Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

Hi thanks for reply. We have no fertilized eggs, she just thinks they are I guess. Yesterday she sat there all day and had no eggs under her. Guess I'll lift her up and put her out in the yard again. Hopefully break her habit. We only want eggs, not chickis. I was so sure something was wrong with her, never experienced broodies before. Young hens, they just starting laying two months ago.

You may have just ended up with a broody prone bird, they do happen, and it can be hard on egg production when/if that is your focus. You didn't mention if she is still laying any eggs herself? If not then I would definitely lean more toward the broody diagnosis, sleeping in the nest overnight is another strong sign. Removing her from the nest and distracting her frequently is often the only recourse unless you want to place her in an elevated cage to keep her undercarriage cool for a couple of days and break the broody cycle up.
You can do a search for 'how to break a broody' to get more ideas if you don't want her to hatch out eggs, and breaking her cycle would probably be the better idea rather than letting her brood nothing for an extended period of time anyway.

 

[PD-Riverman]

We've got a Silver Laced Wyandotte that is doing the same thing, only difference is that she's laying one egg.

Luck!
RichnSteph

I had about 40 broody hens last year(now)---I broke about 7 and set 33-----Not a One of them layed a egg after going broody. Sure other hens get in the nest with them or when the broody gets off the nest to eat----and lays eggs. Thats why all 33 were moved to a "private" hatching pen. Most of the broodies were game Bantam----the 33 broodies hatched around 250 chicks---which was around $500 in sales. For me Breaking a broody is simple----I just place her in a wire bottom cage with food and water. In about 3 days most all are out the mood. For me-----if I am not going to set her-------I want her to get back to laying eggs----so I break her. Without breaking her----she can stay broody for weeks and weeks. Usually after 3 days in the cage, she gets back to laying in a week or so.

 

[fisherlady]

In our coop I have noticed a very specific broody or maybe 'pre broody' behavior pattern with the hens. For at least 3 or 4 days before they park themselves they will begin vocalizing differently, with unexplained, low toned 'clook, clook, clook' as they roam around. At the same time they begin to reject any interaction with the roosters and often even act grumpy with other hens. They will often spend many hours in the nest and they will still lay an egg each day but will go back up to the roost at night. After a few days of this they will finally get into a 'set' mode and I will find them firmly parked and not returning to the roost at night and only getting out of the box once or maybe twice a day for short forays.

To me the week before this is also part of being broody and they do still lay eggs while in this stage...I've only had a couple of hens out of the 30+ from last year who laid an egg after staying parked in a box overnight, and it was only 1 egg and each time it was a 1st time young broody.

(a couple of my hens are a week or so of this behavior, but most are 3 or 4 days)

 

[Angie16hearts]

Is it common for a GLW to go broody? I went to check on the flock and Goldie was on 6 eggs and the golf ball was out. She is the one hen I have that stays away from the laying boxes at all cost! Of course unless its her turn. Even then I have never Hurd her chirp after laying. Never at night has any if them been in a laying box. I check twice always in roost. one red who is stubborn lays in the hay

I'm more then happy if she does go broody !however I have certain eggs I want to hatch. Do I have 2-3 days to gather more of the fertile eggs I was planning ?
I do realize I could go out now and she will be off. I will leave eggs for the night. See what happens. Thanks in Advance ! Any information is greatly appreciated !

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Is it common for a GLW to go broody? I went to check on the flock and Goldie was on 6 eggs and the golf ball was out. She is the one hen I have that stays away from the laying boxes at all cost! Of course unless its her turn. Even then I have never Hurd her chirp after laying. Never at night has any if them been in a laying box. I check twice always in roost. one red who is stubborn lays in the hay

I'm more then happy if she does go broody !however I have certain eggs I want to hatch. Do I have 2-3 days to gather more of the fertile eggs I was planning ?
I do realize I could go out now and she will be off. I will leave eggs for the night. See what happens. Thanks in Advance ! Any information is greatly appreciated !

If you read a few posts back, you will see the description of the early brooding behavior...hens will typically lay an egg for a few days, exhibiting extensive time on the nest, then settle down to serious brooding once they get a full clutch (pressure of the full clutch on the breastbone will trigger the hormones to do so)

So yes, you have a few days to gather eggs....and should wait at least several days to make sure she is in a good brood.

If she is in a true brood, she will no longer lay any eggs and will stay on the nest nearly 24/7 for 3 weeks. She will get off once a day to eat/drink/poo, then get back onto the nest to go into the broody trance.

When you do gather eggs, take away the eggs she is sitting on now so that all eggs are set at the same time, that way you won't have a staggered hatch.

As to GLW, they are listed as potential brooders, so yes, they are known to go broody, but not as frequently as, say, a Silkie.

Good luck.
Lady of McCamley

 

[Angie16hearts]

If you read a few posts back, you will see the description of the early brooding behavior...hens will typically lay an egg for a few days, exhibiting extensive time on the nest, then settle down to serious brooding once they get a full clutch (pressure of the full clutch on the breastbone will trigger the hormones to do so)

So yes, you have a few days to gather eggs....and should wait at least several days to make sure she is in a good brood.

If she is in a true brood, she will no longer lay any eggs and will stay on the nest nearly 24/7 for 3 weeks. She will get off once a day to eat/drink/poo, then get back onto the nest to go into the broody trance.

When you do gather eggs, take away the eggs she is sitting on now so that all eggs are set at the same time, that way you won't have a staggered hatch.

As to GLW, they are listed as potential brooders, so yes, they are known to go broody, but not as frequently as, say, a Silkie.

Good luck.
Lady of McCamley

Thank you, I watched this morning while getting ready for work and she was the only one in box. 2 hrs went by and I went out to feed them. She got off nest and is eating now so I guess I'll see if she goes back in. If she does go broody, how do I store the fertile eggs I would like her to hatch?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Thank you, I watched this morning while getting ready for work and she was the only one in box. 2 hrs went by and I went out to feed them. She got off nest and is eating now so I guess I'll see if she goes back in. If she does go broody, how do I store the fertile eggs I would like her to hatch?

Just put the eggs in an egg carton as you collect for hatching. Put them pointy side down, and store them in a cool back room. Put a pencil or something on one end of the carton to tip it, then several times a day switch the pencil so a different end is propped...that is so the yolks don't stick to one side or another.

You can swap out older eggs as the week advances...you should not set anything older than 7 days.

When the hen shows she is ready, at that point, take away the throw away eggs she has been sitting on to get her started and replace with the real hatching eggs, all set at the same time.

You can wait until night fall to swap out, but most broody hens don't really mind what egg they sit on...work from the back at her tail to avoid any disgruntled pecks at you or at an egg (inadvertently).

I also do not disturb the hen by taking eggs away every day if I can help it...sitting on her chosen eggs, even if she is slowly collecting more, in the early stages without interruption helps her to settle down into the brood. Remember she will get a little clutch that will help settle her into the deep brood. At that point, you swap out the whole clutch for the clutch you want to hatch...then again leave her completely alone for several days...and disturb her as little as possible during the process. If you need to, candle only at days 5 and 10 to see what is developing (so you can toss the no starts and quitters), and then at 18 only if truly necessary.

Good luck

Lady of McCamley

 

[Angie16hearts]

Just put the eggs in an egg carton as you collect for hatching. Put them pointy side down, and store them in a cool back room. Put a pencil or something on one end of the carton to tip it, then several times a day switch the pencil so a different end is propped...that is so the yolks don't stick to one side or another.

You can swap out older eggs as the week advances...you should not set anything older than 7 days.

When the hen shows she is ready, at that point, take away the throw away eggs she has been sitting on to get her started and replace with the real hatching eggs, all set at the same time.

You can wait until night fall to swap out, but most broody hens don't really mind what egg they sit on...work from the back at her tail to avoid any disgruntled pecks at you or at an egg (inadvertently).

I also do not disturb the hen by taking eggs away every day if I can help it...sitting on her chosen eggs, even if she is slowly collecting more, in the early stages without interruption helps her to settle down into the brood. Remember she will get a little clutch that will help settle her into the deep brood. At that point, you swap out the whole clutch for the clutch you want to hatch...then again leave her completely alone for several days...and disturb her as little as possible during the process. If you need to, candle only at days 5 and 10 to see what is developing (so you can toss the no starts and quitters), and then at 18 only if truly necessary.

Good luck   
Lady of McCamley

Thank you so much! She did end up back in nest within 20 minutes. So I'm crossing my fingers!

 

[Angie16hearts]

Just put the eggs in an egg carton as you collect for hatching. Put them pointy side down, and store them in a cool back room. Put a pencil or something on one end of the carton to tip it, then several times a day switch the pencil so a different end is propped...that is so the yolks don't stick to one side or another.

You can swap out older eggs as the week advances...you should not set anything older than 7 days.

When the hen shows she is ready, at that point, take away the throw away eggs she has been sitting on to get her started and replace with the real hatching eggs, all set at the same time.

You can wait until night fall to swap out, but most broody hens don't really mind what egg they sit on...work from the back at her tail to avoid any disgruntled pecks at you or at an egg (inadvertently).

I also do not disturb the hen by taking eggs away every day if I can help it...sitting on her chosen eggs, even if she is slowly collecting more, in the early stages without interruption helps her to settle down into the brood. Remember she will get a little clutch that will help settle her into the deep brood. At that point, you swap out the whole clutch for the clutch you want to hatch...then again leave her completely alone for several days...and disturb her as little as possible during the process. If you need to, candle only at days 5 and 10 to see what is developing (so you can toss the no starts and quitters), and then at 18 only if truly necessary.

Good luck   
Lady of McCamley

I'm so glad you gave me all the information. The funny thing is. My GLW lost interest . I still let the eggs stay out. Just cleaned coop put the old eggs back in just to see.
My head hen is a OEG. She laid for two weeks and tried to go broody. As well, she also lost interest. I let eggs sit for a week Then pulled them do to 100 degree weather. She was playing with her friends to much. After that day she didn't lay another egg for 3 months.
So, today' I get home, go out to coop and realize pepper my OEG is not on the roost with my Roo ( ALWAYS on roost!!!!) and his other top ladies. I go to gather eggs and there's pepper on the eggs. Puffed up 3x her size. Mad at me as well! But it was the new nest from today. So I quickly against her will took the new eggs out and the old eggs under her and two in front. She quickly moved them under her!!!
Yesterday after I cleaned coop I looked at the new nesting boxes and pepper had laid and donated quite a few feathers to the nest. However she never sat yesterday. I just checked again and she is cozy on the eggs. If she's not trying to play mind games with me

how many days should I give her before I put the fresh fertile eggs under her ? I need time to collect a few I really want hatched.
Thank you for all your help!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm so glad you gave me all the information. The funny thing is. My GLW lost interest . I still let the eggs stay out. Just cleaned coop put the old eggs back in just to see.
My head hen is a OEG. She laid for two weeks and tried to go broody. As well, she also lost interest. I let eggs sit for a week Then pulled them do to 100 degree weather. She was playing with her friends to much. After that day she didn't lay another egg for 3 months.
So, today' I get home, go out to coop and realize pepper my OEG is not on the roost with my Roo ( ALWAYS on roost!!!!) and his other top ladies. I go to gather eggs and there's pepper on the eggs. Puffed up 3x her size. Mad at me as well! But it was the new nest from today. So I quickly against her will took the new eggs out and the old eggs under her and two in front. She quickly moved them under her!!!
Yesterday after I cleaned coop I looked at the new nesting boxes and pepper had laid and donated quite a few feathers to the nest. However she never sat yesterday. I just checked again and she is cozy on the eggs. If she's not trying to play mind games with me

how many days should I give her before I put the fresh fertile eggs under her ? I need time to collect a few I really want hatched.
Thank you for all your help!

How much time depends on the bird...and yes, it can be maddening trying to anticipate them so you don't waste good fertile eggs. You just have to get to know your hen.

With a hesitant on again off again gal...I think I would wait for at least 3 days of solid setting to be sure she is really settled before placing the good eggs. I get especially encouraged if a hen has plucked her breast as that usually means the long haul.

You should then watch carefully to make sure she is not disturbed or disrupted. Some hens are especially bothered by any others coming and going into the nest box..Typically that is what is happening if a broody hen is not settling like you think she should.

I actually keep a little notebook about my broodies, keeping track of each brood with pertinent notes so I can remember what they were like so the next time I have something to go on to see when I should set eggs..such things as if they settled quickly, were they willing to change locations, were they good at staying longer than 3 weeks, what the hatch rate was, etc.

Good luck...let us know how it turns out.
Lady of McCamley