Broody Hen Thread!

[spiffwilkie]

We had a Buff Orpington go broody about a month ago. I halfway tried to break her for a few days, but she was having none of that, so I got some eggs from the feed store and had her sit on them. I put the eggs under her on the night of the 13th of Feb, and all but two (out of 8) hatched between yesterday afternoon (Mar 4) and this morning. One of the eggs that was left doesn't appear to be fertilized (we didn't candle at all until yesterday) and the other looks normal, but doesn't have any peeping or pipping coming from it, so we'll have to wait a bit on that one.
This was our first experience with a broody after about 2 years of having chickens and it was very fun to see the whole process. I just love to see the little chicks wander over to mama and have her lift a tiny bit so they can squish back under her.

 

[fisherlady]

We had a Buff Orpington go broody about a month ago. I halfway tried to break her for a few days, but she was having none of that, so I got some eggs from the feed store and had her sit on them. I put the eggs under her on the night of the 13th of Feb, and all but two (out of 8) hatched between yesterday afternoon (Mar 4) and this morning. One of the eggs that was left doesn't appear to be fertilized (we didn't candle at all until yesterday) and the other looks normal, but doesn't have any peeping or pipping coming from it, so we'll have to wait a bit on that one.
This was our first experience with a broody after about 2 years of having chickens and it was very fun to see the whole process. I just love to see the little chicks wander over to mama and have her lift a tiny bit so they can squish back under her.

They are just adorable!! Congrats and enjoy... they grow so quick!

 

[erinchelsea]

They are just so sweet!

 

[LONDON HENS]

Thanks everyone. Fingers crossed. I candeled yesterday for the first time day 12 and everything looked good.

 

[elsfieldchickens]

They are just so sweet!

x2

 

[animal boy]

I have a broody hen (again) and last time she didn't hatch any eggs and this time I hope to do things right. I tried moving her out of the main nest box ( where all the other hens lay) where she went broody but she keeps returning to the main box. I marked her eggs with a pencil and put another box for the other hens to lay in but I fear they will keep laying in the main box and she will sit on eggs that are days apart ( the eggs she's sitting on are already a few days apart from each other. About 48 hours or less). Do I have to worry she will rotate the newer eggs and the older more developed eggs and the older eggs won't hatch. I would like her to have at least a few babies this spring.

 

[Jharper]

I have a broody hen (again) and last time she didn't hatch any eggs and this time I hope to do things right. I tried moving her out of the main nest box ( where all the other hens lay) where she went broody but she keeps returning to the main box. I marked her eggs with a pencil and put another box for the other hens to lay in but I fear they will keep laying in the main box and she will sit on eggs that are days apart ( the eggs she's sitting on are already a few days apart from each other. About 48 hours or less). Do I have to worry she will rotate the newer eggs and the older more developed eggs and the older eggs won't hatch. I would like her to have at least a few babies this spring.

UGGHHH why don't you you just give her whole new eggs that are the same age and close her up in the newer nest box over night with the eggs. She should stay in that box with the eggs. So that the hens don't keep leaving her more eggs.

 

[animal boy]

I haven't tried to move her at night .... If I give her new eggs will she still sit for 21 days on them? Also I gave her more eggs in case of duds... Plus I would like a few of her own eggs but now she isn't laying.

 

[MorgansManor]

So excited I heard a small peep under my broody buff and guess what I found our first little fuzz ball! It was a little early tomorrow is 21. This is such an awesome experience. So glad I foumd this thread moving her was a great idea.

 

[Jharper]

I haven't tried to move her at night .... If I give her new eggs will she still sit for 21 days on them? Also I gave her more eggs in case of duds... Plus I would like a few of her own eggs but now she isn't laying.

If she is desperate enough she will sit there until there are some peeps coming out from up under her. They are really crazy like that.