Broody Hen Thread!

[Angie16hearts]

So are the eggs safe if she's not sitting on them all day just when she pleases I marked egg just in case and she was in box this morning. She seemed to be going up and down stairs. Confused? I hope she does !

no, I wish I had some I would love to put some under her . That is if she goes broody. I'm curious to see if she moves the other golf ball too.

Yes eggs will be ok

So just to fill my curiosity I moved the golf ball out of peppers nest. I moved it into another lane box and today when I got home she had moved the golf ball back with her eggs. She has now laid three eggs so would this be a good sign of her going broody that she's move the golf ball back to her nest? Also, today I had a little chaos going on in the coop and pepper ran up the stairs to check on the nest. As far as sitting on them shoes sitting on them in the morning time when she's laying and she stays for about an hour each time I'm not sure during the day because I'm gone. So if anybody has any thoughts let me now I was happy to see the golf ball back in. On usual how many eggs were they lay before full broodiness kicks in? She's an old game, Wellsumer, brown leg corn mix we think. Thanks again great thread !

 

[ochochicas]

Well, just got back from vacation and while we were gone another girl decided to go broody. Since she was with a pet sitter, she had already been on the next for over a week before I got home. Do you guys have success breaking a broody after they have been sitting that long? I haven't had any success breaking my broodies even when I catch them early, but we have hatched out eggs twice already and don't have room for more chicks. I would love to let her hatch, I think she would be a great momma, but space is currently at a premium! She is a huge large fowl bird, I could get a full dozen under her no problem. She has now been sitting for two weeks, so maybe I can try a couple "sexed" chicks from the feed store? I've never tried to graft baby chicks, and I know it varies from each hen as to how they will do. She is very laid back as a broody though, hasn't pecked me at least. At least if they were pullets it would be easier to find them homes later, I still have a five week old possible roo that I need to find a home for when I'm sure about gender.

I was told the chicks at the feed store will not accept a hen as their caretaker. They are conditioned to find comfort in the heat lamp rather than a mother chicken. You might be better off looking for some day old chicks that were hatched by a broody.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

It does take some time to settle in because they don't know their mom's "voice" like eggs that were broody hatched but with a good mom they Adjust.

 

[16 paws]

I was told the chicks at the feed store will not accept a hen as their caretaker. They are conditioned to find comfort in the heat lamp rather than a mother chicken. You might be better off looking for some day old chicks that were hatched by a broody.

In my experience it has worked 100% of the time with feed store chicks. I have done it at least 5 times with different broodies. I always do it at night and the chicks are peeping up a storm when I transfer them and as soon as they get under mama, silence......They are much happier under a broody I have noticed than when I brood them under a lamp. They instinctively know to go right under mama too.
Marie

 

[Angie16hearts]

I'd say she is going broody, she is just still building her clutch. Her hormones are not in full force yet. Once she has enough eggs there that feel "just right", she will start staying in the box almost constant and be in a trance, making that adorable light little "cluck cluck" sound everytime u go near, or "growling" at you one. Lol. Do u have any other fertile eggs? U can stick those in there too, she won't care at all.

So just out of curiosity. I moved peppers golf ball out of her nest, not to far just about a foot in front of it. I watched her sit on her nest for a bit yesterday morning. Then believe she played with her friends. When I got home from work she had moved the golf ball back into her nest with her now 3 eggs. Is this a good sign that she has tge broody hormone going. How many will they normally lay before they go full broody? She's a welsummer , old game , brown leghorn mix. Thank you for anymore information!

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Mine usually set on between 6-12. But it is hormonal so hard to say for certain.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Mine usually set on between 6-12. But it is hormonal so hard to say for certain.

Is it a good sign she moved the golf ball back in with her eggs?

 

[Back2Roots]

Is it a good sign she moved the golf ball back in with her eggs?

Yes. It indicates that she is still building on her clutch.

 

[sonderah]

So just out of curiosity. I moved peppers golf ball out of her nest, not to far just about a foot in front of it. I watched her sit on her nest for a bit yesterday morning. Then believe she played with her friends. When I got home from work she had moved the golf ball back into her nest with her now 3 eggs. Is this a good sign that she has tge broody hormone going. How many will they normally lay before they go full broody? She's a welsummer , old game , brown leghorn mix. Thank you for anymore information!

Like everyone else said, seems good, but u need know for sure bout them crazy hormones. If her hormones DO kick in full throttle, u will def know it. Lol She sounds like she's trying to find that, what feels right under her. Is her chest/belly area plucked? I've had one and no eggs to give her, so I just added a bunch of plastic Easter eggs. It was enough to make her not feel like she needed more eggs, and she started setting full time.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Like everyone else said, seems good, but u need know for sure bout them crazy hormones. If her hormones DO kick in full throttle, u will def know it. Lol She sounds like she's trying to find that, what feels right under her. Is her chest/belly area plucked? I've had one and no eggs to give her, so I just added a bunch of plastic Easter eggs. It was enough to make her not feel like she needed more eggs, and she started setting full time.

She plucked some feathers and perfectly put them in a beautiful nest made out of hay. She never has made one before. It's crazy how she had them placed the feathers. I will check her chest when I get home. I also took ball out again just to see. So maybe I will put it back and add one tomorrow. Then she would have 5 eggs and two balls. Maybe set her off. I defitily need to learn the process. Thank you for all your help. I'll be back any more info is welcome