down...no hatches yet, but one egg had a hole pipped this morning (heard peeping and scruffling last night)...but not anything more today when I checked this afternoon.

I HATE these little black ants...the Rhodebar nest had them too, but the chicks had hatched and I was able to clean the nest out and spray the area with Orange Guard...but the Buckeye chicks are in the process of hatching (or should be...unfortunately not much is happening).

I know some chickens will eat the ants, but does anyone know if the black ants will interfere with the hatching? (Like crawl into the egg with the chick through the pip hole and cause problems?)

I've done all I can right now. Just curious. (And hoping they won't mess with the hatch).

Lady of McCamley

DE!!! I've noticed chicks love to eat ants but grownups tend to pass them over. Anyway, DE TOTALLY works! My house has an ant problem. First year in it I tried sprinkling borax as per internet natural pesticides, but that didn't really work. Last year, I swept up the remaining borax and replaced it with DE. The ants came and went, but never came back! I had an ant-free summer last year So, that said, dust the ants' entry points and your problem should be solved.

 

[n3kms]

Quote:
Very sweet!