Broody Hen Thread!

[DomesticDiva12]

Did the egg in the bra trick work??

Another day no chicks, so far no pips either. I am crossing my fingers everything is okay, she has been such a good mommy so far so hopefully. I may try to sneak out again tonight and candle them. I saw movement a few nights ago. I so wish I knew exactly what day she started sitting!

 

[SIMZ]

Sweet Broody Story!

My hen left her 4 1/2 week old chicks and went into the main coop about a week ago. She mostly ignores them, but does let them hang out with her a little bit during the day. They've been putting themselves to bed in their little coop at night.

Tonight, an older group of chicks took over the little ones coop, so they were walking around peeping. I cleared the older ones out and went to close things up before rounding up the little ones. About that time their mama came out of the coop, rounded them up and tried taking them into the main coop. When they wouldn't follow her she corralled them into their coop. Once they were settled she walked out and went back into the main coop.

Keep in mind it was getting dark, so that hen had been roosting for a little bit. I'm amazed, to tell you truth. People talk about how stupid chickens are (often me included!), but there was nothing stupid about that. And here I thought that "stupid" hen has just left her chicks to themselves.

 

[fisherlady]

Sweet Broody Story!

My hen left her 4 1/2 week old chicks and went into the main coop about a week ago. She mostly ignores them, but does let them hang out with her a little bit during the day. They've been putting themselves to bed in their little coop at night.

Tonight, an older group of chicks took over the little ones coop, so they were walking around peeping. I cleared the older ones out and went to close things up before rounding up the little ones. About that time their mama came out of the coop, rounded them up and tried taking them into the main coop. When they wouldn't follow her she corralled them into their coop. Once they were settled she walked out and went back into the main coop.

Keep in mind it was getting dark, so that hen had been roosting for a little bit. I'm amazed, to tell you truth. People talk about how stupid chickens are (often me included!), but there was nothing stupid about that. And here I thought that "stupid" hen has just left her chicks to themselves.

I notice most of our broodies do try to get them in to the main coop roost before giving them up....what you are describing is great! Although she is ready to resume normal 'adult' life in the flock there is was still enough motherly instinct to help them out during the transition. hopefully they do decide to follow her to the big bird coop in the next night or so....

 

[SIMZ]

Could I go ahead and put them in the big coop at night? Or is it better to just let them stay where they want until they're bigger? My other broody went in the big coop tonight - which is why the older ones were in both coops. I was wondering if I could just close those little coops and swoosh all the chicks in the big coop with their moms.

 

[fisherlady]

Could I go ahead and put them in the big coop at night? Or is it better to just let them stay where they want until they're bigger? My other broody went in the big coop tonight - which is why the older ones were in both coops. I was wondering if I could just close those little coops and swoosh all the chicks in the big coop with their moms.

Our broodies introduce the littles to the roost with the big birds anytime from about 3 weeks on up. If they have been free ranging with the rest of the flock during the day then they can probably go into the main coop with them, but just hang out to make sure they don't run into any really nasty hens. when ours meet resistance they usually just retreat and try being sneakier the next time...eventually they gain a spot. It can be hard to watch though, establishing pecking order can be a wicked right of passage but is needed to maintain flock stability.

 

[alibabba]

Sweet Broody Story!

My hen left her 4 1/2 week old chicks and went into the main coop about a week ago. She mostly ignores them, but does let them hang out with her a little bit during the day. They've been putting themselves to bed in their little coop at night.

Tonight, an older group of chicks took over the little ones coop, so they were walking around peeping. I cleared the older ones out and went to close things up before rounding up the little ones. About that time their mama came out of the coop, rounded them up and tried taking them into the main coop. When they wouldn't follow her she corralled them into their coop. Once they were settled she walked out and went back into the main coop.

Keep in mind it was getting dark, so that hen had been roosting for a little bit. I'm amazed, to tell you truth. People talk about how stupid chickens are (often me included!), but there was nothing stupid about that. And here I thought that "stupid" hen has just left her chicks to themselves.

awww, they put themselves to bed....


I wondered how this would go, they no way can roost with the the big chickens at 6 weeks.

Side note, a couple times in the midst of acclimation to a new situation (2nd night in coop) there has been confusion and waiting outside, or waiting at a gate... after an hour, they have taken thee opportunity to the coop they have access to. Once one decides, they are a go. Too funny, but like you said, who is stupid?.

 

[HighStreetCoop]

Day 16. Candled. 2 clears (removed). 2 definitely developing. 1 seems to be developing, but is "sloshy" if that makes sense. Should I toss the sloshy one, too?

 

[franny254]

My warhorse game hen was broody with 13 eggs she hathed 11 and the other to got cold I guess because there was no room with all the chicks left for the last two eggs and they died they are rir/golden lace wyadotte, white leghorn/rir white leghorn/golden lace wyadote they are now a week and two days old.

 

[Demidog]

Update on the egg in my bra!

So last night it pipped at 4pm. I went to bed with it tweeting and pecking a lot, expecting it to hatch during the night. I had such crazy dreams last night! I drempt that the egg was twins, that there was multiple eggs in there, i had like 10 chicks hatch and i kept finding wet blobs in my bra and thinking is that another chick, when will this end!?. lol When i woke up however, not much had happened. It had just made another pip beside the first one. I was getting worried it's not going fast enough, maybe not enough humidity in my bra and it's got stuck? But It's now 7:30 and it has knocked the shell off from where it's pipped and made a slit in the membrane and has a wee feather poking through. In fact, I'v just checked it again and now i see a long crack so i think it is unzipping! Seemed to not do much during the night but i think now things are getting going. I'v been looking for that help sheet on assisted hatching but can;'t find it. I wanted to re-familiarize myself with it as i was getting a bit panicky. Although now i'v seen the crack i'm a little more relaxed. But if anyone has the link for that please post as i can't find it!

 

[Demidog]

My bra chick has hatched!

The past hour it's been breaking through the shell really fast. It zipped all the way round then i took it out my bra for the final push and it hatched on a towel in my lap. I'm sitting here with it wrapped up, it's tweeting away and trying to get up. Looks strong and healthy. And it's got pretty markings like the other 2 which are from my Italian crosses. I knew it was worth saving. Now just hope it's a girl! lol Maybe if it's male we can keep it anyway, our rooster just now is pure evil! lol So i wouldn't mind replacing him.....