Broody Hen Thread!

[Sonya9]

Hi All,

Just a question for you all.... i recently thought I had lost one of my hens or she had gone broody somewhere in the backyard, which she did as i found her sitting on 11 eggs. I don't want to disturb her at all, but i was wondering whether she will be ok sitting on her eggs outside? its currently the middle of winter here and we have had some bad nights with rain. I would like to think that nature will takes its course and if she is too uncomfortable will leave the eggs?

If it were my bird I would absolutely relocate the whole nest and the broody to a separate area inside the coop. Keep her penned in with the nest for a couple of days so she doesn't abandon it.

 

[PheobeLover21]

I have a question for you guys. I am getting ready to sell my birds this week and but I need help on pricing can you give estimates what you would pay.

These two are 2-3 week olds they are batam Cochins.
Then I have two Americana hens
I have one Plymouth that is not laying anymore
Then one top hat rooster who is 2 years old. He is black and white

 

[Blooie]

It would make a difference if your Ameraucana is really an Amerecauna and not an Easter Egger, I think. But I'm not much help on pricing.

 

[Timily Farms]

I keep forgetting to post my broody cochin hatched out five babies a couple weeks ago. There are two americauna/ bantam orpington crosses, two splash cochins, and one little silkie cross

 

[PheobeLover21]

It would make a difference if your Ameraucana is really an Amerecauna and not an Easter Egger, I think. But I'm not much help on pricing.

Ok but what would you pay for them

 

[Texas4T]

Hello all! I found the Broody Hen Thread! Hope you don't mind me joining in here.

I just set 12 eggs from my own flock of Easter Eggers under one of my 2year old broody commercial Black Australorp hens. I let her set 6 golf balls in the laying nests for about three days before moving her to a sequestered nest in the corner of my coop in a wire dog crate with a rubbermaid tub nestbox full of straw (lid zip-tied on, hole cut in). She has a little feeder and waterer of her own in the clear side of the crate and seems happy. I set her on the golf balls in the new nest for 48 hrs before placing the eggs. She still seems happy and not willing to get off the new nest except in the evening for a quick 2 minute drink/bite to eat/poop. I have another Australorp in the laying nests that is broody, as a back up (if I can control myself and not start her too!).

Question for those of you "in-the-know": We have been rainy/hot/humid in the 80s-90s for the past two weeks when the hens started to go broody, but it rained furiously last night and suddenly the temps dropped below 60 today. Will this have any effect on my broodies? I don't know how/if sudden temperature fluctuations in the environment effect them.

Thanks for any comments/advice/suggestions/reassurance!

 

[TXchickenchick]

Hello all! I found the Broody Hen Thread! Hope you don't mind me joining in here. I just set 12 eggs from my own flock of Easter Eggers under one of my 2year old broody commercial Black Australorp hens. I let her set 6 golf balls in the laying nests for about three days before moving her to a sequestered nest in the corner of my coop in a wire dog crate with a rubbermaid tub nestbox full of straw (lid zip-tied on, hole cut in). She has a little feeder and waterer of her own in the clear side of the crate and seems happy. I set her on the golf balls in the new nest for 48 hrs before placing the eggs. She still seems happy and not willing to get off the new nest except in the evening for a quick 2 minute drink/bite to eat/poop. I have another Australorp in the laying nests that is broody, as a back up (if I can control myself and not start her too!). Question for those of you "in-the-know": We have been rainy/hot/humid in the 80s-90s for the past two weeks when the hens started to go broody, but it rained furiously last night and suddenly the temps dropped below 60 today. Will this have any effect on my broodies? I don't know how/if sudden temperature fluctuations in the environment effect them. Thanks for any comments/advice/suggestions/reassurance!

Lol as soon as I read the description of your weather I knew you must be in Texas. Sure enough! I am on my third broody this year and they haven't paid any attention to the crazy changing weather and horrible storms. One of mine even ran away from home and hid until her babies hatched and she came home! I never figured out where she was but it almost had to be out somewhere without proper shelter. Talk about being a worried chicken momma! Your girls should do just fine! Now get some eggs under that other girl because there is nothing more wonderful in the world than a momma hen with chicks!

 

[PheobeLover21]

I have a coop that is 4 feet long and 3 feet wide and is 1 I half feet tall the coop part where they go into is 4 feet wide 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I currently have 3 sillies is that enough space for them. Or not

 

[Sonya9]

I have a coop that is 4 feet long and 3 feet wide and is 1 I half feet tall the coop part where they go into is 4 feet wide 3 feet tall and 3 feet wide. I currently have 3 sillies is that enough space for them. Or not

The house part seems big enough but I would want more run space, the more run the better.

 

[PheobeLover21]

When you say coop, does that include the run? Or is it just the house part?

The house part seems big enough but I would want more run space, the more run the better.

The top part is the coop part and the run is 4 by 3