Broody Hen Thread!

[Lady of McCamley]

Excuse my ignorance, but what breed is your mama hen pictured here.

Well, she came from a grab bag of eggs from the feed store that was *supposed* to be layer breeds...however, they were truly a mixed bag of breeds...so she is a Barnyard Mix.

My best guess is she is Wyandotte and ???? There was clearly an Easter Egger on the premises from one of the other chicks that hatched, which may have been the roo...but also some game influence as a half sibling that came out of a similar egg is 3/4 size and looks like an Andalusian/Game...they both have the same neck ticking color...she's pretty whatever she is.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Junibutt]

Well, she came from a grab bag of eggs from the feed store that was *supposed* to be layer breeds...however, they were truly a mixed bag of breeds...so she is a Barnyard Mix.

My best guess is she is Wyandotte and ???? There was clearly an Easter Egger on the premises from one of the other chicks that hatched, which may have been the roo...but also some game influence as a half sibling that came out of a similar egg is 3/4 size and looks like an Andalusian/Game...they both have the same neck ticking color...she's pretty whatever she is.

Lady of McCamley

Yes, she is very pretty. Some of the mixes can be beautiful, they could be our accidental new breeds and we just ignore them. I asked because she is very similar to one I got as a blue laced Wyandotte but was not. Here is your broody's pic and my hen for similarities:

 

[abserbean]

She is very pretty! Our broody is a barnyard mix too. I don't know what she is, but between the beard and feathered legs I'm guessing EE/cochin? I really have no idea. She is a great little mom though!

I wanted to share this silly pic. All of the chicks, but this little EE in particular, love to ride on mom's back! Do your chicks do that? This little guy/girl will hop up there every chance she gets, and when they go to roost at night she wants to be on her back.
Also, I think our other known broody wants to start sitting, but she can't relax on the nest. She and Lillie, our current mom, were pen mates, but I moved her over to my other pen when the chicks came. The main reason I did this was b/c of feeding. Paisley (the other hen) is a big pig, and will eat all of the chicks food. She hasn't laid an egg in four days (she is usually at least every other) but we have caught her sitting on the nest twice the last few days. Problem is, the girls won't let her stay on the nest. She is the bottom of pecking order, since she is a new graft, and she is on their favorite nest, so they just keep kicking her out. Should I move her back with Lillie and the chicks? I could just feed them throughout the day, and if she is going to start sitting soon than I won't have to worry about it at that point. I don't want her to accidentally hurt the chicks, she has gone in for a visit a couple of times, and has pecked a few chicks. She doesn't go after them though, and I think the would quickly learn to stay out of her way. Any advice? I never knew how much "social" drama would be involved in keeping chickens when I started!

 

[fisherlady]

She is very pretty! Our broody is a barnyard mix too. I don't know what she is, but between the beard and feathered legs I'm guessing EE/cochin? I really have no idea. She is a great little mom though!

I wanted to share this silly pic. All of the chicks, but this little EE in particular, love to ride on mom's back! Do your chicks do that? This little guy/girl will hop up there every chance she gets, and when they go to roost at night she wants to be on her back.
Also, I think our other known broody wants to start sitting, but she can't relax on the nest. She and Lillie, our current mom, were pen mates, but I moved her over to my other pen when the chicks came. The main reason I did this was b/c of feeding. Paisley (the other hen) is a big pig, and will eat all of the chicks food. She hasn't laid an egg in four days (she is usually at least every other) but we have caught her sitting on the nest twice the last few days. Problem is, the girls won't let her stay on the nest. She is the bottom of pecking order, since she is a new graft, and she is on their favorite nest, so they just keep kicking her out. Should I move her back with Lillie and the chicks? I could just feed them throughout the day, and if she is going to start sitting soon than I won't have to worry about it at that point. I don't want her to accidentally hurt the chicks, she has gone in for a visit a couple of times, and has pecked a few chicks. She doesn't go after them though, and I think the would quickly learn to stay out of her way. Any advice? I never knew how much "social" drama would be involved in keeping chickens when I started!

You can certainly try re-introducing her to the mama and chicks... an occasional 'stay away' peck from an adult hen is common in flocks where the little ones are mixed in. They do quickly learn to avoid the grumpy hens. The chicks certainly look old enough to be quick about avoiding it also. Just supervise them and do the reintroduction in an area large enough to allow them to move away from each other.

Make sure there are at least 2 'comfy looking' nesting areas available so that there is no competition between the current broody mama and the 'wanna be broody'.

It can work... our flock is mixed, with broodies having separation for the first few days and then rejoining the flock. Yesterday the 3 hens who hatched over the weekend were all out to range with the flock for the second time already. Biggest conficts were between the broodies themselves, not with other flock members, though there were a few pecks given out. But those little ones soon had it figured out and they are only 5 days old. I don't think there is anything much cuter to watch than a full sized rooster finding tidbits for a little fluff ball!

So supervise, but give it a chance....

 

[abserbean]

I do have two nests in the "broody" pen, but one is a def. favorite. Mama broody isn't in the nest anymore though, she has had the littles up on a roost to sleep with her since they were only two weeks old. The roost is a 2X4, so it's pretty wide, and it is attached to a shelf, so there is a bigger area they can all sleep on. I was a little worried that she took them all up to the roost so young, but it's only about two feet off the ground and they seem to be managing well. It's so funny to see all the big chicks (they are about 3.5weeks) still sleeping under mom. It's not cold here at night, but I guess they still like to snuggle!

 

[water2214]

Today is day 19, and I cannot wait until the chicks will come! I have three eggs that are in lockdown, but there is some yolk on them from another broken egg. It's just a little on maybe two of the eggs, but I don't know whether I should risk cleaning them. How should I clean them off if it's okay to do so? It's my first hatch and I'm so nervous waiting and wondering if any will hatch.

 

[fisherlady]

Today is day 19, and I cannot wait until the chicks will come! I have three eggs that are in lockdown, but there is some yolk on them from another broken egg. It's just a little on maybe two of the eggs, but I don't know whether I should risk cleaning them. How should I clean them off if it's okay to do so? It's my first hatch and I'm so nervous waiting and wondering if any will hatch.

If they aren't heavily coated I wouldn't try cleaning them, especially if it is already dry. If it is wet still you can gently wipe them off with clean straw or hay or a soft cloth but don't rub them.
Good luck on your hatch! You will probably start to hear cheeping by tomorrow.

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Broody question. My silkie went broody a couple days ago and I'd been saving her eggs and had 4. She was laying steady, then went broody the next day and didn't lay an egg, so I put the 4 eggs under her yesterday because I didn't want the 4 eggs to get any older. She has not moved off the nest since I gave her the eggs yesterday in the middle of the day. I just now lifted her off the nest so she could eat, drink, poo and she must have laid a 5th egg! There is no possibility that this is not her egg. Obviously this isn't desirable if she keeps doing this because of a staggered hatch, but isn't it unlikely that she would still lay AND be sooo broody? :/

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Broody question. My silkie went broody a couple days ago and I'd been saving her eggs and had 4. She was laying steady, then went broody the next day and didn't lay an egg, so I put the 4 eggs under her yesterday because I didn't want the 4 eggs to get any older. She has not moved off the nest since I gave her the eggs yesterday in the middle of the day. I just now lifted her off the nest so she could eat, drink, poo and she must have laid a 5th egg! There is no possibility that this is not her egg. Obviously this isn't desirable if she keeps doing this because of a staggered hatch, but isn't it unlikely that she would still lay AND be sooo broody?

It takes them a bit to fully enter the broody process...so no it happens...remember the hen builds her clutch during the brooding process.

Of course we don't prefer this as it makes for staggered hatching. What you can do is mark the first eggs with a circle or an X on all sides and pull any later laid eggs.

Or delay adding eggs, pulling older ones, until she is in a deeper brood and no longer laying. She should be there soon.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Yes, she is very pretty. Some of the mixes can be beautiful, they could be our accidental new breeds and we just ignore them. I asked because she is very similar to one I got as a blue laced Wyandotte but was not. Here is your broody's pic and my hen for similarities:

Thank you for sharing that...yes they are amazingly similar...so it appears I have credence to think Wyandotte in her lineage...and then ???? for that extra coloration.

Lady of McCamley