Broody Hen Thread!

[tgrumbley]

Broody turkey question: I came home from a 4 day camping trip missing one of my Red Bourbon hens. Today my son found her sitting in the bushes-broody! Never knew they would growl and hiss. My question is should I move her to a safe enclosed area? I would like to see how well she does but theres a chance that shes on some chicken eggs too-Should I just collect them and incubate them? I would love to see how she does-but I just don't feel safe with her in the bushes. We have had a coyote problem in the past.

 

[bigpapa0101]

Broody turkey question: I came home from a 4 day camping trip missing one of my Red Bourbon hens. Today my son found her sitting in the bushes-broody! Never knew they would growl and hiss. My question is should I move her to a safe enclosed area? I would like to see how well she does but theres a chance that shes on some chicken eggs too-Should I just collect them and incubate them? I would love to see how she does-but I just don't feel safe with her in the bushes. We have had a coyote problem in the past.

You can move here or do like me and some of my buddy's do and build a small coop with a door and good ventilation with out a bottom and sit it over top of her and out some water and food in there for her.also if you want to make sure she is extra safe put something heavy on top of the box coop you make to make sure she is protected.

 

[erinchelsea]

I agree with PP, I'd build a little tractor and put on top of her, put some food and water inside. I've never had a broody turkey before but we have had RB and I've never had good luck telling them what to do.

 

[Dianuzhka]

I just check on my hen and counted 14 eggs instead of 12

....... is it normal for her to keep on laying ????? should i remove the uninvited ones??? it's been 4 days since i first gave her the "chosen eggs" and she seems to be doing a great job, she is almost never out, and when she comes to eat she always seems in a hurry, she sleeps with the eggs, there is no poop in the nest.... but she lay the extra 2 eggs, why? is it normal?....

I'm sure it was her, i only have a duck laying and the eggs are different, and doesn't have access to the hen's nest....

 

[1HotChickenMama]

I have a young broody hen question. I have the older hen that is an expert but this hen is a 1st timer and is insecure or something. She first started to sit a few days ago so I let her and then moved her a cple days later to lower pen so others couldnt bug her since I saw she had been nest jumping to a nest without any eggs. I thought maybe others where kicking her out so they could lay in the 'favorite' nest....... Thought shed be happy but I went back in in the morning and she was walking all over the cold eggs. I thought she wasn't broody enough so I let her out and now she's back sitting in her nest box and refuses to get out..... no eggs under her. I gave her one to try to figure it out with........ What can I do to help? Just let her stay in that nest and just watch carefully for chicks when/if the time comes?

 

[LONDON HENS]

I would move her at night and to a place that is dark all day round. Put here there and dont let her out for 48 hours. This should make her stay at the new nest.

 

[1HotChickenMama]

I would move her at night and to a place that is dark all day round. Put here there and dont let her out for 48 hours. This should make her stay at the new nest. 

Should it be small to not encourage walking around? Like a cat carrier? I don't want to force her, but I feel she wants too she just isn't quite getting it..... and since she isn't laying now, because of it, I figure why not try....??

 

[LONDON HENS]

If its dark she shouldn't walk about however big the box was but a cat carrier is good, where would you put it?
The real important factor is wether she is actually broody or not. If she is she should take the cat carrier as her nest if you leave her in it pitch black for 48hours roughly. It worked for me. The hen must feel safe.

 

[MuckyPuppy]

I have a broody d'Anver. Does anyone know how many LF eggs she will be able to sit on?

 

[1HotChickenMama]

If its dark she shouldn't walk about however big the box was but a cat carrier is good, where would you put it? 
The real important factor is wether she is actually broody or not. If she is she should take the cat carrier as her nest if you leave her in it pitch black for 48hours roughly. It worked for me. The hen must feel safe. 

Ok. So she just nest jumped again....?! I firmly believe she is broody. She's not laying eggs herself and she never leaves the nest (execpt to switch) and she's cranky with me. She always moves to a new nest that doesn't contain eggs....so maybe she's not broody?? Ahhhh I don't know?!:/ my other girl was such a na.tural