Broody Hen Thread!

[catcrazy37]

New to this thread, quick question.
Is it better to separate broodies from each other or not, and is it required?

 

[jerryse]

Had a hen sit on 5 eggs 3 days and then give it up. I know I could throw them in the incubator but would they be shippable at this point? If they are I can fill an swap but if that would damage them then I'll hatch them.

No shipping once incubation is started .

 

[soydo]

New to this thread, quick question.
Is it better to separate broodies from each other or not, and is it required?

Yes better most of the time- you'd think two hens in same nest would hatch more, most of the time that doesn't happen.

Not required if you are not overly concerned about hatching as many chicks as possible.

 

[jerryse]

New to this thread, quick question.
Is it better to separate broodies from each other or not, and is it required?

It is best to separate them . Sometimes they are successful on shared nests but usually it is a complete disaster .

 

[catcrazy37]

Okay, sounds good. I'll have to rethink my setup a bit. Any broody tips?

 

[jerryse]

Okay, sounds good. I'll have to rethink my setup a bit. Any broody tips?

A good broody is hard to beat . Some will accept other chicks some will not . I band the ones that accept more chicks as they are priceless to me for summer chicks . No electric brooding required . Some will attack strange chicks or different color chicks .

 

[catcrazy37]

A good broody is hard to beat . Some will accept other chicks some will not . I band the ones that accept more chicks as they are priceless to me for summer chicks . No electric brooding required . Some will attack strange chicks or different color chicks .

Okay, good to know. What's your broody setup?

 

[soydo]

IMO the best tip is to have a broody totally isolated. Either in it's own set up or the nest is blocked from all other hens. The con with the latter is having to remove the hen once daily for toilet breaks. Not really feasible if she is a nest warrior or flips out a storm because those hens are likely to break eggs while you are letting them out for a break. And you have to be around for a while until she goes back to the nest and block it off again. 21 days of that.

If you have all hens in one set up and would like to move a broody to a separate set up, it's easier if the nests are mobile- lift the whole nest and move it at night. Some people have luck lifting a hen and eggs to a kennel but the average hen probably will have problems with that.

One trick is to move a hen you know will go broody is to move her to a separate set up after she has been laying good for a while, keep her confined to this and let her eggs collect in nest box- if she keeps laying, mark 8 eggs so the eggs don't pile up too much and you know which eggs are fresh. She should eventually go broody and you can replace the eggs, preferably waiting a full day and night before messing with her(if you wanted to replace the eggs for example) No rooster needed unless you want chicks from her.

The ideal would be to move all non-broody chickens, leaving the broody(ies) in their original set up but this is not feasible for most people.

 

[catcrazy37]

That sounds great! Thanks for your help!

 

[cackler]

I have a broody that's been sitting for 22 days. I am Not sure if any the eggs are fertile or not. Does anybody know what is the longest time I should let her go before I take the eggs away from her?