Broody Hen Thread!

[AlienChick]

In my experience I've had broody hens accept the chicks with no problem and I've had broody hens peck the chicks to death.
I've also had broody hens suffocate chicks cuz all they wanna do is sit on eggs (not raise chicks).
"The Suffocator" is actually my best broody hen. All she wants to do is sit on eggs, so she hatches lots of eggs.
Once hatched I take the chicks away otherwise one by one they'll end up dead.
She won't get off the nest -eggs or no eggs.
So the chicks either die of starvation or suffocation.
Anyway, I only use her for hatching.

I have another broody hen that will kill any chick that is found under or near her (doesn't matter if I 'sneak' the chick in the nest day/night).
She is my BEST mom, though.
She will raise any chick that is hatched under her.
She recently sat on 7 guinea eggs and hatched them all (she's a very small black Silkie).

And I have other broody hens that will raise anything you put under them. They don't care.
They will even try to steal another hen's chick! This usually ends up with both hens co-raising the chicks.

You just gotta 'know' your broodies cuz not all broodies are the same.

 

[Nevada Sun]

HI,, thanks for letting me come in on this thread and ask.. My buff silkie is laying on some eggs (9- not hers) she is now on and off... usually on.. but it is so so cold now it was just below 0 inside the coop - 27 outside.. water is frozen a bit.. will the eggs make it or is it to late? Kristin

Not sure if this was seen but I asked if I could ask a question on this Thread and the reply was yes,,, so I asked this above.. It has been so cold with the Temps. down past - 30 c Frozen water , I change it all the time,,,etc.. will my silkie be enough for the eggs she is laying on or at least will there be a chance they will hatch?? She is in a smaller area in the coop where it obviously is colder than I thought.. but she is fine but the eggs? Thanks Kristin We will be doing things different next winter...

 

[Jharper]

Not sure if this was seen but I asked if I could ask a question on this Thread and the reply was yes,,, so I asked this above.. It has been so cold with the Temps. down past - 30 c Frozen water , I change it all the time,,,etc.. will my silkie be enough for the eggs she is laying on or at least will there be a chance they will hatch?? She is in a smaller area in the coop where it obviously is colder than I thought.. but she is fine but the eggs?  Thanks Kristin  We will be doing things different next winter... 

It's a risky chance. Do you have a heat lamp; those are very useful.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

It is possible but will probably be less successful than a hatch during more pleasant weather. Could you possibly move her at night to a warmer location such as into a garage or basement...possibly in a pet crate?

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Ditto, I'd move her or add a heat lamp to her little nesting area. I heard my hens cackling their egg song and finished up my dishes before I went and got the eggs- took me maybe 10 minutes. When I got them they were ICE cold already. If she's taking longer than that, then the eggs will probably get too cold. Good luck!
Nikki

 

[Arkansas81]

Well I got my roosters sold and now we can start preparing our broody nest, and location to see if she will sit on some eggs. I hope she will sit so I can see how reliable and dedicated she will be. I would like to have maybe one or two broodies to hatch a dozen eggs during the summer, then during the winter months I can use an incubator. I am wanting to let mother nature do it's thing if at all possible. I think it teaches my daughter more about animals on a whole new level. I'm really hoping she will be a good one. I am only going to sit about 5 eggs under her and see what happens. Then I will slowly increase to about 10 eggs-eventually. I really don't think that she will be able to handle anymore than 12 at a time.

So here's to broodies and babies starting the adventure in the morning!

 

[Kristin Brown]

Arkansas81-

From the couple times I've had a hen go broody, I've noticed that she has lost at least one or two eggs due to breaking them or the egg being unfertile. If you have the chance to give your broody around 6 or 7 eggs,I think that may work nicely. That way you can expect to hopefully end up with at least 5 chicks! Not every chick will always make it in the first few days after hatching, so that is important to consider into your plans too. Keep everyone updated on the broody hen! I hope you get lots of fluffy chicks in a few weeks, best of luck!

 

[Nevada Sun]

Thanks everyone ... I have moved the heat lamp that I had in the area closer to her and thankfully the weather is getting warmer... I can just wait and see if she stayed on long enough to keep them warm... One thing is I put 9 eggs under her but some are real covered I can't see them just 5 on top.. if the five got to cold do you think there is a chance the 4 under the nesting stuff and under her, might have help to keep them warmer? thanks again Kristin

 

[FirewifeJess]

Well I went away for 48 hours from my broody and was worried about her but she's still in there, broody as can be! She did, however, kick out one of the 5 wooden eggs sometime while I was away, I think on accident because there was another of my hen's eggs kicked out of the nest too. She's quite picky it seems and won't take anyone else's eggs, just the wooden ones. I gave the one back to her and she was happy, but I'm glad we went the fake egg route and will be giving her chicks instead, because she'd have killed that egg while I was away. I can't wait for the 12th when we pick up our 4 new chicks!

 

[roostersandhens]

my hens eggs are going to hatch on monday i can not wait!