Broody Hen Thread!

[chicksurreal]

It won't let me upload pics to this thread....

Bummer!

 

[lovely guy]

Sounds like she is trying but not committing to it... is she going to the roost at night? Has she plucked out her chest feathers? You say she isn't laying, are you sure there isn't a problem with her health wise (egg bound?), how old is she? there is probably nothing you can do but wait (and put 3 or 4 golf balls into a nest for her to set on when the mood strikes). Young birds especially can take a while to make up their mind. You can't rush them and I wouldn't give her eggs till she has been setting steady on a nest for quite a few days. If you break her broody mood it may still be a while before she starts laying again.
And there is no way someone can give you a definite answer on if she is broody and/or when she will go broody again.

she has just started laying in january......i have seen her chest it looks like she is plucking her chest feathers but a little part.....she also sat today for 15 minutes and got off...she is healthy and eats well..

 

[netty74]

Ok , thanks !! She is a Banty , I have 2 banty and 1 tint

 

[sonderah]

Ok , thanks !! She is a Banty , I have 2 banty and 1 tint

I'm still confused to how u got 4 eggs from 3 hens. Lol

 

[fisherlady]

Quote:
If she is such a new layer then I would attribute her behavior more toward her laying hormones settling in than broodiness. Many, many of my hens will sit on an egg if they find it, some give a little squawk and settle over it really quick as if to say 'who in the world left this here?'... it is an instinctual reaction for them, I think, but the mood passes after a bit of sitting and they leave it.

You can't make her be broody, some hens are, some aren't and all decide for themselves when they are going to do it... if she is of a known broody breed then it is maybe more likely, but still not a guarantee. You will have to wait and let her decide, leave golf balls in the nest boxes of the coop. to encourage her or her coop mates and don't try to force her to set on eggs or be by herself if she isn't ready to. after she voluntarily sits tight for a few solid days you can think about moving her to a broody hutch if you want, then if she stays sitting tight you can give her hatching eggs.

you said in an earlier post you were desperate for chicks... at this point I'd say your best option for them is to find a source of day olds to raise in a brooder yourself.

 

[dogsgofish]

The best way I know to break up a broody hen is to cool their bottom. I use a dog crate with a wire bottom set uo on blocks off the ground . when her "broody clucks ' stop she will quit sitting.Don

 

[Binababy]

Anyone think an Orpington would sit on a clutch of eggs before she is a year old?

 

[love2grinchicke]

our blue maran went broody!

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Anyone think an Orpington would sit on a clutch of eggs before she is a year old?

If she is broody, sure. 2 of my hens went broody by 8 months. Good luck!

 

[kimmerjo]

only two hatched. They are so cute!!!! How pong do u wait for others?