Broody Hen Thread!

[Lady of McCamley]

I have a buff orpington that went missing. I found her hiding beneath a bush, up against our house with 11 eggs. She is quite far from the chicken coop on the side of our house that the chickens rarely wander to because it is just gravel and driveway. I put some water and food where she can reach it, but I don't think she has moved off her eggs once. I have read that she should be getting up to stretch her legs. I think she has been there for at least 10 days. Should I try to get her up to walk? She is not happy to see me when I stop by to visit. As soon as I put my hand in to move the bushes back she starts to screech.

I'm of the camp that the hen will do what she needs to do when she needs to do it, so I don't mess with my broodies unless there is a compelling reason to.

She is getting up, you are just not there to see it (unless you stand over her 24/7). They stretch, drink/eat, and poo about once a day (sometimes every other day) for about 15 minutes, then go back to the nest. Remember she is incubating and keeping a consistent temperature and humidity for those eggs. If you had them in an incubator, you'd be worried if you turned the incubator off for 30 minutes or longer so you could stretch.

If she is safe where she is, she'll get the food and water when she wants to...and in another 11 days, she'll have a little clutch for you to oogle.

Lady of McCamley

 

[PortlandHen]

Found a pip in one of our eggs today! Tomorrow is day 20 and miss broody refused to come out and poo. I think it's chick time, woo!

 

[AliceGee]

I just sold my 7 week old silkie chicks as heartbreaking as it was :'( but I was wondering how long until their mum will go broody again? Not that I necessarily want her to I want to give her a break but how long will I have after her losing her babies until she becomes zombie chicken again?

Thanks

 

[randerson846]

Probably about 2 or 3 months my silkie just doesn't stop ahah

 

[sonderah]

I'm so sorry to hear of your loss.

You state you got your Silkies about 2 months ago, and to date they haven't laid?...how old are they? Were they laying before? Transition from one place to another can definitely interrupt the laying cycle especially since it would have been in late winter, a normal time of decrease.

Are any of the other birds looking under the weather? A decrease or lack of laying can also signal flock illness. Are there any subtle signs of teary eyes, nasal moisture, a mild "nicking?" That can be a sign of a Infectious Bronchitis or Newcastle disease, especially since you've lost one bird who had lethargic symptoms then death (another potential sign of IB....some birds are more susceptible.)  

Hopefully it was the vent gleet...although that in itself doesn't generally kill a bird unless it was really bad and had become systemic.

A high infestation of lice can also cause poor/no egg production. It is safe to use DE on the chicks. I can't find my link, but it is my understanding It is safe to use Permethrin poultry dust on the chicks too.

Wazine (Piperazine) is not rated for young chicks (under 4 weeks)...so your plan to make sure the water is where they can't get to it is a good idea. The poo however shouldn't hurt them as they won't be eating it outright...whatever tidbits they pick up should be fine, and the worms are killed/paralyzed. You should be aware that Wazine only works for roundworms...it is not a broad spectrum wormer.   http://www.drugs.com/vet/wazine-17.html

You might consider using Rooster Booster Mulit Wormer. After my flock came down with Infectious Bronchitis, I used Rooster Booster Multi Wormer (for all chickens, not just roosters...simply the name of the company) to knock out opportunistic worms and to boost their overall health. Rooster Booster is fine for young chicks per the company's website.  http://roosterboosterproducts.com/   They only have to be able to eat the pellet, but if they can't, as it is a larger hard pellet, mom may break it up for them, or they simply won't get the wormer, so there is no fear either way.

Rooster Booster Multi Wormer is Hygromycin B (the wormer) and Bacitracin (a mild antibiotic) plus vitamins, minerals and probiotics. It is placed in the feed 1 scoop per 1 pound of feed and it targets 3 of the major worms (round worms, capillary worms, cecal worms) plus adds in a mild antibiotic. While intended for continuous feed, many use it for 2 or 3 weeks seasonally (and herbals inbetween).  I used it for 3 weeks after my flock had IB. It really helped to perk them up and quell the final lingering coughs and any opportunistic bacterial ifnections (after the viral IB). It might be a good idea as you don't know what you may be dealing with.

I purchase it from A Better Chicken as I find it there at a better price than at the feedstore:
http://www.abetterchicken.com/product/50101

Hopefully your loss is something limited to just the one bird. Good luck with treating your flock.
Lady of McCamley

I'm not 100% sure on the age. The lady I got them from had just bought out all of last springs hatches though, so should be around 1 year.

They were apparently not handled much, so I had been trying to give them time to adjust because they freak out when u come near them. It seemed very stressful, so I had not handled them much either, until yesterday of course. I did notice yesterday another one has a large tumor like thing on the back of her neck, NO idea what that is!

My broody Silkie and my EE are the only other 2 in that pen laying age. Of course the broody has stopped, but the EE is doing fine, although she now looks to have vent gleet. And they all now have poultry lice of course

Otherwise all seem healthy and happy. I have not had this pen going too long, so have not done any worming in there yet. I usually use Wazine first because I read that killing too many worms at once can clog them up. I do also have safeguard liquid goat wormer and poly vi sol I could use. And I use the de on bedding and such, then a "garden and poultry" powder on the birds themselves usually. But can just do de for now, due to babies, if needed.

Thanks so much for your response!

 

[PortlandHen]

Ugh. Waiting is terrible! I know for sure we have one egg zipping. Our broody is getting more protective of me looking under her, so it's making the waiting harder. I'll have to keep checking under her wings, etc…. since when she moves a couple eggs always pop out. UGH. Ok, off to distract myself with work.

 

[jammyjammy2112]

So i don't have to worry.That's a relief.Did your girl kept laying till the end of the incubation?

nah dont worrie mine laid for the first 7 days of incubation once i marked the eggs i removed the ones she laid becouse they where taking up room under her and the others would stick out and get cold

 

[jammyjammy2112]

I just sold my 7 week old silkie chicks as heartbreaking as it was :'( but I was wondering how long until their mum will go broody again? Not that I necessarily want her to I want to give her a break but how long will I have after her losing her babies until she becomes zombie chicken again?

Thanks

my silkie (which rudely got killed by a mink during christmas) (in my profil picture)when she finished rareing one clutch she would lay i allways left her eggs into the nest till there was 8 becouse she was the only silkie i had once she laid 6 eggs she was back in the nest growling at me again

 

[Hannahs Hollow]

bo is happily setting on her 8 out of 12 eggs. they are due to hatch tomorrow the next day the next day.

the one that hatched a week ago is going strong in the brooder by herself.

I wonder if I can stick her under bo when the other chicks hatch?

 

[randerson846]

I went out to the coop and I looked in the nesting boxes, and one of my isa browns had laid this unbelievably small egg, and it is really soft and has no shell, like it laid the egg with only membrane,
Her it is beside on of there normal eggs: