Broody Hen Thread!

[CaCO3]

Is there 1 chicken chick in there? Think I see a pair of chick feet....

 

[CaCO3]

Was referring to casportpony's post. (Freakin iPad format....)

Here is one of my broody hens, she's a Modern Game Bantam, lol.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I thought I posted this, but it's not here My broody leghorn with her Crevecoeur chick, LOL



I do believe I also see chicken chick feet there, CaCO3! LOL

kukupecpec, can you save them, and get them into the incubator?

fisherlady, I understand some people put there broodies on a wire floor cage, where air circulates under them, which cools them off, and breaks the broodiness?? Look up breaking a broody!

 

[fisherlady]

I thought I posted this, but it's not here My broody leghorn with her Crevecoeur chick, LOL




fisherlady, I understand some people put there broodies on a wire floor cage, where air circulates under them, which cools them off, and breaks the broodiness?? Look up breaking a broody!

Beautiful! I love it when I see a 'non broody' breed getting broody! LOL
Yes on the wire cage, but I don't think I was the one who asked about breaking a broody... I am lucky enough I've always been able to encourage any of mine! I may have made them wait a bit for eggs, but that's about it.

 

[CSWolffe]

How easily will my big girls accept my broody's babies?
I now it's natural for a flock to accept the young of one of their flock mates, but is it guaranteed? Do they need access to her nest site to see her on the eggs? I had to isolate my broody Wellsummer, as the other dork-butts kept shouldering her out of the nest to lay even more eggs on the pile-she's setting on 13 fertile eggs atm! Should I open up the pen and give them access to her just before/after the hatch? Do they need to see day old chicks, or will they accept a little crowd of week old chicks as long as she's looking out for them?
After all this work(on her part) it would be such a shame if the big girls killed the little ones.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give!

 

[cluck-cluck]

Beautiful! I love it when I see a 'non broody' breed getting broody! LOL
Yes on the wire cage, but I don't think I was the one who asked about breaking a broody... I am lucky enough I've always been able to encourage any of mine! I may have made them wait a bit for eggs, but that's about it.

Ooops, sorry fisherlady, that was fratmor I was talking to I guess, LOL Thank you, she's a cutie, and so sweet. Today another chick hatched, and I vent checked it and think it's another girl. However, I don't think I can be that lucky and will have to wait 12-14 weeks to know for sure. I need 3 more hens for that coop!

How easily will my big girls accept my broody's babies?
I now it's natural for a flock to accept the young of one of their flock mates, but is it guaranteed? Do they need access to her nest site to see her on the eggs? I had to isolate my broody Wellsummer, as the other dork-butts kept shouldering her out of the nest to lay even more eggs on the pile-she's setting on 13 fertile eggs atm! Should I open up the pen and give them access to her just before/after the hatch? Do they need to see day old chicks, or will they accept a little crowd of week old chicks as long as she's looking out for them?
After all this work(on her part) it would be such a shame if the big girls killed the little ones.
Thank you in advance for any advice you can give!

Unfortunately I don't really know. This has been my first time with a broody. Mine stayed in the nest box in the coop with the others, and yes, some or one kept laying fresh eggs into her pile (but didn't force her off the eggs that I know of) If the eggs she was on didn't have a distinctive look and slightly more creamy color, I would have marked the ones she was hatching so I could take the freshly laid eggs out on a daily basis (or 2X a day). So far, though she doesn't seem super protective of her chicks (I can reach in, take one out, or lift her up to see what's up, with nor more that a "show of a peck sometimes) The other hens are not bothering the babies at all beyond eating it's food, LOL. I'm not letting the rooster in there again, though, until they've grown a lot more. Having leghorns, which people say aren't nice, I was worried. But my girls are indeed sweet, I adore them, and they're being good aunts I'd say play it by ear, and mark the eggs that are being incubated, and take the others out daily so they don't displace the ones being incubated (and get cold) and see how it goes? That's what I'm doing and I've been seriously surprised. I think having crowded conditions will be the main cause of killing, but if they have plenty of space and are happy hens, I think it'll be fine???!!!

Remember, mine are less than a week old....so? Still watching

 

[dogsrockx2]

I just found a broody BO today. My first one! I would love to hatch some but i don't want anymore at the moment. I have 2 four week old chicks in a brooder now. Could I put them in there or are they too big?

 

[Runawaylobster]

My hen hatched one egg last weekend, and on the same day as I hatched some in the incubator. I put 3 chicks under her
just now, they are hiding alongside her own chick in her feathers.. she seems happy enough but are there any signs
i should look out for.. ...


after i have given her a day to settle in with them i'd like to put her back in the coop with the others.. she is in a cat carrier with no door right now, and she can stay with that inside the coop?? is this OK..



just went to check and everything still looks OK

sorry i am such a worry wort...

 

[chicken farmer]

My silkies 6 eggs are gonna hatch in 6 days!!! IM SOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Jharper]

My silkies 6 eggs are gonna hatch in 6 days!!! IM SOOO HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Me2!!!! My Cochin is hatching them though. My silkie has not gone broody though.