Broody Hen Thread!

[Murs]

If she has food and water close by, she will be fine. Broodies get up and eat and drink and poo once a day. You just likely won't see her, and might not notice a lot of the food gone. Keeping her on high protein feed is important, and I like to put vitamin/electrolytes in the water to also help boost her.

Ah yes, those darn black ants. They don't seem to bother the hen, but I don't like them either...and they WILL swarm over the hatching chicks as they hatch bringing in bacteria.

I use "Orange Guard" and Poultry Dust (Permethrin) in the nest area to help cut down on them. Neither of those will hurt the hen or eggs or chicks.

Lady of McCamley

Thanks for the info! I have diatomacious earth in the nest box but maybe that's not effective against ants.

I will need to get a feeder and waterer for the chicks so I'll buy that now and put it in the coop close to my broody.

 

[proudmama3]

Ok so I have some what of a mystery???? This is my first time of having a broody hen and she has been sitting on eggs now for 19 days. It started with 6 eggs then the next day we added 2 more then she must have laid another because days after that she was on 9. We had checked and ALL 9 were fertile. When we went out yesterday we found that she was only laying on 4. My husband said it looked like she had pushed the others aside. When I went out to check they were completely missing, with absolutely no trace of even a shell although she still had the 4 under her. What is really strange is that today I went out and checked under her and she is now sitting on 7????? I am really worried whats going to happen now with hatch day only 2 days away. She is seperated in her own little box type structure so the other hens are not laying by her. They had laid 2 eggs today which were still in their laying box so I know my broody hen didn't take another hens eggs so it's almost like she hid some of her eggs then got them back and put a couple back under her?????
I know this sounds really strange. I had come to the conclusion that either her or another hen ate the eggs but when I now found that 3 had reappeared I'm more confused then ever...... Had anyone else ever experienced this???? What could have happened???

 

[Phoenixxx]

Thanks for the info! I have diatomacious earth in the nest box but maybe that's not effective against ants.

I will need to get a feeder and waterer for the chicks so I'll buy that now and put it in the coop close to my broody.

I've used DE successfully against ants! Find their entry point and lay a THICK strip all across it. They need to be forced to walk through it and it needs to be deep enough that it gets on the ants' bodies. It's not instant but you will notice the numbers rapidly dwindling until they're all gone. Plus, because it's actually a dietary supplement (the food-grade DE) it'll be safe for the chicks to eat the ants! My chicks LOVE ants

 

[fisherlady]

Ok so I have some what of a mystery???? This is my first time of having a broody hen and she has been sitting on eggs now for 19 days. It started with 6 eggs then the next day we added 2 more then she must have laid another because days after that she was on 9. We had checked and ALL 9 were fertile. When we went out yesterday we found that she was only laying on 4. My husband said it looked like she had pushed the others aside. When I went out to check they were completely missing, with absolutely no trace of even a shell although she still had the 4 under her. What is really strange is that today I went out and checked under her and she is now sitting on 7????? I am really worried whats going to happen now with hatch day only 2 days away. She is seperated in her own little box type structure so the other hens are not laying by her. They had laid 2 eggs today which were still in their laying box so I know my broody hen didn't take another hens eggs so it's almost like she hid some of her eggs then got them back and put a couple back under her?????
I know this sounds really strange. I had come to the conclusion that either her or another hen ate the eggs but when I now found that 3 had reappeared I'm more confused then ever...... Had anyone else ever experienced this???? What could have happened???

I have seen hens tuck eggs up under their wings and hold them there for extended periods of time, even get up and carry them from one place to another. In the process of checking it is possible she had them tucked up under her wings, unless you see them flapping their wings or dust bathing it is always possible that a broody is hiding a couple.
... and yes, they do bury eggs in bedding and such, especially when they are getting up to do something. One of our broodies will bury eggs in a box for a day or two before going broody and I have found them tucked deep into the hay on other broodies also.

 

[hogster160]

Hi, I have a broody blrw, and I am having turkey eggs shipped in for her to set on. Is there anything I need to do with the eggs before I set them with her?

 

[amynrichie]

Hi, I have a broody blrw, and I am having turkey eggs shipped in for her to set on.  Is there anything I need to do with the eggs before I set them with her?

The eggs will need to be placed in a carton, pointy end down for about 24 hours or so. Don't wash them. You can tilt the egg carton in opposite directions a few times per day. Keep it in a cool place where it won't be disturbed. At nighttime, you can slip the eggs under her.

 

[amynrichie]

I have a broody feed question. My Polish hen is brooding three turkey eggs. I try to start my poults on 30% protein. Will it hurt the hen to eat that high of protein for a few weeks, or should I compromise on the protein?

 

[hogster160]

The eggs will need to be placed in a carton, pointy end down for about 24 hours or so. Don't wash them. You can tilt the egg carton in opposite directions a few times per day. Keep it in a cool place where it won't be disturbed. At nighttime, you can slip the eggs under her.

Thank you! And you food question is a good one, that I will be needing to know as well!

Thanks!

Deb

 

[proudmama3]

I have seen hens tuck eggs up under their wings and hold them there for extended periods of time, even get up and carry them from one place to another.  In the process of checking it is possible she had them tucked up under her wings, unless you see them flapping their wings or dust bathing it is always possible that a broody is hiding a couple.
... and yes, they do bury eggs in bedding and such, especially when they are getting up to do something.  One of our broodies will bury eggs in a box for a day or two before going broody and I have found them tucked deep into the hay on other broodies also.

 

[proudmama3]

Thank you for that information. She must have buried the eggs while she got up to eat then by the time I got out there she had gathered then up and put them back under her. There is still a total of 2 eggs missing so I hope your right and they are just under her wings. I decided to enclose her big nesting box shes in just to be safe. I noticed the rooster and other hens jumping in with her.