Broody Hen Thread!

[calichicken]

My girl is a super determined broody, I think an EE/cochin mix. The first go round this year, I was worried and took her off the nest every other day and fed her treats to keep her healthy. She didn't lose any weight during her set, and hatched out healthy chicks. The second go round, I let her do her thing, but still gave her food and water every day in the nest. She would get off about every third day when left on her own. Sometimes two days in a row, sometimes went four. At the end/ lock down, she went five days in the nest, with just me giving her water and some chick feed or scrambled eggs. She did not poop in her nest, but she wasn't eating much. Her chicks are now two days old, she has them out and about, and she still didn't lose any weight this hatch. So at least in my (limited) experience, they know what they are doing, and she did just as well when I left her alone. I would make sure your hen is drinking, it is so hot right now. Good luck with your broody girl! They are so much fun, I love watching my hen with her chicks. The funniest thing to me is that her last hatch, 13 weeks, are still in the run/coop with her and the chicks, and are terrified of the babies! So funny, they are almost full grown, but will run from those chicks in a heart beat.

Ok...trust my broody

Thanks so much! This is first time for both of us so just want to make sure she is healthy and ok! I have her food/water in her broody area maybe a foot from her nest...so she does have to get up to eat/drink. Is that ok or should I move it closer?

 

[fisherlady]

Ok...trust my broody

Thanks so much! This is first time for both of us so just want to make sure she is healthy and ok! I have her food/water in her broody area maybe a foot from her nest...so she does have to get up to eat/drink. Is that ok or should I move it closer?

she will be fine either way, but I do try to keep the water within easy reach when it is so hot... but that is more to keep my silly human self feeling good because chickens have sat on eggs and hatched just fine for eons without us hovering over them, but I know this and do it anyway to avoid stresses on the hens. Some hens take advantage of the spoiling, others ignore it...

 

[calichicken]

she will be fine either way, but I do try to keep the water within easy reach when it is so hot... but that is more to keep my silly human self feeling good because chickens have sat on eggs and hatched just fine for eons without us hovering over them, but I know this and do it anyway to avoid stresses on the hens. Some hens take advantage of the spoiling, others ignore it...

LOL...yes, I do think we do more to make ourselves feel better...she probably thinks we are CRAZY...LOL

She finally got up to eat and boy was she hungry! My hubby persuaded her to drink a bit...now if she would just poop so we are sure all is good, WE would feel so much better..LOL

 

[happyfrenchman]

I have a couple of questions for ya'll about broody hens. I looked back through the thread but did not see anything along the lines of what I was wondering.

I have an 18 month old hen that is sitting on her first clutch of 6 eggs. (I added a couple when I realized she was setting. 6 total.) In one of my nest boxes in the wall. 10 inches off the floor. Now, assuming there is some spread, (a day or two) between the first and last hatcher,

If the chicks hatch and come out of the box, they will not be able to get back to their mother if she remains on the other eggs. Is this an issue or do the chicks just hang out until mom tells them it is good to go.

Once they are all hatched, I was going to put something on the coop floor so they could nest on one level. I am assuming the hen will know to gather the chicks in the place I have set up. Or should I confine her. I am really hoping to make this as natural as possible.

Will the chicks use a ramp to get out of the coop. (My coop is about a foot high jump for a mature chicken. I was going to put a little chick ladder. Will Momma get them to use it?

 

[sonderah]

I have a couple of questions for ya'll about broody hens. I looked back through the thread but did not see anything along the lines of what I was wondering.

I have an 18 month old hen that is sitting on her first clutch of 6 eggs. (I added a couple when I realized she was setting. 6 total.) In one of my nest boxes in the wall. 10 inches off the floor.  Now, assuming there is some spread, (a day or two) between the first and last hatcher, 

If the chicks hatch and come out of the box, they will not be able to get back to their mother if she remains on the other eggs. Is this an issue or do the chicks just hang out until mom tells them it is good to go.

Once they are all hatched, I was going to put something on the coop floor so they could nest on one level. I am assuming the hen will know to gather the chicks in the place I have set up. Or should I confine her. I am really hoping to make this as natural as possible.

Will the chicks use a ramp to get out of the coop. (My coop is about a foot high jump for a mature chicken. I was going to put a little chick ladder. Will Momma get them to use it?

I've lost 1 because when I was totally new, I didn't think the chicks would come out for days!! So I let it go too late and 1 got out and unable to get back in, chilled and died before I could get it warm enough. My suggestion would be to block her in the box when its hatch time just to ensure their safety.
As for the coop itself, :/ Mine couldn't make it even up over a 2 inch lip on the doghouses I keep in the run for broody & babies! I still have to add peices of wood stacked to help them with that. And it usually takes them a bit to learn the ropes of a ladder. If u are able to check often to be sure they haven't been left out alone, then that would probably be ok. But if u r gone all day working, idk if I would trust it personally. But I'm always a "chicken" to not watch closely. Lol

 

[sonderah]

I'm going home a week earlier than originally planned!!!! Although, I will miss my mom, dad, only sibling, and only nephew for the next yr til they come see me, I am also VERY excited to get home! I miss EVERYTHING there!!! Especially my man and my chickies!!!

 

[calichicken]

I'm going home a week earlier than originally planned!!!! Although, I will miss my mom, dad, only sibling, and only nephew for the next yr til they come see me, I am also VERY excited to get home! I miss EVERYTHING there!!! Especially my man and my chickies!!!

YAY...happy homecoming! Chicks, eggs and your man will be so happy!!!

 

[Back2Roots]

Gracie's chicks hatched out by Friday morning - three little fluff balls. One started zipping but died and the two remaining eggs never hatched. I imagine they never started or died during incubation. Still, we now have three sturdy babies, so we can't complain. :-D

 

[luvmypets]

Congrats nothing sweeter than mom and chick!

 

[abserbean]

So out of our four healthy chicks, one is lethargic today. The chick went to bed fine, and this morning doesn't want to wake up, similar to how the one who died was acting. The other three are lively and out with mom. I have removed the lethargic chick, put it in a brooder under a lamp, and started sugar water. I'm going to try and get some sav-a-chick this afternoon, and was thinking of starting corid for all of the chicks as a preventative. Can they get cocci this quickly? They are only three days old, and the one who died didn't even make it to 24 hours, but mom did have them out in the dirt right away. We have never had cocci in the flock, even with our last batch of baby chicks. I'm not sure if they have a vitamin def. from the parent stock, or if it is an illness. No other symptoms besides lethargic. Fingers crossed that we can save this chick, but everything I'm reading about lethargic chicks that are this little don't seem to do so well.


Edited to add: just answered my own question. Baby in brooder had a bloody poop, starting corid asap with all the chicks, hoping I can save this guy!