Broody Hen Thread!

[Gen9]

I gave my silkie hen that has been broody for 2 days 4 chicks and I took the eggs from her and she calls to them and wast lks in and out of the nestbox but the chicks dont no what to do they just stand there and look around and chirp,what  can i do

I'm not experienced at all but I just read about this last night. It takes the chicks a couple days to figure out that the hen is the surrogate mother. Wait a couple days you *should* see them come around

 

[chickenboy190]

Hey guys is there any way you can make your hen go broody.

 

[julie0477]

Hey guys is there any way you can make your hen go broody.

I've tried. It didn't work. I tried leaving the eggs out uncollected.... bad idea. They just added up and eventually went bad. After that I did some reading and some breeds are way more likely to go broody than others. Silkies and cochins are very likely. There are some other large breeds like buff orpingtons and brahmas. My silkie girl just started laying about a month ago and she just went broody this past week. I didn't do anything to initiate it. Its just a hormonal thing. I would suggest getting a silkie or cochin hen or even a silkie cross or cochin cross. Its pretty much a sure thing that it will happen with those lil mommas.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hey guys is there any way you can make your hen go broody.

Well, you first have to have a hen that naturally wants to brood. You can't create a broody type if the genes just aren't present. Some hens simply brood, a lot. Some would never consider brooding even with a pile of eggs under them. (Commercial breeds have had the broodiness selected out of them as they aren't productive when they are brooding.)

You also can't create broodiness if she simply isn't in the mood, (as it is hormone related) but there are some things you can do to help encourage a naturally broody type.

Separate her from the rest of the flock into a nice quiet, dark corner, preferably a contained nest box with just enough room for her to stretch her legs and catch a quick drink and gulp of food but not be able to go any where. The box should contain some fake eggs or golf or ping pong balls. The box area should also be warm, free of drafts. Broody hens go broody when their body temperature is raised slightly as that is what helps to kick in the hormones. (That's why the tend to go broody in June, weather is warmer).

Cross your fingers. If she is a broody type that simply likes to brood, chances are you will get her in the mood in fairly short order. If not, then nothing will happen except you will have an annoyed hen who wants to get out and join the flock.

I've actually encouraged a brood with a Silkie...but they go broody at the drop of a hat.

Good luck.
Lady of McCamley

 

[chickenboy190]

Thanks for your help guys and hope I can do it.

 

[julie0477]

Thanks for your help guys and hope I can do it.

What breed of chickens are you working with? Just curious. I hope it works out too! This is my first experience with a hen that actually went broody and I am super excited

 

[chicken farmer]

Mine are sebrights. I bought them straight run at Rural King this spring. I had no idea what I was getting. They were just in a tub marked 'bantams'. As they got older and grew in new feathers I figured it out by googling lots of pics. This one is a silver laced sebright. It grew to be mostly black with white lacing sort of like a SLW. He stayed tiny though. Full grown he is about the size of a pigeon.

Thats awesome

 

[chicken farmer]

I'm not experienced at all but I just read about this last night. It takes the chicks a couple days to figure out that the hen is the surrogate mother. Wait a couple days you *should* see them come around

Ok great

 

[Jharper]

My production red is plucking her feathers again.

 

[Gen9]

I have 3 marans pullets. One went broody! That's fine. I wouldn't know what to do with the other one, can't have them together or it's broody brawls & who knows what.. Dead chicks/cracked eggs... When I get more space I'd love to have another broody or maybe five! XD