Broody Hen Thread!

[sdsmowen]

Silly question but ...my broody hatched 6 chicks..do i feed them chick starter or just the same layer feed momma chicken gets?

 

[FirewifeJess]

Silly question but ...my broody hatched 6 chicks..do i feed them chick starter or just the same layer feed momma chicken gets?

Definitely switch her and the babies to chick feed right away. She'll benefit from the extra protein for a while and if you feed the chicks layer feed with the extra calcium you risk giving them permanent kidney and liver damage, and possibly bone abnormalities. Make sure in 4-8 weeks whenever she begins laying again that she has access to oyster shell or other forms of calcium.

 

[1HotChickenMama]

I'm new to the thread. I have a broody hen that started sitting yesterday. Soooo excited to have chickys around Easter time for my boys. I have had broodys before but cant remember when I should relocate her to her own space.... ?? Should I do it now? She's very determined but she is also in with 4 other hens.

 

[MorgansManor]

I'm new to the thread. I have a broody hen that started sitting yesterday. Soooo excited to have chickys around Easter time for my boys. I have had broodys before but cant remember when I should relocate her to her own space.... ?? Should I do it now? She's very determined but she is also in with 4 other hens.

I learned the hard way by not moving mine to a seperate area and she was pushed off her nest on day 8. After that I moved on about day 3 to a seperate small broody pen and she is sitting happily at day 15. Actually I moved a second hen a few days later and it seems to work if you do it later in the evening - that was something I read on this board. Good luck it is very exciting!

 

[BenAnnaMama]

So I have a Swedish Flower Hen that tends to sit in the nesting boxes on the eggs. She doesn't stay there all day and moves if I shoo her off of them. She tends to want to sleep on the eggs at night. Is this "broody"? I'm thinking about letting her hatch out some eggs...

Also, I asked this on another thread but this might be the better place for it... Here's my original thread...


I have a SFH that seems pretty broody. I usually have to convince her to get off of the eggs that I collect everyday. I was thinking she would be a good candidate to sit on some fertile eggs. I have 8 hens total and I am wondering how the others would respond to the new chicks, also, is it warm enough for the babies? It still gets down to about 35-40 degrees here at night, and would I have to take them into the coop every night or does mom just stay with them outside? And what about predators??

Thanks in advance for your advice!

 

[cluckcluckluke]

Broody WARS!!!!

I have 3 broody hens with chicks all due to hatch on the same day. Will the broody hens kill the other broody's chicks?
Also will my new rooster ( he is only 11 wks old ) hurt the chicks?
I will have each broody and her chicks in a separate cage for a week or so at the start.

 

[youngchooklover]

I have 1 Silkie and she's broody it is her 7 day siting

 

[MorgansManor]

C

I have 1 Silkie and she's broody it is her 7 day sitinge

Congrats I have heard silkies a very good broody hens - best of luck!

 

[youngchooklover]

THANK YOU

 

[1HotChickenMama]

I learned the hard way by not moving mine to a seperate area and she was pushed off her nest on day 8. After that I moved on about day 3 to a seperate small broody pen and she is sitting happily at day 15. Actually I moved a second hen a few days later and it seems to work if you do it later in the evening - that was something I read on this board. Good luck it is very exciting!

Thank You very much...tomorrow night it is then! =)