Broody Hen Thread!

[cheeka]

Peach successfully hatched 3 and had them out today for some chicken lessons...

while she needed time to take a bath and do some preening, she left her babies with her Silkie daughter, whose eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. I love the communal brooding and rearing that's going on. the Silkie will be given some privacy to ensure her chicks imprint on her... I don't think Peach would steal them... but this is a first for us...

 

[AliceGee]

First hatch from 5 eggs under this silkie, day 20. 25 more eggs under 3 more broody silkies! I'm going to have a lot of babies!

 

[Rhandi74]

Peach successfully hatched 3 and had them out today for some chicken lessons... while she needed time to take a bath and do some preening, she left her babies with her Silkie daughter, whose eggs are due to hatch tomorrow. I love the communal brooding and rearing that's going on. the Silkie will be given some privacy to ensure her chicks imprint on her... I don't think Peach would steal them... but this is a first for us...

Wow!!! That is awesome she has a babysitter.

 

[chicksurreal]

Wow!!! That is awesome she has a babysitter.

Chickens are amazing!

 

[Hennyetta]

Well, I had to take the chicks away from the hen today. It wasn't that she hated them and was attacking them, she just wasn't careful enough with them. There were five, and she squashed two and killed them, and I will be amazed if a third one makes it. It has some blood on its neck, and just lays there breathing and peeping once in a while.

I don't think she is going to keep sitting on the rest of the eggs now, either. Maybe that means they aren't good and wouldn't hatch anyway, but I sure wish she'd hatch at least a couple more. I could have had five chicks, and now I'm probably going to be down to two. Watch both of them be cockerels, too!

What do you guys think? If she ever goes broody again, would you let her hatch again? As far as I know, this was her first time. Would she be more careful next time?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, I had to take the chicks away from the hen today. It wasn't that she hated them and was attacking them, she just wasn't careful enough with them. There were five, and she squashed two and killed them, and I will be amazed if a third one makes it. It has some blood on its neck, and just lays there breathing and peeping once in a while.

I don't think she is going to keep sitting on the rest of the eggs now, either. Maybe that means they aren't good and wouldn't hatch anyway, but I sure wish she'd hatch at least a couple more. I could have had five chicks, and now I'm probably going to be down to two. Watch both of them be cockerels, too!

What do you guys think? If she ever goes broody again, would you let her hatch again? As far as I know, this was her first time. Would she be more careful next time?

So sorry to hear of your losses. That is so frustrating. You might try candling the remaining eggs to see if there is life/development and make your decision then whether to toss or give to another broody hen or place in an incubator in hopes of rescuing some of the hatch.

And, no, I would never use that hen again to brood. She is a careless mother. If she does not do well the first time, it is highly unlikely she will do well the next.

Lady of McCamley

 

[carcar80]

Hi guys, I was excited to come out just now to find Broody Judy taking a break from sitting. It's been DAYS since I've actually caught her off the nest. However, I quickly realized WHAT she had come off for.. Today is the first day I've put my 2-wk-olds out in the yard for the day and she was walking along the edge of their cage, oohing and aaahing at them.

She quickly broke her focus when the other hens came pecking at her and hasn't been back to the chicks since.. But could this create an issue with her sitting?? As long as she doesn't return should I assume she's good?

Thanks!!

 

[sonderah]

Hi guys, I was excited to come out just now to find Broody Judy taking a break from sitting. It's been DAYS since I've actually caught her off the nest. However, I quickly realized WHAT she had come off for.. Today is the first day I've put my 2-wk-olds out in the yard for the day and she was walking along the edge of their cage, oohing and aaahing at them.

She quickly broke her focus when the other hens came pecking at her and hasn't been back to the chicks since.. But could this create an issue with her sitting?? As long as she doesn't return should I assume she's good?

Thanks!!

Maybe she was just checking them out to see what the new stuff was. I have a grow out pen attached to my sizzle pen and my broody silkies have never stopped sitting due to the babies being out there. Guess it depends on the hen, but mine wouldn't want to mother 2 week olds. Lol Guess they r picky.

 

[carcar80]

Ok thanks! That makes me feel better. She still hasn't been back to them, now she's back in the run picking at scraps with the others.

Here's a pic I got of her a minute ago. It's crazy how much mass they lose but I guess it's just part of it. Thanks again!

 

[Rhandi74]

Jewel has a chick today!!! Yay!!! I am so excited for her. There may be more to come, she still has 6 more eggs.

Sorry about the quality. I will get better pics later