Broody Hen Thread!

[chicksurreal]

I just went out to check on Nessie and there was a giant bullsnake in her nest. It had eaten 3 of her eggs.

She was pacing back and forth and making a weird sound (no wonder). We took the snake out and she hopped back on the nest.

I guess it's time for snake season, that's the first one I've seen this year.

 

[ShockValue]

Zoinks! Happy that we only have the common garter snake around these parts, and I don't think they'd be brave enough to get near my chickens because they'd become lunch themselves

 

[chicksurreal]

Yeah, we get some very large snakes around here. This one was at least 4 feet long and looked like it could have easily eaten every egg in there.

 

[16 paws]

I think your eggs will be ok chicksurreal, I would just continue on if it were me. That is too bad about the darn snake!

I am not fond of snakes since a rattler killed my Yorkie Abby about a year ago.

I still cant get over that.
We just have to keep a good watch over things.....because things happen that are unfortunate.
Good luck,
Marie

 

[chicksurreal]

I think your eggs will be ok chicksurreal, I would just continue on if it were me. That is too bad about the darn snake!

I am not fond of snakes since a rattler killed my Yorkie Abby about a year ago.

I still cant get over that.
We just have to keep a good watch over things.....because things happen that are unfortunate.
Good luck,
Marie

Oh, yeah. We'll keep going with it. I want her to hatch some chicks if she can.

Sorry to hear about your Abby.

We have an abundance of all kinds of different snakes here, rattlers being a big number of them. We've been very fortunate to not lose any animals to them. My cat got bitten by one a couple of years ago and I thought he would die, but he didn't.

 

[aart]

I just went out to check on Nessie and there was a giant bullsnake in her nest. It had eaten 3 of her eggs.

She was pacing back and forth and making a weird sound (no wonder). We took the snake out and she hopped back on the nest.

I guess it's time for snake season, that's the first one I've seen this year.

 

[alex991]

2 of my hens are brooding. We dont have a rooster but if I bought a few chicks do you think they would raise them?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

2 of my hens are brooding. We dont have a rooster but if I bought a few chicks do you think they would raise them?

You can either buy chicks or purchase hatching eggs, which of the two, purchasing hatching eggs is my preferred choice since fostering does not always go smoothly.

I would let the hens be settled for at least 2 weeks, in a determined brood (sticking like glue 24/7 up only for a short food/water/poo) before attempting to foster chicks. They need that long to really bond to the idea unless they are a very broody type that will foster a chick at any moment (few are that type).

If you do decide to foster chicks, most recommend placing at night; however, I find placing during the late afternoon a better time as I have the remaining daylight hours in my favor if I need to replace straying fosters. Most broody hens will accept fosters, but feed store fosters have imprinted on the heat lamp for warmth and will often fear the hen. It may take some careful watching for a few hours to replace the chicks as they wander. Night time can help them settle, but if you aren't there to replace them for the first few hours while they figure out the hens is safe, they can also chill very quickly in cool evening temps.

I like to block off the broody nest for a couple of days after placing fosters so that they cannot wander off and get lost.

Let us know how you did.
LofMc

 

[n3kms]

Okay after reading the last post LofMc, I took a chick from the incubator and stuck it under Anastasia then I walked back to the house and got another and put it under her. Now I'm going to give them 15 min and go check. There is a pipped egg under her and one that hasn't pipped that are from the incubator. I was worried about adding them at night for fear they would wonder out and get cold. I do have to leave in about 30 min and be gone for a couple of hours. Hope they'll be okay till I get back.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Yeah for Broodies!

I have to share a great story.

I gave a special needs 4H kid a pair of Phoenix that I had hatched this fall. His dad said he was wanting to work with them. They had raised other breeds of chickens but he wanted to show the Phoenix. I got a call today from the dad telling me that in February the girl had gone broody and while he didn't want to let her sit, the boy insisted. We had some terrible ice and yucky weather in February. Well, she sat on 9 eggs and hatched 8 and still a month later is raising them and has lost none. The dad said the boy wanted me to know.

He also offered that if I wanted any birds that I could have my choice. I told him I was happy for them and that I couldn't wait to see what they looked like at the fair this year.