Broody Hen Thread!

[Bogtown Chick]

Dixie took to her move last night-- great. I opened the hutch door and she stayed put on the nest. Phew.

Eggs going under.

 

[mollybuck]

Yay, Molly! I'd take some out of the incubator and give to her. I think these Silkies do a good job from what I've read.

thanks!! I was thinking that would be ok...she is only a couple days behind!

 

[mollybuck]

Dixie took to her move last night-- great. I opened the hutch door and she stayed put on the nest. Phew.

Eggs going under.

Cool! Do they not usually like to be moved?

I'm not going to move mine. When I made the nesting box, i made the dividers so they could be removed, just in case. so I am going to put some screen over the opening to the coop and take out one of the dividers... that way she will still be near the rest but they cant get in and bother her.

 

[abserbean]

I attempted to move mine after she had set her eggs for a week, did not go well! We had to move her and the eggs back, she wouldn't take to the new nest. I've since learned to get them moved and settled before giving them eggs. Like most things with chickens, I had to learn the hard way! Luckily my nest moving didn't mess things up, and she hatched out a nice clutch. I will do things a little differently next time though!

 

[mollybuck]

I attempted to move mine after she had set her eggs for a week, did not go well! We had to move her and the eggs back, she wouldn't take to the new nest. I've since learned to get them moved and settled before giving them eggs. Like most things with chickens, I had to learn the hard way! Luckily my nest moving didn't mess things up, and she hatched out a nice clutch. I will do things a little differently next time though!

oh.. thats good to know! I wont be moving her, and her broodiness kind of came out of nowhere.. my other silkie was broody off and on... but this is the first time we've seen snowball sitting... she seems to be doing a good job so far.. although after reading I see i need to get different water and feed dishes for her! I love this place! such a good resource!

 

[Bogtown Chick]

My silkie is really locked in on that new nest. I'm sure she knows she's somewhere different but I pulled some of her nesting materials and feathers she had plucked and laid it all in the new nesting Box. I don't think she's moved. I was worried she'd be pacing and scratching to go back to the corner box in the bigger coop...but she is "Steady eddy" in there setting put. I want to give her opportunity to stretch her legs a bit outside of the new hutch...but worried she may be looking for her eggs back in the big coop ...So I think my game plan is to leave her locked in the hutch for a week...as one would do with establishing new birds to a new coop.

So new worry in the back of my head. We had a Momma Black Bear visit us last year around this time. Just woke up/hungry. Ransacked my popdoor ruining the framework (slide part) of the door. I'm worried she'll visit again and ransack the new Broody Bungalow.

I guess one shouldn't worry about something we don't have control of.

Molly sounds like you are set up for a smooth transition in the coop. That's so great!

 

[randerson846]

Turns out I might have a broody, I went out to collect the eggs in earlier about 6, and the hen was sitting on them, i lifted her to see how many there was I thought she was laying so I left her, I came back at 8 and she was still sitting on them, so I came at 9 and she was sitting on them, so I lifted her and put her in a separate smaller coop, and put the eggs in with her, and put some food and water near her, so I'll see tomorrow if she is still sitting on them (there is nine btw) she is an isa brown hen I hear they aren't good mothers or they don't sit, any ideas

 

[omilona]

OK, so Tinsel was such a good broody mama last year...even though I hampered her by ordering Araucana eggs thru the mail...that I when she went broody again this spring I rdered her some bantam silkie eggs. I ordered 12 and they sent me 16. Since she is a standard Austraorp and these eggs are TINY, I gave her all 16 to set on and all are completely covered by mme Broody. She has the blissed out zen hen look. Day 2!

Day 18, down to 11 eggs. Cant wait to see what if anything hatches. I met someone with a silkie flock locally, so I will do that next time rather than eBay to increase the chance of a live hatch.

 

[randerson846]

Good luck

 

[kpertz]

Funny I have an orpington that sits all day on nothing...use to sit on eggs but now she sits in the box all day...took her out when the other girls were outside running around..she didn't like me putting her outside...screamed like crazy...got her treat and goes back in the box...