Broody Hen Thread!

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Lady of McCamley said:
Just keep a close eye...I totally get wanting to put him with momma since he is a lonely only...but you are seeing what I saw...the little hangs back and doesn't partake in the scratching...and unfortunately often is getting cold. They get warmed up when she sits and at night, but it can stress them during the day especially if temps are cooler. If he begins to look really rumpled you may have to take him back to the brooder and find a friend for him...I see the rumpled look first, and if that doesn't go away in a day or two, with them beginning to take part with the others, then I see losses.
LofMc
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I knew you were probably right but I was hoping. The coop situation was difficult. The ramp had come loose and I had blocked the doorway so babies would not fall out. But I guess mom wanted out and Spot followed. I could not get to them without help or taking the coop apart and I had somewhere to be. Mom was a little frantic about one baby on the ground and the others inside. So I pushed the rest out the door so they would be together and shoved the food under until I could get back home. It's about 80 degrees right now at 3:00. But when I got home an hour ago Spot was dead. Seems odd he was so lively and a few hours later dead. So I took the run apart so I was able to get into it and fix it so they can, if they decide to, go In and out of the coop. I worry that Anastasia will decide to go up the ramp and all the chicks won't follow. But they have food and water in the run and I'm sure she can keep them warm if they all stay together.
 
So I have had no luck separating my broody. She is just too flighty and ridiculous! So I decided to separate out everyone else. I ended up shutting my pop door and moving the ramp to my brooding area. So the girls are laying eggs in the brooder. And the broody is taking up the whole coop. It's not ideal, but I'm glad I did it. I found these today
400
 
christine9 said:
So I have had no luck separating my broody. She is just too flighty and ridiculous! So I decided to separate out everyone else. I ended up shutting my pop door and moving the ramp to my brooding area. So the girls are laying eggs in the brooder. And the broody is taking up the whole coop. It's not ideal, but I'm glad I did it. I found these today
400
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So sweet!
 
n3kms said:
I knew you were probably right but I was hoping. The coop situation was difficult. The ramp had come loose and I had blocked the doorway so babies would not fall out. But I guess mom wanted out and Spot followed. I could not get to them without help or taking the coop apart and I had somewhere to be. Mom was a little frantic about one baby on the ground and the others inside. So I pushed the rest out the door so they would be together and shoved the food under until I could get back home. It's about 80 degrees right now at 3:00. But when I got home an hour ago Spot was dead. Seems odd he was so lively and a few hours later dead. So I took the run apart so I was able to get into it and fix it so they can, if they decide to, go In and out of the coop. I worry that Anastasia will decide to go up the ramp and all the chicks won't follow. But they have food and water in the run and I'm sure she can keep them warm if they all stay together.
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Bummer...I was hoping I would be wrong, but that has been my experience...the little babies simply need more setting time especially if they were hatched in an incubator...somehow it just messes with their ability to control their temperatures better and adds to the transition stress.

LofMc
 
Question for the experts. Segregated my broody with eggs sunday. Today i noticed she has moved some of the eggs to a new nest and has abandoned some. I assume she knows what is best.
 
Aint nothing like two hens that decide to co-brood!! Or is it the lighter hen just thinks its her duty to steal all the chicks lol.. Whichever two hens watching the bitties is always better than one!

 
blkjak said:
Question for the experts. Segregated my broody with eggs sunday. Today i noticed she has moved some of the eggs to a new nest and has abandoned some. I assume she knows what is best.
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She may have been interrupted mid move. I would mark the ones she left behind somehow and give them back to her if they haven't been exposed to freezing temps too long, then candle them in a couple days for movement.
 
Candled the 5 eggs she abandoned. 4 had detached air cells and 1 14 day death I think. Probably because of the 6 broodys all trying to brood the same eggs until we segregated the 2 main broodys. She does know best!
 

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