Broody Hen Thread!

[3 Chicks]

I am a week into hatching using my broody Maran. This is my first time hatching. I am so excited! On the other hand, I can't believe how anxious it has made me. It makes me appreciate the nine month wait for my human babies!

I am realizing a flaw in my planning since 2 weeks after the chicks hatch I will be going put of town for a week. How long do the chicks stay with their mother? Will I need to separate her with the babies while I'm gone? I am going to have to really think this one out. How would you handle it?

 

[CockadoodleMimi]

So can I purchase fertile eggs and my hens will sit on them until they hatch? I'm assuming "broody" means they want to sit on eggs for babies? I'm still learning and eagerly awaiting any info I can get to make it easier to add more to my flock.

 

[chicken farmer]

When does a broody usually disown her brood? Or the brood disown her? I have five with a first time FBCM and while she still protects them and is still sitting on them at night, they spend a lot of time hunting bugs by themselves. I wouldn't be concerned by this except that my flock ranges in my chain link fences back yard. At three and a half weeks, these babies can still easily get in and out of the chain link and I have found them in the front yard, a long way away from the flock, twice today. I'm very concerned that without the adults, they are easy pray for a hawk or other predator. Any suggestions? Should I take them away from mama and move them to the tractor with the other 25 chicks their age?

The mom hen or chicks(brood) usually leaves when they want to and decide they dont need momma or momma dont need to take care of them anymore but usually they around 6 to 10 weeks,and about the chicks getting through the fence and getting away from the flock is if you can put chicken wire or rocks or something to keep them in or let the momma hen out so she can help protect them and maybe even a rooster or the whole flock if possible...hope it helps

 

[AVintageLife]

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

So sorry to hear that. How many days was she setting before she gave up? I'm so nervous about my EE Zelda, keeping fingers crossed she will go the distance ( is at Day 7 on fertile eggs but actually Day 12 if you count the five days on golf balls while I searched for the eggs). I didn't think EE's were inclined to go broody so I was surprised but she seems stuck tight to the nest. I'll be so sad if she doesn't make it, I'm already making plans for the chicks in my head.

 

[CSWolffe]

One thing I've learned about chickens, they will always surprise you! And one of the great things about EEs, and the most frustrating, is that you really don't know what their genetic makeup is. They are mutts, crosses with all sorts of breeds, and any one of those could have been a breed known for going broody.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining, I LOVE my EE!

 

[questions543]

Hello, So I have a broody and I want to give her fertile eggs… Im wondering if when they hatch I will have to separate them or will the other big birds leave them alone/accept them?

 

[Biginner]

Hello, So I have a broody and I want to give her fertile eggs… Im wondering if when they hatch I will have to separate them or will the other big birds leave them alone/accept them?

the hen will post likely take care of them once they hatch

 

[questions543]

the hen will post likely take care of them once they hatch

Okay, so will they will be protected from the other chickens by her? Or will the other chickens not even bother with the chicks?

 

[Florida_country_boy]

My broody Maran just hatched some babies!

 

[cwcochran1961]

i HAD , HAVE A COCHIN WHO HAS GONE BROODY, WELL SHE ABANDON THE EGGS AND MOVED TO ANOTHER NEST. SO I MOVED HER EGGS BACK UNDER HER IN THE NEW NEST. WELL SHE MOVED BACK TO HER ORIGINAL NEST AND NOW HAS BEEN JOINED IN THE SAME NEST BY ANOTHER CHICKEN WHO SITS ON TOP OF HER?!! WHAT DO i DO ABOUT THAT! I CANT SEPARATE THEM, THEY KEEP GOING INTO THE SAME NEST TOGETHER.. AND THE ONE COCHIN SHE STINKS.. BUT NOTHING LOOKS ABNORMAL IN HER VENT AREA AND THE ONE THAT HAS STARTED SITTING ON TOP OF HER LOOKS OK TOO... WEIRD.