Broody Hen Thread!

[katatonic123]

Well it looks like I have 2 possibly 3 broodies now. I want to move them out of the coops and put them together so the other hens won't keep laying under them and/or trample the babies when they hatch. I really don't have a good place for them to go since it's getting cooler.



I put Betty in this when she was broody in June but I moved her the day before hatching and only left her in there a week with the baby. Then she and the baby moved back to her coop. Wasn't as concerned about the weather then. Do you think they would be warm enough in this with lows in the low 60s/upper 50s (at least for the next 10 days) tucked away in their nesting boxes? It's in the breezeway so they won't get wet if it rains and it blocks most of the wind.

 

[the poppster]

My dominique has gone broody for the third tine this year.  She hatched some chicks with my Sussex back in june/july.  Then she stuck the sussex with all the chicks when they were about four weeks old.  I keep taking her off the nest whenever I see her in there.  I placed her for most of today in my chicken tractor.

I had a EE hen go broody and a JG at the same time...they both successfully hatched their eggs...The EE hen was Mom to the max!!! The JG would have completely abandoned the chicks after about 2 weeks if she wasn't in a chicken tractor with them...she didn't call them to her when she found food. ,She ignored them and would eat the food as fast as she could...even grab it and try to run away from the chicks...poor babies wandered around confused and forlorn...Good Mom vs Bad Mom...

 

[the poppster]

Well it looks like I have 2 possibly 3 broodies now. I want to move them out of the coops and put them together so the other hens won't keep laying under them and/or trample the babies when they hatch. I really don't have a good place for them to go since it's getting cooler. I put Betty in this when she was broody in June but I moved her the day before hatching and only left her in there a week with the baby. Then she and the baby moved back to her coop. Wasn't as concerned about the weather then. Do you think they would be warm enough in this with lows in the low 60s/upper 50s (at least for the next 10 days) tucked away in their nesting boxes? It's in the breezeway so they won't get wet if it rains and it blocks most of the wind.

They should be fine...mom will keep her chicks warm.

 

[luvmypets]

Soci and her twins

 

[csaylorchickens]

I'm having to hand feed my broody hen and give water via dropper. I'm hoping that once they hatch she will get off her broody booty and take care of her immidiate needs. I'm taking her off the next at least once a day in the evening for 30 min to an hour

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm having to hand feed my broody hen and give water via dropper. I'm hoping that once they hatch she will get off her broody booty and take care of her immidiate needs. I'm taking her off the next at least once a day in the evening for 30 min to an hour

Let me say this---I have set and had hatch over 60 broodies in just the last year----I did not have to hand feed/water any of them. They will get off the nest and eat/drink when they get ready. Some hens every day, some longer.(30 minutes to a hour off the eggs can be to long unless its real hot) """"""""""I"""""""" would NEVER feed/water them while they are in the nest, for sure never remove them from the nest----if you remove them from the nest the last 3 days You can cause a bad hatch. If you feed them in the nest the last 3 days(when they usually do not get off) that will cause them to poop in the nest-----a major poop-----A Mess in the nest. I would Highly recommend you place food and water where they HAVE to get off the nest to get to it, leave her alone/for sure do not bother her the last 3 days/not even look under her to see if the chicks are hatching----she knows what she is doing-----she will hatch you some chicks!!!

 

[Pork Pie]

Let me say this---I have set and had hatch over 60 broodies in just the last year----I did not have to hand feed/water any of them. They will get off the nest and eat/drink when they get ready. Some hens every day, some longer.(30 minutes to a hour off the eggs can be to long unless its real hot) """"""""""I"""""""" would NEVER feed/water them while they are in the nest, for sure never remove them from the nest----if you remove them from the nest the last 3 days You can cause a bad hatch. If you feed them in the nest the last 3 days(when they usually do not get off) that will cause them to poop in the nest-----a major poop-----A Mess in the nest. I would Highly reccomend you place food and water where they HAVE to get off the nest to get to it, leave her alone/for sure do not bother her the last 3 days/not even look under her to see if the chicks are hatching----she knows what she is doing-----she will hatch you some chicks!!!

I totally agree - the hen knows when it is best / necessary for her to leave her eggs so hand feeding whilst sitting could force her to leave the nest at inopportune times. This can be detrimental to the development of chicks

 

[the poppster]

Geeeezzzz oh Pete!!! I wish my girls would get over this broody thing for the year...I'm beginning to feel like the guy in the cartoon, trying to plug the leaks in his boat...I get one "Hole" plugged only to have another one show up...this is getting ridiculous....I think they are laughing at me!!! ... I can see the smirks on their pointy little beaks...I've decided....That's it!!! Anyone wanting to hatch eggs from this point on is "Outta Luck!"...Maybe the cold weather coming on with the the shortening days might help to switch the hormones off for the rest of the year!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

Geeeezzzz oh Pete!!! I wish my girls would get over this broody thing for the year...I'm beginning to feel like the guy in the cartoon, trying to plug the leaks in his boat...I get one "Hole" plugged only to have another one show up...this is getting ridiculous....I think they are laughing at me!!! ... I can see the smirks on their pointy little beaks...I've decided....That's it!!! Anyone wanting to hatch eggs from this point on is "Outta Luck!"...Maybe the cold weather coming on with the the shortening days might help to switch the hormones off for the rest of the year!!

I usually set ALL that are willing---until the bird-flu scare---I can usually sell all I hatch but that is slowing down-----I did sell about 40 the week-end but I had to bring 5 back home from the auction(first time that has happen)---and I think the Auction is closing in a couple weeks-----but if he doesn't----I feel the State will shut down SC public chicken sales soon. I might should shut down my Broodies too!!

 

[chicksurreal]

Geeeezzzz oh Pete!!! I wish my girls would get over this broody thing for the year...I'm beginning to feel like the guy in the cartoon, trying to plug the leaks in his boat...I get one "Hole" plugged only to have another one show up...this is getting ridiculous....I think they are laughing at me!!! ... I can see the smirks on their pointy little beaks...I've decided....That's it!!! Anyone wanting to hatch eggs from this point on is "Outta Luck!"...Maybe the cold weather coming on with the the shortening days might help to switch the hormones off for the rest of the year!!

I know the feeling! I had ten go broody with multiple girls going broody twice and one three times. I felt crazy for a little while there. Lol!