Broody Hen Thread!

[Lady of McCamley]

Question: How do I set up the area for a broody and her new chicks? I'm assuming that with the mom in there that she might want some kind of nest or do I just do it like I did when I got chicks the first time (except for not needing the heat lamps this time.) I'll have them inside for a few weeks and them move all out into a separate coop.

Just let the hen have a normal outdoor straw or pine shaving filled nest, isolated to prevent disruptions, with small area to roam that is safe for the chicks. She should be out of the elements and drafts. It is best that the nest is close to the ground or has a good chick friendly ramp (otherwise you'll lose chicks over the edge or momma will put up camp on the ground which is not always safe for chicks if predators).

If the flock is laid back, and momma is an assertive hen, it can be accessible to the flock as long as momma can withdraw with chicks when she needs to.

If the flock is aggressive to momma or chicks, then it is generally best to have momma completely quartered off with a temporary, or permanent if you are into this for multiple broods, separating fenced run but which the others can see momma and chicks to help with integration later.

Some like to use dog crates in a corner of the run. Others, quarter off a portion of the coop. Others (like me) build separate broody hutches with runs.

BTW: The chicks will acclimate very quickly to the ambient outdoor temperature as long as they are out of direct weather. I've hatched chicks in the teens and 20's without heating, and they run around in their little down coats by day 2 or 3 with quick warm ups in momma's feather comforter. They will act like normal chickens by week 4 to 6.

Good luck with your broody and chicks! Post pics when they hatch.
Lady of McCamley

 

[aatx]

Just let the hen have a normal outdoor straw or pine shaving filled nest, isolated to prevent disruptions, with small area to roam that is safe for the chicks. She should be out of the elements and drafts. It is best that the nest is close to the ground or has a good chick friendly ramp (otherwise you'll lose chicks over the edge or momma will put up camp on the ground which is not always safe for chicks if predators).

If the flock is laid back, and momma is an assertive hen, it can be accessible to the flock as long as momma can withdraw with chicks when she needs to.

If the flock is aggressive to momma or chicks, then it is generally best to have momma completely quartered off with a temporary, or permanent if you are into this for multiple broods, separating fenced run but which the others can see momma and chicks to help with integration later.

Some like to use dog crates in a corner of the run. Others, quarter off a portion of the coop. Others (like me) build separate broody hutches with runs.

BTW: The chicks will acclimate very quickly to the ambient outdoor temperature as long as they are out of direct weather. I've hatched chicks in the teens and 20's without heating, and they run around in their little down coats by day 2 or 3 with quick warm ups in momma's feather comforter. They will act like normal chickens by week 4 to 6.

Good luck with your broody and chicks! Post pics when they hatch.
Lady of McCamley

Thank you.

Yes, my broodies are inside the house now in the chicken room, so no worries about the elements or flock interruptions. After a few weeks inside, they will go to a separate coop. Inside it only for a week or so and then they'll get access outside to a temporary 8' x 8' covered run. One 8' side will share the fence with the rest of the flock, so that they can get used to each other before I fully integrate them with the flock.

I guess I was looking more for specifics on my day 1, 2, 3 setup. Last year when I got my chicks, I started out with paper towels on top of puppy pads for the first few days and then added in pine shavings after that. (Of course I had two eat pine shavings and die, but I'm not sure that was their only problem.) So, maybe I can find a shallow box and put some shavings and straw in it for a nest, surround it with bricks so the chicks can hop up to it easily if they fall out, and leave the rest of the area bare (paper towels) for a few days and then fill the entire area in with shavings? I'd keep my current "nest box", but it may be too small once the chicks get here.

I have two broodies, 4 days apart - I'm hoping after the chicks are a few days old that I can combine them in one area. Broody one got 6 eggs. One was infertile. I finally made the hard decision to pull it on day 11. I stared at it a long time before I finally cracked it open to confirm. Broody two is sitting on 4 eggs. All 4 appear good so far.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you.

Yes, my broodies are inside the house now in the chicken room, so no worries about the elements or flock interruptions.

These are your Broodies and you can do them anyway you want, but I promice you they would fair better outside in a protected area on the dirt----mother hens are going to want to teach her chicks how to scratch, look for food, etc and she can not do that in a cage. I am sure you do not mind but you will be cleaning up a mess daily that you don't have to do. I raise Hundreds per year with many broodies----none whom were inside.

 

[aart]

Any of you broody sages have trouble with a mama fighting with the flock?

Broody was separated by wire during incubation and for 2 weeks after chicks hatched, then I removed the partition wall and she got into 3 hellacious fights with other hens.
2 fights were the first day of 'integration' and the other one was several days later. I believe they started over a feeder, they just went at it over and over. Cockerel tried to break them up but was not successful, I finally stopped them as mamas comb was bleeding a bit.

She's always been in the middle of the pack and the birds she was fighting with are higher in the order than she.

more details here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter/80#post_14818473
and here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter/100#post_14839879

Any feedback/suggestions would be appreciated either here or in my broody thread.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Any of you broody sages have trouble with a mama fighting with the flock?

I don't anymore because Mama hen and chicks are Never put with the other hens. Mama Hen is allowed to raise her chicks away from the rest, then when its time to separate her and the chicks----she is put into a cage that is in the pen with the grown hens for a few day---to allow her to get back to normal then she is let out with the rest---using caution----incase it is still to early. Chicks are never placed with the adults until they are adults themself. This is My Way---your way can vary!

 

[fisherlady]

Any of you broody sages have trouble with a mama fighting with the flock?

Broody was separated by wire during incubation and for 2 weeks after chicks hatched, then I removed the partition wall and she got into 3 hellacious fights with other hens.
2 fights were the first day of 'integration' and the other one was several days later. I believe they started over a feeder, they just went at it over and over. Cockerel tried to break them up but was not successful, I finally stopped them as mamas comb was bleeding a bit.

She's always been in the middle of the pack and the birds she was fighting with are higher in the order than she.

more details here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter/80#post_14818473
and here: https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/947046/broody-in-michigan-winter/100#post_14839879

Any feedback/suggestions would be appreciated either here or in my broody thread.

Our broodies are often with the flock and yes, they do have some knock down, drag out hen fights.... usually it is with another hen who is rather dominant and just doesn't want to give way to a pushy broody. It can be a risk to chicks when it happens but the squabbles drastically slow down after a couple of days. I try to keep an area within the coop and run both which provides a good hiding spot for the chicks to scramble to if they feel the need.
I watch for which hens are involved in the squabbles, in our flock we have strived for broody and chick friendly mentality but there is no way to avoid conflicts when you have 20 hens together, it just isn't going to happen, but I do watch for any hen (or rooster) which is overtly aggressive to either broody or chicks and any which makes a point to instigate problems. Removing one offending bird for a day, or even a few hours, can sometimes help them settle down also.
I know this isn't the best time of year to work on integrating chicks/broodies, but it is workable.

 

[aart]

Thanks fisher lady.....no fights today(that I saw).....so hopefully they're over it.
The chicks never seemed to be part of the altercation.
Chicks and mama were out of the nest more today and wandering a little farther than before...due in part to the balmy 23 degrees.

 

[holm25]

Our Buff Orp hen is still broody but I have no eggs for her. I am impressed with her she has sat for a long time and this is her first time brooding as she is only 8 months old!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Our Buff Orp hen is still broody but I have no eggs for her. I am impressed with her she has sat for a long time and this is her first time brooding as she is only 8 months old!!

Question Why would You allow her to Set, if you are not going to allow her to hatch?? Break her-----so she will get back to normal---laying etc!

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Question Why would You allow her to Set, if you are not going to allow her to hatch?? Break her-----so she will get back to normal---laying etc!

X 2 - brooding is very hard on a hen - if one is brooding with no hope of an end result, there is no reason to allow her to put herself through the draining process.