Broody Hen Thread!

[sonz77]

Foster situation has gone really, really well this time e After keeping them pretty quiet in the broody hutch for a week (they bonded well in the first 24-48 hours), I allowed a first day outing in the broody run today and Momma Silkie (Oma-San) taught them to scratch and take dirt baths. Babies were following orders and doing what she told them as if they were her naturally hatched chicks (so much different than last attempt!). :yiipchick With the fostering this time, It seemed to really help to: 1. Do it in warmer weather to allow less shock adjustment for the feed store "heat-bator" chicks to natural surroundings (I don't add heat lamps anymore due to fire issue in past with heat lamps in brooding hutches...nearly burned the house down) 2. Placed all fosters at the same time 3. No other chicks were present with Momma first (no boisterous broody hatchlings to intimidate fosters as they adjusted) Here's a photo of my happy trio. 2 EE's with Momma Silkie....Caddy (for Cadbury) and Peeps....you know...for those Easter candies So happy this foster situation has gone well. Yippee.

Glad it went well and all is good!! . I can't wait to see this in my yard!!

 

[Emcrowston]

My white star is sitting on 9 Appenzeller eggs, she was off the next this morning have a drink and breakfast, there are only eight eggs left! Looking at it, I think she has possibly broken one and eaten it. I managed to candle a couple while she was off and they look healthy. They are due to hatch on Tuesday/Wednesday next week. Here's hoping all goes well.

 

[hogster160]

Wishing you well for your hatch. We had one more hatch in the night, so I'm up to 6 of the 9 eggs set. The others there are no visible cracks that I can see, so I'm gonna give them another day or 2 and see what happens.

Deb

 

[angelbrenn]

I have two babies

 

[promiseacres]

I posted about 3 weeks ago, I bought some Ebay eggs (Dark Brahmas) because my BO hen was broody AGAIN! Plus I wanted some....Anyways on day 20 (yesterday) 5 out of the 6 eggs hatched! Am thinking the last one is not going to as it's been over 24 hours. I want to clean the broody box and get it where the checks can get in and out of the next area, should I wait one more day? I've been taking them some boiled egg (just got the started feed today) but they don't have access to water. Mama is being very attentive.

thanks Dee of Promise Acres

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I posted about 3 weeks ago, I bought some Ebay eggs (Dark Brahmas) because my BO hen was broody AGAIN! Plus I wanted some....Anyways on day 20 (yesterday) 5 out of the 6 eggs hatched! Am thinking the last one is not going to as it's been over 24 hours. I want to clean the broody box and get it where the checks can get in and out of the next area, should I wait one more day? I've been taking them some boiled egg (just got the started feed today) but they don't have access to water. Mama is being very attentive.

thanks Dee of Promise Acres

 

[elliechooks]

I have a hen that went broody earlier in the summer, she was a great Mum. Yesterday when I shut them up night I noticed she was sleeping in the nest box rather than on a roost. I raised an eyebrow but thought no more of it. Been really busy today and not been out at all except to shut them up for the night. Again she is in the nest box. I put my hand under her to get any eggs and thought I could feel more skin than feathers. Could she be broody again this late in the year?
I am in the uk and the last few days the temperature has started to drop quite a lot, it is dark by 8:30pm.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I have a hen that went broody earlier in the summer, she was a great Mum. Yesterday when I shut them up night I noticed she was sleeping in the nest box rather than on a roost. I raised an eyebrow but thought no more of it. Been really busy today and not been out at all except to shut them up for the night. Again she is in the nest box. I put my hand under her to get any eggs and thought I could feel more skin than feathers. Could she be broody again this late in the year?
I am in the uk and the last few days the temperature has started to drop quite a lot, it is dark by 8:30pm.

Oh yeah...if she is the broody type.

My Silkie...just this year...has been broody in Feburary, May, and again September.

I think I average 12 weeks (3 months) between broods...enough time to hatch and grow chicks to about 8 weeks...then start all over again.

This time in September I just put some day old chicks under her as I did not want her hatching in the rainy cold October and having to deal with chicks through the holiday season...but she hatched 3 chicks in frigid February...and they did just fine.

Amazing.
Lady of McCamley

 

[elliechooks]

Her chicks are 14 weeks old I think. I have some eggs in the incubator but not sure about their fertility - will check on her tomorrow and decide whether to get her some more eggs!

 

[elliechooks]

Yep, she's broody again. I have some eggs that have been in the incubator 10 days, I think I will let her sit on whatever she has under her now, then give her these chicks if they hatch. If not I will still have plenty of time to find her either some day old chicks or some more fertile eggs (my boys may even have stepped up to thr mark by then, they are 16 and 20 weeks old but still no crowing or bullseyes in my girls eggs!)