Broody Hen Thread!

[Angie16hearts]

Is the eggs she has been setting on fertile eggs?

Are they the ones you want her to hatch?

If so---Do You have the original eggs from the first day she was set marked Or are you just leaving her some eggs to hatch, removing some eggs-----------every day you check under her?

I let some eggs sit in nest for another GLW hen who was feeling things out for a few days. The day I was going to remove the eggs, I found pepper on them.
She tried to go broody 4-5 months ago and only sat for 2-3 days then stopped laying for 3 months . So I decided to let her sit, see if she would go full broody again.
She has been sitting since.
The 3rd day I replaced the eggs with fresh fertile eggs. Yes, we have a rooster and all my eggs are fertile. I check them every time I use them. I'm only removing the eggs other hens donate. Yesterday went well with me seperating the coop no extra eggs under her. Just the original ones
All. The other hens stayed on opposite side of coop.
It's all I can do intel my husband gets home. I'm just glad it worked. I mainly gave her EE eggs cause I have 3 EE hens and EE Roo .
Yes, they are marked as well. With a few others. BR, RIR GLW

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I let some eggs sit in nest for another GLW hen who was feeling things out for a few days. The day I was going to remove the eggs, I found pepper on them.
She tried to go broody 4-5 months ago and only sat for 2-3 days then stopped laying for 3 months . So I decided to let her sit, see if she would go full broody again.
She has been sitting since.
The 3rd day I replaced the eggs with fresh fertile eggs. Yes, we have a rooster and all my eggs are fertile. I check them every time I use them. I'm only removing the eggs other hens donate. Yesterday went well with me seperating the coop no extra eggs under her. Just the original ones
All. The other hens stayed on opposite side of coop.
It's all I can do intel my husband gets home. I'm just glad it worked. I mainly gave her EE eggs cause I have 3 EE hens and EE Roo .
Yes, they are marked as well. With a few others. BR, RIR GLW

So glad your partition worked....now for hubby to get home and help set things up.

Each brood is a new learning experience, and don't feel bad...my very first brood caught me off guard too...which is why I had to get a hammer, nail and board to box off my hen and eggs in the main coop as I had NO other place to put her and everyone else was tromping in and out to lay in THAT nest box...and yes they ALL want to lay in the nest of the brooding hen. I think it is instinctual as the other hens see a nesting hen and assume that must be THE good nest. Silly birds.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Angie16hearts]

So glad your partition worked....now for hubby to get home and help set things up.

Each brood is a new learning experience, and don't feel bad...my very first brood caught me off guard too...which is why I had to get a hammer, nail and board to box off my hen and eggs in the main coop as I had NO other place to put her and everyone else was tromping in and out to lay in THAT nest box...and yes they ALL want to lay in the nest of the brooding hen. I think it is instinctual as the other hens see a nesting hen and assume that must be THE good nest. Silly birds.

Lady of McCamley

Thank you lady of McCanley! I did just what you did with your first , thanks for the advice! This morning she was by herself in her area if box. Since she's little, I made her entrance a bit smaller. Seems the other girls figured it out. No more donations

YES, hubby has a lot of work to do! I need to get some good drafts for him. My mind is spinning with ideas about expanding the coop and adding a connected broody area.

I think she will be broody often considering she laid for 5-7 days and tried to go broody right after. Like I said she made us wait 3 months for another egg. Then to go broody again. So she will have her special spot.

It was a surprise to me and was and am not fully prepared. Thank goodness it's almost the weekend! Last Tuesday night was when I put the fresh fertile eggs under her. I'm crossing my fingers! Again thank you sooooo much!

 

[fisherlady]

Well, the broody hormones are at it again in our coop... we had 3 hens hatch last weekend and have 3 more sitting now. It was nice of them have give us a couple of weeks off, but now they are acting like it is May instead of the middle of a long Pennsylvania winter!
A few pictures...

And Jeckle is keeping her little ones in hiding, she is not impressed with my camera at all! LOL

 

[fisherlady]

And the Ladies in Waiting...

Gracie

Lacey

Rosie

 

[Zero clucks]

So I'm pretty new to all this but I have a flock of BLRW. I bought 18 EE chicks from someone who had ordered too many. They are 5 weeks old now and I have them inside under a lamp. How do I introduce them? Will a hen take them in under her wing as her own or will they fight them away? And at what age can they go outside? The BLRW flock I got when they were all a year old already so I skipped the chick part of raising

 

[Angie16hearts]

So

Well, the broody hormones are at it again in our coop... we had 3 hens hatch last weekend and have 3 more sitting now. It was nice of them have give us a couple of weeks off, but now they are acting like it is May instead of the middle of a long Pennsylvania winter!
A few pictures...

And Jeckle is keeping her little ones in hiding, she is not impressed with my camera at all! LOL

cute! What kind of hen is tge darker one?

 

[Angie16hearts]

So glad your partition worked....now for hubby to get home and help set things up.

Each brood is a new learning experience, and don't feel bad...my very first brood caught me off guard too...which is why I had to get a hammer, nail and board to box off my hen and eggs in the main coop as I had NO other place to put her and everyone else was tromping in and out to lay in THAT nest box...and yes they ALL want to lay in the nest of the brooding hen. I think it is instinctual as the other hens see a nesting hen and assume that must be THE good nest. Silly birds.

Lady of McCamley

One more successful night!
No one donated any eggs to her clutch. They all stayed away from her side. I did block them from seeing her.

8 eggs laid in the right box

I feel much better. Thanks again!;/

 

[fisherlady]

So
cute! What kind of hen is tge darker one?

Top hen is Janeway (white) is a barnyard mix, lays green eggs...
2nd hen is Bess (with lacing) is a Silver Pencil Plymouth Rock
3rd hen is Jeckle (black) is a barnyard mix (dad is a Black Australorp) and she lays green eggs also

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Top hen is Janeway (white) is a barnyard mix, lays green eggs...
2nd hen is Bess (with lacing) is a Silver Pencil Plymouth Rock
3rd hen is Jeckle (black) is a barnyard mix (dad is a Black Australorp) and she lays green eggs also

Happy brooding fisherlady! (And don't forget to add some photos to the mini-contest for broodies!)
Lady of McCamley