Broody Hen Thread!

[el pollo rey]

Man that's hot for this time of year

 

[Jharper]

The San Fernando Valley is part of Los Angeles, and is North of the main basin. I live in the South/West end of it

Wow! And I live in Ga. thinking it got hot here!

 

[GAFarmGirl87]

Newbie here with questions about letting your hens hatch/ raise chicks.

I've got a mixed flock of 10 hens & 1 rooster. Mostly Black Copper Marans (including my rooster), but I also have an Ameracauna, an Ameracauna/ BCMs mix, & 4 game mixes. These are all in a large pen. I let them out every so often to free range, but only when I can supervise. Then I have 1 game hen that is completely free range. She is the only one laying right now. The rest of my flock are about 6 weeks from laying.

I'm thinking of getting 2 silkies to be my "incubators" & hatch eggs for me, once my other hens start laying. I've heard they are the best breed to do this kind of work. I would separate the silkies from the rest of the flock in their own pen.

I don't know anything about hatching eggs & raising chicks. I'd like to let nature take its course & allow the chickens to do as much of the work as possible. I don't have any specific questions, since I don't really know what to ask right now. Any advice from veterans out there?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Jharper]

I think my production RIR hen is about to go broody.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I've got to say, I'm amazed. This morning, I sat by the open coop door where the nest box is, and watched my white leghorn (supposedly a mean non-broody breed) teaching her little chick how to eat the chick feed and drink from the nipple waterer. I'm sure she was teaching because she has a waterer more suitable to her hight (the chick one is just off the ground, perfect height for the chick) and she kept grabbing it, and the baby looked on interested, but I didn't see it try the waterer yet, but I suspect it has?? It's so happy and healthy and running all over the coop (the others have been nice to it as well) so so far, all is well in the coop with a baby. Mommy still has 3 eggs, and I think she's intending to hatch them still!

I'm afraid 2 might be 3 days away still??

GAFarmGirl87, I was thinking of doing that as well, but never did. Until my leghorn went broody, I incubated all my eggs. I'm glad I gave broody a shot because now I won't have to worry about integrating them into the existing flock.

 

[Biginner]

some of my hens teaming up

 

[newtwinmom]

How's does everyone socialize their chicks that are with a broody? I have 25 in the brooder I've been handling daily and they are beginning to be pretty gentle. The five with my broody are crazy! The only way I can get my hands on them is to corral them in the coop and tackle one or two while mom and the other babies fly at my head. I've only had my hands on them a few times and its practically been a fight to the death!

 

[fisherlady]

If you have room to do it... get a baggy full of tiny treats and sit on the ground right in the run area. (I used an old towel folded up to sit on for this) it may take a half hour each day or multiple times a day of just sitting in there with them. Offer them treats when they come close and don't try to pick them up or anything but allow them to hop up onto your legs or lap if they want. Chicks are intensely curious and it may take a while but I think you will notice a difference. Even if mama is set in her ways the little ones may be cooperative eventually.
Even if the babies never become 'lap chickens' at least they will learn they don't have to run away from you either.

Newtwinmom, Here was my advice to a similar question a page or two back...

 

[fratmor]

I have a jersey giant that has gone broody about 6 weeks now . I cant seem to break her .i take her out of the coop she walks around a little the finds a spot on the grass and sits. Dont have a rooster, there are no eggs under her. How do i break this one .i feel like she is going to starve her self .she holds her poo most of the day when i take her out she ppos it looks like horse poo its so dry.

 

[kukupecpec]

Well my EE gave up. I'm so bummed! =(