Broody Hen Thread!

[BLT79]

Thanks. Do you remove the mama's with them?

 

[LisaLouHoo]

Yes, BLT, the mamas do all the work for you!!

 

[BLT79]

Ok thanks. I am a bit nervous about having to go to work after the chicks hatch. What if there is aggression and I'm not here to catch it?

 

[fisherlady]

Ok thanks. I am a bit nervous about having to go to work after the chicks hatch. What if there is aggression and I'm not here to catch it?

You have a couple of options.... you can place a large dog carrier (or similar sized box) in the run and partition off a section of the run around the box (such as put it in a corner and split the run in half. Allow the broodies and chicks to have that half of the run during the day when you aren't there to supervise, then when you get home open the fencing to allow them to range/mix with the others while you are there. Within a few days you will know if there are any problems. If no problems you can do away with the dividing fence but leave the box for the broodies to lounge in or take cover from unexpected rains for a while, since the little ones may have trouble with ramps for the first week.

another option is to use the same type of box, but just use it to give the other birds a covered area outside in the run during the day and close them outside and give the broodies and babies free run on the inside when you aren't there. Again, this only needs to last a couple of days while you assess the flocks behavior, and if no problems arise then you don't have to block the broodies in anymore (or the flock out, depending on how you look at it)

The broodies will keep the chicks within a foot or two of them and the nest for the first day or two, during that time you can keep food and water near the nest area and keep it partitioned off with chicken wire so the rest of the birds can see and hear them, but not bother them. I think you said the broodies are under the ladder set up? if so, then that division is easy to do for the first couple of days. When the little ones are quick on their feet and listening to mama then it is time to let them range a bit farther.

Again, these are temporary solutions which should work for the time you are at work... when home let them mingle more and within a few days you may not need to worry about anything other than making sure the babies can maneuver the ramp in the evening to be tucked into their nests...

 

[AmyP716]

Here is my broody silkie and her dorking chick

 

[Sophia101]

I had a broody EE but a few days ago some critter came and ate them. Their was blood so im guessing that they were fertilized and they only had a few more days to go. We had a broody australorp but our rooster was a tiny cochin that couldnt mate our standard hens. so they never hatched. Yesterday our female brown chinese goose went broody. I expected her to get off of them but she was on them most of the day today. A half hour before I put them in. She buried them before she left to protect them. I am just praying that she wont leave them and they will make it. Funny thing is none of them are hers. Our male goose refuses to mate with our female. He will only mate with the ducks. We have two male ducks and five females. So she is going to end up raising some duckling. We have had multiple chickens, ducks, etc. abandon their eggs. So I am just hoping she will stay with them. She was a year old the day before mothers day.

 

[BLT79]

Ok, thank you. They are due to hatch next Tuesday. When should I start hearing pips or chirps? I think that morning I will let the others out and then close the coop. My others will have cover under the coop itself. Then I think I will partition off ladder part for night time. I will put water and food in the partition side for mommies and babies! I am so excited! I hope it all goes well! And these are just chickens, what am I going to be like as a grandmother in 10-15 or so years? Haha!

 

[TiaRC]

Big thanks to TiaRC and fisherlady for the help. Now 1 more question: given that the rest of the girls have been laying in the broodies boxes I have eggs of all ages. I intend to candle and transfer to incubator BUT what about turning? Some will be at the point of no turn so I plan to no-turn all of em. Yes? No? Other?

It truely is unfortunate that there are eggs at many different stages. See what you have more off in stages and run with it. I've seen my hen roll eggs daily even when they should be locked down. So I guess its a 50/50. Go with your gut!

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, thank you. They are due to hatch next Tuesday. When should I start hearing pips or chirps? I think that morning I will let the others out and then close the coop. My others will have cover under the coop itself. Then I think I will partition off ladder part for night time. I will put water and food in the partition side for mommies and babies! I am so excited! I hope it all goes well! And these are just chickens, what am I going to be like as a grandmother in 10-15 or so years? Haha!

We usually start hearing chirping the day before hatch, louder once they have externally pipped. Actually, we usually aren't the first to hear it... our dog is normally the one who alerts us that new babies are about to make an appearance! She does everything but lift the broodies up with her snout in the process of trying to see the new chicks!
Here she is watching a hen and babies in the broody hut... I have caught her actually in the hut with them also!

Here she is another time inspecting her new charges... taking care of the birds is her job... just ask her!

And for those wondering about mixing the youngsters into the flock... here is a shot of our yard a few weeks ago, there are all ages from adult down to a few 6 month olds to a bunch of youngsters mixed in here.... I will have to make a point to get some more flock/group shots while the little ones are mixed in....

 

[Romoshka]

It truely is unfortunate that there are eggs at many different stages. See what you have more off in stages and run with it. I've seen my hen roll eggs daily even when they should be locked down. So I guess its a 50/50. Go with your gut!