Broody Hen Thread!

[Angie16hearts]

Pepper is officially broody!

I let her sit for 3 days before putting the fertile eggs I picked out for her. She's on 11 most being medium eggs with a few bigger ones. I have a EE Roo and 3 EE hens so I definitely wanted to use those eggs. I put a RIR, GLW egg as well. Those eggs are a bit bigger. I didn't want to over load her. She's seems to be doing good!

I can see where she took a break today

. One was broken this morning so I removed it. Of course it was a blue one

However we are on day two with the fresh eggs. day 5 of her sitting. Yeah!!

I took a picture before I left today and just looked at it. One of the other hens donated to her clutch. Thankfully I have them marked and will remove it.

sorry the pictures blurry. I was trying to take it before she returned.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Can someone tell me if it's this is a normal processes to broodiness?
Since pepper has been sitting for 5 days now my egg production from my other 9 hens has gone WAY down ! I usually get 6-10 eggs a day. Obviously pepper is not laying. I'm down to 9 layers. I have had no more then 3-5 eggs a day. Tops!

I am also noticing only 3 of the 9 will sleep on the inside perch. Is she scaring them out of the laying box/. Roost?
The rest of the girls and Roo are cuddled up out side the covered part of coop on perch.

They had no problem with other two roosts Intel she went full broody.

She is the head hen as well. Does this also have something to do with the other ladies staying there distance?
The laying confuses me cause I thought it was the amount of day light there eyes see.
Any information would be great as this is my first broody. Thanks in advance!
P.S she's still going strong and chest is close to featherless.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Can someone tell me if it's this is a normal processes to broodiness?
Since pepper has been sitting for 5 days now my egg production from my other 9 hens has gone WAY down ! I usually get 6-10 eggs a day. Obviously pepper is not laying. I'm down to 9 layers. I have had no more then 3-5 eggs a day. Tops!

I am also noticing only 3 of the 9 will sleep on the inside perch. Is she scaring them out of the laying box/. Roost?
The rest of the girls and Roo are cuddled up out side the covered part of coop on perch.

They had no problem with other two roosts Intel she went full broody.

She is the head hen as well. Does this also have something to do with the other ladies staying there distance?
The laying confuses me cause I thought it was the amount of day light there eyes see.
Any information would be great as this is my first broody. Thanks in advance!
P.S she's still going strong and chest is close to featherless.

Usually, it is best to isolate the broody hen from the main flock as a brooding hen simply balls up the works. I now have a separate brooding hutch and run where I place and keep my brooding hens so they can go about their business (with fence access to the flock once the chicks hatch), but in my earlier days I've been known to take a board, hammer and nail to subdivide the coop so the broody gets her own space that cannot be encroached upon by others...and others can go about their business.

A dominant hen will chase the others out...by growling and puffing and intimidating the heck out of them so nobody wants to be in her space. The huddled masses have spoken; hormonal moodiness is an understatement. If momma ain't happy, NOBODY is happy. The other hens may have taken to laying in odd places since they can't get to the favored nest box...if she is brooding in it....or into another box if it is along the pathway or within her sight.

Less dominant hens will get shuffled out of the nest and off of brooding by more dominant hens who wish to lay in the box...usually trampling the fertile and developing eggs (anyway mine always stomp the developing eggs).

So the best thing is to isolate momma in one way or another...many do so in a way that the others can still see the hen but not interfere, but in your case, they may not want to see her either.

That is the most likely cause of the immediate egg reduction. Other causes may be a simple off day, or some others may be considering brooding. It often happens that other hens will contemplate brooding when one starts.

The roo is not usually helpful in the process of brooding...the brooding hen will NOT want him around because most roo's just want manly attention, and she ain't having any of that. She's in the business of being a momma right now....so he has taken to the high ground as well.

Some roo's can be almost tenderly protective of their hens while they brood, but that is the rare roo. Most are simply driven away by the brooding hen as they will likely carelessly tromp eggs.

I would recommend isolating her somehow. If you can move her to a separate brooding place, do so only at night, and it is best to move her nest, eggs and her in one piece if possible (as in she is sitting in a portable nesting box). Otherwise, set up an area, have one person move the hen and one person move nest and eggs. Be warned...many hens do NOT like being moved and will panic and not settle until they are in the original nest spot they chose.

Some allow the hen to brood in the main coop among the flock, and in some laid back flocks, that can work...but most find they have issues and hatches and chicks suffer.

Good luck with your little brood and deciding how to keep harmony in the flock...so glad to hear she has stuck.

Lady of McCamley

 

[mak1]

Why dont u get fertilized eggs ? also to stop a chicken from being broody dunk her in cold water

 

[Angie16hearts]

Usually, it is best to isolate the broody hen from the main flock as a brooding hen simply balls up the works. I now have a separate brooding hutch and run where I place and keep my brooding hens so they can go about their business (with fence access to the flock once the chicks hatch), but in my earlier days I've been known to take a board, hammer and nail to subdivide the coop so the broody gets her own space that cannot be encroached upon by others...and others can go about their business.

A dominant hen will chase the others out...by growling and puffing and intimidating the heck out of them so nobody wants to be in her space. The huddled masses have spoken; hormonal moodiness is an understatement. If momma ain't happy, NOBODY is happy.  The other hens may have taken to laying in odd places since they can't get to the favored nest box...if she is brooding in it....or  into another box if it is along the pathway or within her sight.

Less dominant hens will get shuffled out of the nest and off of brooding by more dominant hens who wish to lay in the box...usually trampling the fertile and developing eggs (anyway mine always stomp the developing eggs).

So the best thing is to isolate momma in one way or another...many do so in a way that the others can still see the hen but not interfere, but in your case, they may not want to see her either.

That is the most likely cause of the immediate egg reduction. Other causes may be a simple off day, or some others may be considering brooding. It often happens that other hens will contemplate brooding when one starts.

The roo is not usually helpful in the process of brooding...the brooding hen will NOT want him around because most roo's just want manly attention, and she ain't having any of that. She's in the business of being a momma right now....so he has taken to the high ground as well.

Some roo's can be almost tenderly protective of their hens while they brood, but that is the rare roo. Most are simply driven away by the brooding hen as they will likely carelessly tromp eggs.

I would recommend isolating her somehow. If you can move her to a separate brooding place, do so only at night, and it is best to move her nest, eggs and her in one piece if possible (as in she is sitting in a portable nesting box). Otherwise, set up an area, have one person move the hen and one person move nest and eggs. Be warned...many hens do NOT like being moved and will panic and not settle until they are in the original nest spot they chose.

Some allow the hen to brood in the main coop among the flock, and in some laid back flocks, that can work...but most find they have issues and hatches and chicks suffer.

Good luck with your little brood and deciding how to keep harmony in the flock...so glad to hear she has stuck.

Lady of McCamley

i tried to move her into a pullet pin with a walk area and nesting box. She flipped out and ran back to big coop. I have a a frame coop and there laying boxes at every high off ground. I'm trying to think of a way I can keep her in coop and able to still get up and move around. Of course fenced off however i would have to bring her to the downstairs. I know she will flip out. What if I built something close to coop so they can still see each other. However I want her to raise the babies being able to free range with the other hens. Any suggestions ? How many feet does she need to be happy?
Thank goodness my husband is a carpenter !!! He will be home tonight. If any one knows the amount of space she will need or has any pictures of ideas please post! Thanks again!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

i tried to move her into a pullet pin with a walk area and nesting box. She flipped out and ran back to big coop. I have a a frame coop and there laying boxes at every high off ground. I'm trying to think of a way I can keep her in coop and able to still get up and move around. Of course fenced off however i would have to bring her to the downstairs. I know she will flip out. What if I built something close to coop so they can still see each other. However I want her to raise the babies being able to free range with the other hens. Any suggestions ? How many feet does she need to be happy?
Thank goodness my husband is a carpenter !!! He will be home tonight. If any one knows the amount of space she will need or has any pictures of ideas please post! Thanks again!

Sounds like you just need to subdivide her into her own little space so the others can come and go without her chasing them out...so I would suggest while she is sitting on the eggs, and the first 2 days of chicks, that you board her up/net her up so that she is not be able to see the flock...for their sake not hers...as she may still growl at them if she can see them through netting.

How much space? Depends on your set up and the size of the bird, but if you gave her as much as a small dog crate...about 24 inches by 36 inches minimum....in any sort of dimension...you just need enough space for her nest, then to be able to get up and take a step or two to get to her feed bowl and water bowl (which is stabilized so it cannot be knocked into the nest). Ideally, she should have access to a small area to dust bathe...In in an emergency, I have chintzed on the dust area outdoor access and built so I could put in a small dusting box for momma.

That was back when I had broody troubles in the main coop...but quartering them off is not ideal as it is hard to get that much space with dusting area in my main coop. So, I built a second coop attached to the main coop that still fed into the same run so the broodies could have an area...but they NEVER chose that coop, of course, and still plunked down in the main, favored nest box mucking up the works in the main coop...so I had hubby re-purpose some commercial size wooden storage crates and build a rabbit type hutch across from the main coop with its own run so I have a permanent place to put my temperamental ladies and their precious eggs.

Please remember there are those on this thread that have wonderful success with brooding communal style...I personally have not had that kind of luck as every flock, and flock personality, is different. So, I have chosen to have a separate brooding area unto itself, and it has solved all my broken egg, lost chick, pushed off nest, chased out of coop, cranky momma/timid momma flock issues.

So wonderful you have a carpenter minded husband...they do come in handy!

Lady of McCamley

 

[PD-Riverman]

i tried to move her into a pullet pin with a walk area and nesting box. She flipped out and ran back to big coop.

Did you move her at night using little to no light? I moved 33 broodies this past season----not a one of them left the nest. All were moved at night---nest and all, without picking her up off the eggs.

It does not take a big area 2ftx3ft would probably work----a little bigger would be nice.

If you try to block some hens in a new nest---you stand a good chance of breaking her broodiness!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Did you move her at night using little to no light? I moved 33 broodies this past season----not a one of them left the nest. All were moved at night---nest and all, without picking her up off the eggs.

It does not take a big area 2ftx3ft would probably work----a little bigger would be nice.

If you try to block some hens in a new nest---you stand a good chance of breaking her broodiness!

Yes...my intent was the you subdivide her in the original nest, her chosen nest, in the main coop...not move her into a new nest and block her in...that can be quite disrupting for many hens....and risk to eggs.

Just in case my meaning wasn't clear.
Lady of Mccamley

 

[PD-Riverman]

Yes...my intent was the you subdivide her in the original nest, her chosen nest, in the main coop...not move her into a new nest and block her in...that can be quite disrupting for many hens....and risk to eggs.

Just in case my meaning wasn't clear.
Lady of Mccamley

Lady of Mccamley----You were clear----My message was to Angie16hearts about her thoughts.

Of course fenced off however i would have to bring her to the downstairs. I know she will flip out. What if I built something close to coop so they can still see each other.

 

[Angie16hearts]

Sounds like you just need to subdivide her into her own little space so the others can come and go without her chasing them out...so I would suggest while she is sitting on the eggs, and the first 2 days of chicks, that you board her up/net her up so that she is not be able to see the flock...for their sake not hers...as she may still growl at them if she can see them through netting.

How much space?  Depends on your set up and the size of the bird, but if you gave her as much as a small dog crate...about 24 inches by 36 inches minimum....in any sort of dimension...you just need enough space for her nest,  then to be able to get up and take a step or two to get to her feed bowl and water bowl (which is stabilized so it cannot be knocked into the nest).  Ideally, she should have access to a small area to dust bathe...In in an emergency, I have chintzed on the dust area outdoor access and built so I could put in a small dusting box for momma.  

That was back when I had broody troubles in the main coop...but quartering them off is not ideal as it is hard to get that much space with dusting area in my main coop. So, I built a second coop attached to the main coop that still fed into the same run so the broodies could have an area...but they NEVER chose that coop, of course, and still plunked down in the main, favored nest box mucking up the works in the main coop...so I had hubby re-purpose some commercial size wooden storage crates and build a rabbit type hutch across from the main coop with its own run so I have a permanent place to put my temperamental ladies and their precious eggs.

Please remember there are those on this thread that have wonderful success with brooding communal style...I personally have not had that kind of luck as every flock, and flock personality, is different. So, I have chosen to have a separate brooding area unto itself, and it has solved all my broken egg, lost chick, pushed off nest, chased out of coop, cranky momma/timid momma flock issues.

So wonderful you have a carpenter minded husband...they do come in handy!

Lady of McCamley

Did you move her at night using little to no light? I moved 33 broodies this past season----not a one of them left the nest. All were moved at night---nest and all, without picking her up off the eggs.

It does not take a big area 2ftx3ft would probably work----a little bigger would be nice.

If you try to block some hens in a new nest---you stand a good chance of breaking her broodiness!

With both your information we decided to leave her and divide the nesting area of coop and keep her on original nest. She is stealing everyone's eggs. We moved her last night just to check how many eggs she had under her. So we could remove. It was 4 more.

She had one under Her wing when my husband moved her

it fell on the ground and broke.

So, we will give her her nest and divide. I don't believe it will do anything but help. We are blocking her of with a board. So she can't see them or steal eggs. I believe if anyone enters her side , they will run away quick ! As I noted she is head hen..
She was kind enough to leave a few eggs in the other nests The interesting thing is. She's stealing the smaller eggs none of my RIR's or BR. This may sound stupid but can they tell the bigger eggs from the smaller ones? Cause she seems to know.

I'm still debating moving her to her own place once babies hatch. Is this recommended or should I let nature take it's course? Every hen is scared of her right now. It actually started about two days before she started to go broody. She was trying to bite anyone who came close to her.

In the middle of writing this, I hear birds going crazy. Only to go out and see little miss broody taking her break. She moved FAST and acted a bit like a Roo towards me

I have never fully figured out what kind of chicken she is . We ended up with OEG and Welsummer mix. If any one has any thoughts? I would live to hear. She's the only hen I have that is not from a hatchery or feed store.
I was glad to see her out. She hadn't lost any weight. She's a small hen to start with. I checked nest only one donated today. I was able to grab everything from the other nests. Before she did.

One more issue which hopefully will be resolved when we divide the nesting area. My BR is stealing her eggs now and sitting

I kicked her out of the nesting box and carefully moved eggs back.