Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

I was wondering if roosters a a treat to new chicks in a coop

Any adult flock member can be a threat, but there is no way to know which individuals will react which way until you expose them to the situation. I have seen more intolerance from hens towards the chicks in the flock then I ever have seen from the roosters, but each bird is different

If you want to have a broody raise her chick within the flock then you have to be very observant of the flock's behavior toward both the broody and the chicks. Most adult flock members will be curious but maintain a safe distance from the broody, they may peck at the little ones if they get underfoot or don't wait their turn at the food dish. The flock will begin teaching them what that phrase 'pecking order' means from a young age. You have to determine the difference between normal pecking order 'corrections' and real aggression. If there are only one or two flock members who are aggressive then you may remove them to another area for a few days and then see how they do after the broody and chicks are more settled into the flock. If the broody freaks or just can't seem to handle the pressure from the flock then you may have to keep them separated by a hardware cloth fence for a bit longer. Keeping them in the same area but separated by a fence allows them to get used to each other but avoids direct conflicts.

 

[Jaybeetee]

Ok so I have 2 right now, one is a Black autralorpe and the other is a tiny buff Orpington she's super skinny, I also think one of our Americans are broody but I thight they didn't get broody? But anyway, my austtalorpe is so mean, she SCREAMS, Ill take a video of it, and she pecks me but does anyone know if I leave one egg under them will that break them? Cause they aren't fertle but we want them to stay broody cause we are gonna get store bought chicks for then

 

[farmhand]

I have not had a roo for over a year. My mixed flock of a dozen hens (Buff Orp, RIR, Barred Rock, Black Marrans, Blue Marans, White Rock, 2 EE's, 2 CA Gray, and a couple mixes) are 1 to 2 years old and have never gone broody. Does not having a roo cause hens to not go broody?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have not had a roo for over a year. My mixed flock of a dozen hens (Buff Orp, RIR, Barred Rock, Black Marrans, Blue Marans, White Rock, 2 EE's, 2 CA Gray, and a couple mixes) are 1 to 2 years old and have never gone broody. Does not having a roo cause hens to not go broody?

Hens will go broody whether or not there is a rooster, just as they lay eggs with our without a rooster. Broodiness is determined largely by genetics. You have mostly commercial layer breeds, which do not tend to go broody as they've been selected for laying eggs (the opposite of being broody).

Some Marans lines can be broody, others not. I have 2 BCM from a breeder (hatched eggs under a broody) who have never contemplated being broody themselves. They are about 11 months of age.

Your best hope may be in the mixes...but I have had mixes of commercial layers that never contemplated being broody. I have had mixes of more "heritage" type...Welsummer/Wyandotte...and she has brooded for me nicely.

If you really want a broody hen, get a Silkie or a Cochin. They are brooding machines...again if you get the right line...but most of them are.

LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Ok so I have 2 right now, one is a Black autralorpe and the other is a tiny buff Orpington she's super skinny, I also think one of our Americans are broody but I thight they didn't get broody? But anyway, my austtalorpe is so mean, she SCREAMS, Ill take a video of it, and she pecks me

but does anyone know if I leave one egg under them will that break them? Cause they aren't fertle but we want them to stay broody cause we are gonna get store bought chicks for then

Leaving an egg or two under them won't break them, it will encourage them to set. Which may make them more peaceful as they are setting and not lumbering around screaming.

I would definitely leave a clutch for your hen to set upon if you want to foster feed store chicks. She needs to be in a good brood, for at least a couple of weeks, before you attempt to place chicks.

Fostering can be a bit tricky, so have a plan B if the hen refuses the chicks or the chicks are clueless to stay with the hen (the more likely of the two).

LofMc

 

[LowerBamaMama]

New to chickens and this may be a dumb question.

My granddad told me that if I wanted to hatch eggs naturally, I needed a seperate coop/run to put my brood hen in. He said if I didn't seperate them, my other hens would stop laying.

Any truth to this? I have just ordered my first birds and as of now, expect my first chicks the first of April. I know it's a long way off before I have mature hens to lay, but when the time comes, I the would like to hatch some birds without the use of incubators and such.
Thanks y'all!

 

[JJSS89]

Not true. However, it might be a good idea anyway because other hens may keep laying underneath the broody hen which causes problems...

 

[LowerBamaMama]

Not true.  However, it might be a good idea anyway because other hens may keep laying underneath the broody hen which causes problems...

What kind of problems?

 

[WildfireSmitty]

Not true. However, it might be a good idea anyway because other hens may keep laying underneath the broody hen which causes problems...

Ya, I had this prob a lot. I set a dozen eggs under a hen, went for a vacation. Had someone pick eggs while I was gone, told them to leave the broody. When I got back there were over 2 dozen eggs. All I could do was let her sit on these eggs. I got a few chicks but once they were mobile momma hopped off the rest of the eggs. I tried to set another broody on them but I think it was too late. Lost a few eggs that were so close to hatching.

I would separate, just to avoid this issue.

 

[JJSS89]

Well if broody mama has 7 eggs under her that are developing on day 9 of incubation but then Clucky, Diane and Margaret come along and lay fresh eggs under her, she might adopt their eggs. This would cause her to not be able to handle all the eggs and possibly none would hatch.

Or her original babies would hatch but she wouldn't want to take them out of the nest like she should because of the other eggs still developing.

I usually try and keep them in the same area but maybe in a small dog kennel.