Broody Hen Thread!

[sunshynertc]

The eggs should be fine, but you are going to have to do something so this does not keep happening.. She "probably" got off the nest to eat etc and when she came back another hen was on her nest so she took the other. "I" would remove her eggs and put fake eggs under her----then move her in a couple days--at night, then if she accepts the move---set her with a nice nest of fresh layed fertile eggs. Good Luck!!

I had this problem with my hen. It was the first time I had a broody hen so I did not have experience. She got off the eggs and they never developed into chicks. On day 30 I went to the feed store and got some day old chicks and slipped them under her. She was a good mother hen to the day old chicks.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I hope there is someone out there that can give me a bit of advise. I have a broody hen that has been that way for about 3 or 4 days. she has hatched a clutch once before. I slid a few fertile eggs under her where she sat on them for about 24 to 36 hours. Unfortunately when I got home from work today she was on a different nest of unfertile eggs. Her eggs were now ice cold. The temps here in NC were holding today at 42 degrees. I am sure the interior temp was only a couple of degrees warmer.
My question is. If she only sat on these eggs for such a short time, would the eggs even have started developing at this point? if so would they survive the cold spell they have experienced already? Also, do you think I should separate her so she can't get tempted away from her nest for other eggs. Lastly does anyone think I should scrap these eggs ASAP and just start over or, let her sit for this week, and candle at day seven. This worries me because she will be sitting for an extra total week. What do you guys think I should do?
Thanks for any advice you may be able to give me.

I agree with PD-Riverman's assessment that if you do not want this switching of nests to happen again, you should move the hen or somehow subdivide her area so that others cannot push her off the nest or she get confused and go to another nest when she returns from her daily outings.

As to the eggs, I think I personally would plan to scrap this set as eggs begin to develop after being kept at the appropriate temperature for several hours. Cooling significantly could cause failures on a number of them. I've seen eggs hatch that have gotten cool, to my great surprise, but I have a much poorer hatch rate. If I had the choice, I would have replaced and gone for a better hatch rate. If you've got other fertile eggs, especially cheap/free, why not start her with a fresh batch to optimize your hatch rate?

I agree to move her THEN put in the eggs you want her to hatch after she has proven to settle in the new spot. Put the desired eggs under her all at once, and mark them appropriately. I wouldn't bother taking these started eggs until you set the desired eggs so that you can use these started eggs for the "fake" eggs to keep her setting. Then when you move her, in the process candle these eggs (which should be at least 3 days old, maybe 4) and see if they have development...if they do, you may chose to use them...if they don't, or look behind schedule, then I definitely wouldn't use them but put fresh.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Update on my new Queen Mum and her hatchling OE and the 2 California Grey fosters (second try with 2 chicks I got Sunday)....

Well the little fosters apparently heard me and took me seriously that they either bond with momma hen and her loving warmth or they die unassisted as they immediately grafted to her and are acting like proper little chicks. The Mum is very dutiful with her 3 little darlings. I've kept them in the partial hutch and haven't let them into the run yet...weather has been colder and I wanted the fosters to adapt a bit more in the shelter of the hutch before being in open air. I would be letting them out today, but instead I've come down with the flu so not up to crawling around and double checking for chick escape holes in the run.

One had pasty butt a few days ago which I addressed by gently pulling away the poo, but as I've been sick, I haven 't followed up like I would normally. I felt well enough for a quick trip out to the coops this morning. That chick has a bit of swollen vent going on today, which I washed, dried, spritzed with Chlorhexiderm (love that stuff) and treated with some tetracyline dropper fed...I still feel crummy so instead of doing that several times today, I merely put the treated water out for all of them. A couple of days antibiotic for all won't hurt anyone and should help this little one....and I can go back and lay down and sleep until I have to work later this afternoon (miss the days of sick paid time off).

Good news though...day 4 and I've still got 2 little fosters who seem fit, other than the one's little vent infection. Hopefully that won't go nasty on that chick, but the tetracyline regiment should set it right unless it is anatomical hernia of some sort. A few days and some growth will tell.

Photos to follow in a few days.

LofMc

 

[cdover15]

My silkie hen just hatched her first eggs today!

Unfortunately, she has a very bad case of poopy feathers all over her butt and it's getting all over her chicks.

I have no experience with broody hens; should I try to give her a quick bath and blow her dry and put her back with her chicks, or should I just leave it so I don't stress her out?

I'm sorry if this has already been on this thread, I dont have the patience to read it all!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

My silkie hen just hatched her first eggs today!

Unfortunately, she has a very bad case of poopy feathers all over her butt and it's getting all over her chicks.

I have no experience with broody hens; should I try to give her a quick bath and blow her dry and put her back with her chicks, or should I just leave it so I don't stress her out?

I'm sorry if this has already been on this thread, I dont have the patience to read it all!

If they defecate in the nest, the big blob of broody poo can make quite the mess on the hen.

I'd spot clean the bum, no need to fully bathe her, as you don't want to mess with her so much as to break her brooding hormones. Then get her back to the chicks as soon as possible.

Watch her very closely for any signs of diarrhea though. She should be back to pooing normally now that she is up to tending chicks and eating and drinking regularly.

If there are any signs of diarrhea, I'd put her on some probiotics and some medicated feed along with the chicks in case it is an outbreak of coccidiosis.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[LogCabinChicks]

I have my first broody hen! I moved her to the basement....nowhere to separate her in the coop and hatching eggs will be here tuesday or wednesday! I thought she was broody yesterday...confirmed today...she didn't move from the nesting box. I'm as excited as a grandma.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have my first broody hen! I moved her to the basement....nowhere to separate her in the coop and hatching eggs will be here tuesday or wednesday! I thought she was broody yesterday...confirmed today...she didn't move from the nesting box. I'm as excited as a grandma.

I'm so happy for you. Congratulations.

If postal shipped eggs, be sure to let them sit for a good 24 to 48 hours so that the air cells reattach. You'll need to tip the carton on different corners 2 to 3 times each day. Keep at cool room temperature....about 60 degrees. Warm to ambient room temperature, about 70 degrees for setting.

You can check the air cells by candling with flashlight. Roll the egg as you candle. If you see a "bubble dime" roll as you roll the egg, like on a carpenter's level, the air cell has detached.

Only set eggs that look whole, well shelled, and have attached air cell.

Good luck! Keep us posted.
LofMc

 

[LogCabinChicks]

I thank you for that information! I have not read that anywhere.

Okay, so here is my problem...I thought she was broody Thursday but wasn't sure. I went out on Friday night to collect eggs after work and she growled at me, I could only nab a few. Yesterday I checked on her multiple times and she was always in the nest...even when other hen's would lay their eggs. So last night, I got a large dog crate and basket, put some eggs in it and went out around 9 pm (well after dark) and brought her in the house. The first thing she did was eat and drink. I didn't watch her anymore than that. I went to check on her this morning and she was laying on the cold basement floor instead of in the basket with eggs! So I went outside, unscrewed the nesting box, put some eggs in it and swapped out the basket....still nothing. She won't sit.

What did I do wrong?

I am also trying to contact the ebay seller hopeful that we can cancel the order.

I am super bummed.

 

[LogCabinChicks]

Guess what! She's sitting! Nice big glob of broody poo on the floor too...whoop whoop! I guess she really didn't like the basket and it took her just a bit to warm up to the new spot.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I thank you for that information! I have not read that anywhere.

Okay, so here is my problem...I thought she was broody Thursday but wasn't sure. I went out on Friday night to collect eggs after work and she growled at me, I could only nab a few. Yesterday I checked on her multiple times and she was always in the nest...even when other hen's would lay their eggs. So last night, I got a large dog crate and basket, put some eggs in it and went out around 9 pm (well after dark) and brought her in the house. The first thing she did was eat and drink. I didn't watch her anymore than that. I went to check on her this morning and she was laying on the cold basement floor instead of in the basket with eggs! So I went outside, unscrewed the nesting box, put some eggs in it and swapped out the basket....still nothing. She won't sit.

What did I do wrong?

I am also trying to contact the ebay seller hopeful that we can cancel the order.

I am super bummed.

First thing---some hens do not like to be moved---got a question---why did you go and get her after dark?

If you are going to bring her into a lighted basement---you said she eat and drank---so she had to be in light---as soon as she got through eating---she is going to hunt her original nest---which she can not find so she just lays there.

When I move a broody(moved Many---33 this season) """"I""" never pick her up off her eggs/nest---I move nest and all after dark with no flash light to a unlighted area---if I can not see where I am going I flash the light on and off for a split second to get my bearings. Even If its a dim lighted area or a bright moon---your chances will go way down on her staying put. If she is not in a nest that can be moved I would fix her a nest---in the nesting box that can be moved or a nest in front of it and let her get use to that nest for a day or two before I move her. I always put her feed and water in the new nesting area before I move her that night. I put the food and water where she can see it day break but not where she can eat while in the nest.

Here is my thoughts-----you move her quietly to a prepped place after dark---in the dark---no lights---then you leave quietly using no light---when it starts breaking day---she has been in this place several hours----she has her nest/eggs---she knows she is in a different place, but it looks good because as it gets lighter she can see food----she sits there thinking I like this place----no one is bothering me or eating all the food----let me get out of here and stretch my legs, get some food and water---take care of business---dust---go back and settle down in her nest---she is Happy----LOL.

You can try putting her back in her original spot and see if she continues setting. Good Luck!!