Broody Hen Thread!

[chickydee64]

After I was certain my broody was settled as I didn't want to disturb her too soon after putting the eggs under (I waited a couple of days), I chose to gently pull out the poopy mess and add clean bedding. It is best if you can catch a time when she is off the nest to eat and drink. Sometimes you can entice them to get up and eat by putting in a container of food in front of them.

I had the best luck with a layer of pine shavings on the bottom and then timothy hay or very soft straw on top of that. It added absorbency for poo and help contain the mess, and the layering made it easy to change things for cleaning. In time she got better at not making messes in the nest.

Lady of McCamley

Good Grief.......

I just pick my broody up and gently toss her out the door............ Your Broody is very lucky to have you........

 

[chickarooo]

I'll take a pic and keep u updated on my hatching

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Good Grief.......

I just pick my broody up and gently toss her out the door............ Your Broody is very lucky to have you........

Haa haaa...this particular one probably wouldn't come back...I have to treat her with kid gloves, sticks with the nest through the whole 21 days...just poo's in it

. And she is an excellent mother (even better than my Silkie) once she hatches them.

My Silkie on the other hand, I pick her up with one hand, upside down her (gently), with her pecking all the way, set her off somewhere and do what I want...she immediately scrambles back to the nest giving me the evil glare. But she is a rock. I know there isn't much I can do to dissuade her from her appointed round (of brooding).

Lady of McCamley

 

[purewellspring]

One of my banties has gone broody...We arrived home after 10 days out of town and she was hanging out on the nest. I got suspicious, and over the last few days my suspicions have been confirmed. She hasn't moved off that nest at all. I'm seriously considering using her instincts for my own benefit, but I've had a little trouble finding fertile eggs. I did, however, find someone with chicks due to hatch out Monday of this coming week that he'll let me have.

So, how do I do this? My 4 hens are currently in an A-frame tractor, so the nesting box is up off the ground. Seems to me I should move her (perhaps to our big pet porter?) and give her a nest with fake eggs until Monday, right? Because an off the ground box won't work for babies. Any experienced advice for me? Would I have more luck going to egg route if I can find some? Shouldn't I move her either way? will a pet porter work for her sitting time, or her first week or two with the babies if I just go that route?

I'm really excited! TIA!

 

[jammyjammy2112]

awe so your chick got a brother or sister after all. That's a good ending

yes the first one was 2 weeks friday and the other one is 2 weeks tomorrow mother silkie is doing a great job

 

[jammyjammy2112]

One of my banties has gone broody...We arrived home after 10 days out of town and she was hanging out on the nest. I got suspicious, and over the last few days my suspicions have been confirmed. She hasn't moved off that nest at all. I'm seriously considering using her instincts for my own benefit, but I've had a little trouble finding fertile eggs. I did, however, find someone with chicks due to hatch out Monday of this coming week that he'll let me have.

So, how do I do this? My 4 hens are currently in an A-frame tractor, so the nesting box is up off the ground. Seems to me I should move her (perhaps to our big pet porter?) and give her a nest with fake eggs until Monday, right? Because an off the ground box won't work for babies. Any experienced advice for me? Would I have more luck going to egg route if I can find some? Shouldn't I move her either way? will a pet porter work for her sitting time, or her first week or two with the babies if I just go that route?

I'm really excited! TIA!

well you should put the eggs under her now becouse they could start hatching anyday now and you cant movve them if they have piped so move them today or tommorrow defintly not monday and i would keep her in nest off the ground of in the same coop as other hens they could kill the chicks.....!! good luck..!!

 

[Six Chickies]

So a while bac we had a hen go missing, it was sad times :-(, we looked everywhere for her and nothing, 3 days ago when we was taking a walk to our great pleasure we saw her, after getting closer saw that she was not alone and had 5 chicks with her , so happy to have her back and have 5 lovely chicks as a bonus, they are now safely tucked up in there own run.
Have put one as my profile pic as don't know how to put pics on here lol, anyone no wat they are ?

This is kind of what happened to me... Red went missing about a week ago, and we found her last night in a cardboard box in the back of the drive shed!! she had about 16-18 eggs, and they all appear to be hers. (We think she would have layed about 10, and then layed one a day while sitting on the first ten?)
We are a little worried because her comb, which used to be a straight single comb, now has a deep ripple in it - it is almost flat against her head in one place. Just wondering, what could have caused this?
Thanks

 

[Lady of McCamley]

This is kind of what happened to me... Red went missing about a week ago, and we found her last night in a cardboard box in the back of the drive shed!!

she had about 16-18 eggs, and they all appear to be hers. (We think she would have layed about 10, and then layed one a day while sitting on the first ten?)
We are a little worried because her comb, which used to be a straight single comb, now has a deep ripple in it - it is almost flat against her head in one place. Just wondering, what could have caused this?
Thanks

The hormones in brooding really deflate the comb. Just make sure she has access to food and water (without it tipping over into the nest) so she doesn't get too dehydrated. I like to put electrolytes and vitamins in the water since I know a broody hen is usually only replenishing once a day....give them a little more boost.

Their combs will whither away to almost nothing during the brood sometimes, but then will bounce back once they hatch and start caring for the chicks.
Lady of McCamley

 

[sillygirl]

Hi this is my first time here. I have a question. I have some hens that went broody so I decided to give them some eggs. That was 20 days ago and I have chirping from three eggs!!! My question is should I leave them under her or can I move them? Does anyone know? This is my first time hatching any eggs and i dont want to mess it up!

 

[sillygirl]

Also, my nesting boxes r up high so the chicks couldn't get up there, will she nest on the ground with them? Or should I just take them and put them under lights?