Broody Hen Thread!

[pickinchicken]

How long is it ok the let a hen stay broody? Do I ever need to stop her even if she is healthy and eats and drinks. No luck the first batch but she's on some again and I candled and think I have at least one that's going to be a baby.

 

[pickinchicken]

Are my eggs ok to eat if my broody hen sits on them for the whole day and evening? She has some I'm letting her try to hatch and marked them, but collect the others that my hens lay in her box but don't get to it till night so wasn't sure if that's ok bc they stay to hot all day

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

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

I wait 3 days to a week. She may just stop looking after them at any time. I wouldn't wait past week because a bad egg can explode and because there's little chance you want to have a hen raising a week old plus chick and brand new chicks.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

...

How long is it ok the let a hen stay broody? Do I ever need to stop her even if she is healthy and eats and drinks. No luck the first batch but she's on some again and I candled and think I have at least one that's going to be a baby.[/quote


If your feeding her really good food and she's getting a chance to get out and stretch your legs lots of water and if she looks healthy and happy, I'd let her continue. I had this happen with Harmony her first time the first week I wasn't sure she was broody. 2 more weeks to discover the eggs were duds. Then more eggs! She continued to brood until 1 hatch. when the chick was 5 weeks old, Harmony went broody again.

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Are my eggs ok to eat if my broody hen sits on them for the whole day and evening? She has some I'm letting her try to hatch and marked them, but collect the others that my hens lay in her box but don't get to it till night so wasn't sure if that's ok bc they stay to hot all day

Yes.

That egg could sit at room temp and still be good to eat days later, or even put back under a hen to start to form new life!. I often don't get to my eggs until sun down. All my hens lay in the same nest. I never have to worry about eggs freezing! Lol.

 

[ocap]

I have a silkie laying, brooding might be sooner rather than later.

 

[hollymh]

Im torn, I have a broody and the eggs are starting to hatch, so far she has one chick but Im sure there will be more since its only day 19. I don't know if I should let her keep the babies or not, I cant decide... I have 8 girls one roo, they have about 120sqf run, and then the coop... they also free range in the afternoon when Im home. For the sake of the babies I want to pull them, but for all her hard work, I just don't have the heart to! Advice?

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

Im torn, I have a broody and the eggs are starting to hatch, so far she has one chick but Im sure there will be more since its only day 19. I don't know if I should let her keep the babies or not, I cant decide... I have 8 girls one roo, they have about 120sqf run, and then the coop... they also free range in the afternoon when Im home. For the sake of the babies I want to pull them, but for all her hard work, I just don't have the heart to! Advice?

Awwwe! Can you build a chicken wire wall or pen they can stay behind? Mom should protect them but... They'll need chick feed and you don't wasn't the rest of your flock eating it. I have a wire dog crate to keep mom and babies in and some extra room blocked off. Plus they should be on the floor for easy access to mom!

 

[chicksurreal]

Im torn, I have a broody and the eggs are starting to hatch, so far she has one chick but Im sure there will be more since its only day 19. I don't know if I should let her keep the babies or not, I cant decide... I have 8 girls one roo, they have about 120sqf run, and then the coop... they also free range in the afternoon when Im home. For the sake of the babies I want to pull them, but for all her hard work, I just don't have the heart to! Advice?

Do you have anyone that might want the extra chicks? It seems a shame to let them go if they are already near hatching. I'm a softy though...

 

[hollymh]

Awwwe! Can you build a chicken wire wall or pen they can stay behind? Mom should protect them but... They'll need chick feed and you don't wasn't the rest of your flock eating it.

I have a wire dog crate to keep mom and babies in and some extra room blocked off.

I can do that! But what about going outside in the run and what not? Will she keep them in the coop most of the time?