Broody Hen Thread!

[JJSS89]

So if I have a broody pen in the middle of my layer pens will this encourage my layers to become broody?

I wouldn't count on it. Broodiness is a hormonal instinct.

Layers are "layers" because they don't have that strong of a broodiness trait which causes them to stop laying and start setting.

I have heard some say that by raising chicks with a mother, you increase the likelihood of them going broody but I have no data or experience to really back that up.

 

[holm25]

We got 2 Blue Cochin bantams from a guy who breeds them and they went broody on the same day. This is their first time so I was hesitant at giving them eggs right away but they have been great and will soon be the mommas of some project crosses.

 

[celestialdreamer]

I have a stupid question for those experienced with broody hens. In the past we have always just used the incubator for hatching since we never had a hen that would consistently stay on the nest. I'm hoping to switch over to letting the hens raise their own if we have one interested (since we have a Silkie hen I am guessing we will have luck with it).

Anyway today I noticed my Rhode Island red has been hanging out away from the flock in the woods behind our house and I just realized why - she's got 10 eggs out there! They are definitely all her eggs only as the rest of my current layers are EE mixes that lay different egg colors. She's not consistently sitting on her nest, but she is spending more time there by herself and has a nice little hidden nest. Is it possible she's trying to to broody since she's never laid outside the nest boxes prior to this? Or is she likely just developing a bad habit? I Have no intention of letting her stay in the woods even of she does want be a mama of course.

 

[aart]

I have a stupid question for those experienced with broody hens. In the past we have always just used the incubator for hatching since we never had a hen that would consistently stay on the nest. I'm hoping to switch over to letting the hens raise their own if we have one interested (since we have a Silkie hen I am guessing we will have luck with it).

Anyway today I noticed my Rhode Island red has been hanging out away from the flock in the woods behind our house and I just realized why - she's got 10 eggs out there! They are definitely all her eggs only as the rest of my current layers are EE mixes that lay different egg colors. She's not consistently sitting on her nest, but she is spending more time there by herself and has a nice little hidden nest. Is it possible she's trying to to broody since she's never laid outside the nest boxes prior to this? Or is she likely just developing a bad habit? I Have no intention of letting her stay in the woods even of she does want be a mama of course.

Hard to say if it's broody behavior, could be.....but I'd lock her in the coop to reestablish using the coop nests if I were you.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

We just got our 2nd ever broody and I am taking advantage of her.

Broody hatching question:

My broody girl is doing well but she is in with the flock. There are 12 girls and 4 oversized nesting boxes. Of course there are favorite laying locations and my broody girl has claimed one. I put some fake eggs in the 2nd favorite box and am having luck with some layers making their deposits there. However, some of the girls insist on laying in with the broody and of course she is adding those eggs. I have been rolling the eggs out at the end of the day and taking the new eggs away (the ones I set her with are marked) then pushing the clutch back under her.

Is this the best way to remove the extra eggs?

I don't have a location to separate her and I want her to be able to remain with the flock.

Just wondering how others handle this. Thanks!

 

[chickalicia]

For the one who has eggs in woods if you r to move her and eggs go out at night and see what she is doing. Move her then. That's the only time I was able to touch my hens and move them. Kinda strange to me how you can hold and move them and night but in day if you try it's like you are trying to murder them

Lol

 

[Ann10]

Broody Hen Question:
I have several Buff Orpingtons who seem to keep going broody on me. They raised several chicks for me and I am done, I don't need anymore. One is just starting to show signs that she is going to go broody again. She is spending all morning on the nest and starting to pluck out her chest feathers. My friend and neighbor needs a broody chicken to raise some chicks. I want to know how difficult it is to transfer her to a home about 1 mile away to a new coop. Will she snap out of her broodiness with the move alone? Also, since she seems to be on the path towards, but not completely broody yet, will it be better to keep her at my home until she goes all the way (not getting off the nest) or should I let my neighbor have her to get used to the coop and finish the path towards becoming fully broody?

 

[fisherlady]

Broody Hen Question:
I have several Buff Orpingtons who seem to keep going broody on me. They raised several chicks for me and I am done, I don't need anymore. One is just starting to show signs that she is going to go broody again. She is spending all morning on the nest and starting to pluck out her chest feathers. My friend and neighbor needs a broody chicken to raise some chicks. I want to know how difficult it is to transfer her to a home about 1 mile away to a new coop. Will she snap out of her broodiness with the move alone? Also, since she seems to be on the path towards, but not completely broody yet, will it be better to keep her at my home until she goes all the way (not getting off the nest) or should I let my neighbor have her to get used to the coop and finish the path towards becoming fully broody?

If you are interested in her going there permanently then I would go ahead and transfer her. Most folks quarantine a new addition.... during her quarantine time if she is kept in a quiet location and given a nest box she is happy with she may resettle and go broody again. There is no way to know for sure though, and moving to a new location may cause her to never be broody again.... just no guarantee...

If she is placed into the new coop and is stressed I doubt she will brood again until she feels secure/comfortable. That may be a few weeks or a few months..... reducing stress would be the biggest factor to aid her into settling into a new brood.

Another option would be to allow her to brood at your home, where you know she is comfortable and then move her and the newly hatched chicks to your friend's house into a secure broody box. She would need to be kept separate of the other flock for a while to make sure there are no pecking order fights with the chicks being really little, but she can probably be integrated after a few weeks as long as your friend has the time to supervise it closely. If she isn't familiar with new introductions though I would just let her raise the chicks 5 or 6 weeks then work on integrating. The best handling of it depends on her flock's personality and the amount of experience she has in dealing with similar situations

 

[Dekachick]

I have 12 Buff Orpington hens and 1 BO rooster. One of the girls went broody a while back and is now a great momma to her week old chicks. Now two other girls are showing signs of going broody and more chicks are not something we need right now. How do I discourage them? I have been taking them out of the nest and putting them outside to cool down their bellies but each time I go in the coop they are back in the nests! Is having the rooster with the flock encouraging the hens to go broody or is this just a trait of BO chickens? If I block off the nests at night will that force them to sleep on the roost with the other chickens and break the broodiness or will they just take up brooding on the floor? Open to any suggestions. This site is so helpful and I really appreciate everyone's help.......THANKS!

 

[Ann10]

If you are interested in her going there permanently then I would go ahead and transfer her. Most folks quarantine a new addition.... during her quarantine time if she is kept in a quiet location and given a nest box she is happy with she may resettle and go broody again. There is no way to know for sure though, and moving to a new location may cause her to never be broody again.... just no guarantee...

If she is placed into the new coop and is stressed I doubt she will brood again until she feels secure/comfortable. That may be a few weeks or a few months..... reducing stress would be the biggest factor to aid her into settling into a new brood.

Another option would be to allow her to brood at your home, where you know she is comfortable and then move her and the newly hatched chicks to your friend's house into a secure broody box. She would need to be kept separate of the other flock for a while to make sure there are no pecking order fights with the chicks being really little, but she can probably be integrated after a few weeks as long as your friend has the time to supervise it closely. If she isn't familiar with new introductions though I would just let her raise the chicks 5 or 6 weeks then work on integrating. The best handling of it depends on her flock's personality and the amount of experience she has in dealing with similar situations

We have an interesting situation. I needed to get a bigger coop when I went from 2 to 4 chickens. I bought a bigger coop and my friend bought my small coop so she is now ready to start keeping chickens. Therefore, there are no flock to integrate into, and my chicken grew up in the coop that she will be moving to. Perhaps that will make the transition easier, or perhaps she will have no memory of the coop that she moved out of just 2 months ago.

So, if she is showing the tendency towards broodiness, but not all the way yet, perhaps moving there now would be the best course of action?