Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

And two hens hatched last night...
Another one of our silver pencil rocks..



Of course Mindy is keeping close tabs on the two latest hatches



And one of our buckeyes...who is not very thrilled about a photo shoot!

 

[aart]

I love watching the cock with the chicks......tidbitting them and running interference from any unfriendlies....
....and also a few other hens are friendly and one in particular taught them to use the nipple waterers, with no resistance from Broody Mama.

 

[katekearby]

OK I'm new at this, and first of 7 hens (no roo) that are all about 16 months old is going broody. So I should take her off the nest when I see her and try to get her to quit? Thought about waiting a while and then hiding some day old chicks under her, I heard they will mother them into the flock? If I did that how long should I wait?

 

[sharol]

OK I'm new at this, and first of 7 hens (no roo) that are all about 16 months old is going broody. So I should take her off the nest when I see her and try to get her to quit? Thought about waiting a while and then hiding some day old chicks under her, I heard they will mother them into the flock? If I did that how long should I wait?

It takes eggs 21 days or so to hatch, and she has an internal clock that helps her know that. I would sat no earlier than 2 1/2 weeks or so. Be sure the chicks are truly day olds. If they are older, they may not obey her or accept her as their mother.

Good luck. My broodies do a good job integrating chicks into the flock. It is much easier than trying to introduce them after they feather out.

 

[katekearby]

thank you, so should I try to break them of broody if I'm not going to try the chick thing by setting off the nest often? how likely is it I'll have more then one go broody at a time?

 

[PD-Riverman]

thank you, so should I try to break them of broody if I'm not going to try the chick thing by setting off the nest often? how likely is it I'll have more then one go broody at a time?

Thats your call, Keep in mind, you can always get a few fertile eggs from someone and let her hatch them if you want. If """I""" am not going to "set" a broody----I break her. I see no reason to allow her to sit in a empty box for weeks for Nothing. Taking her out the box 10 times a day will probably not break her. Moving her to another pen where she can not get back to her nest "Might" break her, then it might not. If you will put her in a suspended wire bottom cage----no bedding---just food and water for 3 full days she will probably break and get back to laying eggs in a few days.

 

[katekearby]

Thank you very much, one thing about it is this one is one of my shy hens and I am getting to handle her, when I put her out of the box she goes about eating etc for a while. I'll see how it goes, I'm building a small chicken tractor and it may be good to use to adjust broody attitudes. I think it would be a good deal if I knew for sure in 2 weeks I'd have my hands on the new hatched chicks I want to add.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thank you very much, one thing about it is this one is one of my shy hens and I am getting to handle her, when I put her out of the box she goes about eating etc for a while. I'll see how it goes, I'm building a small chicken tractor and it may be good to use to adjust broody attitudes. I think it would be a good deal if I knew for sure in 2 weeks I'd have my hands on the new hatched chicks I want to add.

Adding chicks to a Broody hen is a Gamble----Might work, Might not, so if you decide to go that way-----also have a brooder set-up in case they do not accept each other-----1 day old chicks need to be in the 95 degree area---for a few days. If Mom does not allow them under her the first night to keep them warm----they could be dead the next morning if the night gets a little cool and they do not huddle together to stay warm.

 

[katekearby]

Thank you, I'm studying on all these details, my understanding of the 'adoptive chicks' was to tuck them in at night when all were sleeping. since are daytime hi's are hitting 95. I understand what you are saying and it really probably won't happen with this first boody hen. but everything is helping a bunch!

 

[PD-Riverman]

my understanding of the 'adoptive chicks' was to tuck them in at night when all were sleeping.

For sure you would need to do it this way, But you will also need to be there as day breaks the next morning to make sure the hen does not peck and kill everyone of them because she knows they are not hers. Most hens will accept them, but there is some that will not.