Broody Hen Thread!

[Chickencame1st]

I had a successful hatch with 1 of 2 of my broodies. The White Plymouth Rock was nearly perfect. Clean nest and hatched 10 out of 12 eggs--she exhibited broody behavior and I set her aside in a large dog pen and the next day she was still committed so I put 12 fertile Buckeye eggs under her. I only candled a couple of times and new the two that were duds ahead of time and removed them. She kept her nest very Clean--then I had an Australorp that went broody the same time and did the exact same things with her--except she did not keep her nest clean--and I think bacteria killed all of her eggs, I tried keeping the nest clean but it seemed futile. She also started eating her eggs I think because they started disappearing. She hatched no eggs. In fact as I removed the final eggs many of them were rotten--Here's a pic of the happy mama and her babies: Any ideas on what went wrong with the Australorp? The eggs should have been identical in quality and fertility--same bread and collected at the same time, etc. I am going to let her raise them--how long should the chicks stay with her? Thanks!!

 

[Junibutt]

I had a successful hatch with 1 of 2 of my broodies. The White Plymouth Rock was nearly perfect. Clean nest and hatched 10 out of 12 eggs--she exhibited broody behavior and I set her aside in a large dog pen and the next day she was still committed so I put 12 fertile Buckeye eggs under her. I only candled a couple of times and new the two that were duds ahead of time and removed them. She kept her nest very Clean--then I had an Australorp that went broody the same time and did the exact same things with her--except she did not keep her nest clean--and I think bacteria killed all of her eggs, I tried keeping the nest clean but it seemed futile. She also started eating her eggs I think because they started disappearing. She hatched no eggs. In fact as I removed the final eggs many of them were rotten--Here's a pic of the happy mama and her babies: Any ideas on what went wrong with the Australorp? The eggs should have been identical in quality and fertility--same bread and collected at the same time, etc. I am going to let her raise them--how long should the chicks stay with her? Thanks!!

Beautiful hen and the chicks

 

[fisherlady]

I had a successful hatch with 1 of 2 of my broodies. The White Plymouth Rock was nearly perfect. Clean nest and hatched 10 out of 12 eggs--she exhibited broody behavior and I set her aside in a large dog pen and the next day she was still committed so I put 12 fertile Buckeye eggs under her. I only candled a couple of times and new the two that were duds ahead of time and removed them. She kept her nest very Clean--then I had an Australorp that went broody the same time and did the exact same things with her--except she did not keep her nest clean--and I think bacteria killed all of her eggs, I tried keeping the nest clean but it seemed futile. She also started eating her eggs I think because they started disappearing. She hatched no eggs. In fact as I removed the final eggs many of them were rotten--Here's a pic of the happy mama and her babies: Any ideas on what went wrong with the Australorp? The eggs should have been identical in quality and fertility--same bread and collected at the same time, etc. I am going to let her raise them--how long should the chicks stay with her? Thanks!!

Congrats on the WR hatch! She is beautiful!
as to the BA.... given that the source and breed were the same, as was your treatment of the broodies, then her tendency to make a mess of the nest may very well be the cause of the unsuccessful hatch. Although we don't have to be neurotic about keeping a nest spotless there is also a higher risk of infection and early death of the fetus when the eggs are in an unhealthy environment. I'm not sure you could do much to change the outcome unless it was to remove the hen daily (at least once) to ensure she was able to do her broody poo outside of the nest and possibly change out the bedding entirely if any soiling of the nest did happen.
I don't know from your post if you did either of those things, or what the bedding was and if it had any effect on the eggs. I know my preference is a layer of chainsaw sawdust, or planer shavings, then a top deeper layer of fresh hay. The hay is easy to remove if it gets soiled and the sawdust absorbs any moisture and clumps, allowing it to be easily removed also. If the BA seemed otherwise dedicated then I would be tempted to allow her to either brood again (if she wants) or give her a couple of day old chicks to foster so her broody mood is rewarded. If she does brood again, and continues to soil in the nest then switch her to stone eggs and plan on day old chicks after she sets for a couple of weeks. She may still make a good mama hen.


Edit to add.... the hen will usually keep the chicks for 4 to 6 weeks before she 'weans' them, you will notice she is getting done with them when she begins taking treats and eating them herself instead of giving everything to the little ones, she will also let them roam farther away from her when they are out free ranging and eventually she will refused to allow them to roost with her anymore. When that happens the chicks will be ready to leave her.

 

[Hamstery]

I had a successful hatch with 1 of 2 of my broodies. The White Plymouth Rock was nearly perfect.

My White Plymouth Rock just hatched two and she was so neat and clean the whole time, just like yours. Your chicks are so cute!

 

[Hamstery]

Here's our Momma and baby. <3 Just hatched yesterday.

Quick question. There are two of them. The entrance/exit to the coop is a skinny and steep ramp. Will they be OK getting in and out and following Momma around?? Or should I try to rig up something not so steep for them?

 

[quailtrail]

Soooooo sweet!!!

♡

♡

 

[fisherlady]

Here's our Momma and baby. <3 Just hatched yesterday.

Quick question. There are two of them. The entrance/exit to the coop is a skinny and steep ramp. Will they be OK getting in and out and following Momma around?? Or should I try to rig up something not so steep for them?

They are usually ok to get down... but getting back up presents a problem for really little ones. Often the first 2 or 3 outside trips they will need help back up the ramp later in the afternoon... to help out the hen you can add a box in the run somewhere that can provide a comfy safe spot to wait out unexpected rains and even just a resting spot in the shade during the day. A medium cat or dog carrier, a 5 gallong bucket on it's side or something similar with some good bedding in it would do the trick. We did adjust the length/steepness of our ramps when we started getting broodies and chicks. We also now make sure there are bricks or something of similar size to act as 'steps' in front of any feeder or waterer which the chicks may need to use. I found it easier to give the chicks steps then lower the feeders or waterers and have to clean them constantly because they were then getting filled with dirt or gravel from the birds scratching around them.

 

[jajeanpierre]

I was sure that the two eggs given to the Silkie broody wouldn't develop. Positive. The shells had marks on them that looked like fractures and/or porous shells. I didn't candle them until Saturday or Sunday, I think One was very dark, no veins and a small air space. I thought I saw faint veins in the other. They are the last two eggs laid by a favorite hen that is struggling with a bad case of bumble foot. Yesterday one pipped. Last night or today it hatched and the other pipped. I'm worried about the one that has not hatched--the membranes looked very dark, possibly bloody. I don't know if it shows up in the picture. You can see the fault lines on the egg.

 

[BLT79]

Precious picture! Congrats!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I guess I can, but at 4 weeks don't the chicks integrate on their own anyways.

Yes, but the chicks have had momma teaching them how to be chickens for 4 weeks, and then the "teens" and momma will integrate back in as a subflock which protects them and makes the integration go better.

Also the chicks have acclimated to the weather from early on being raised without heat lamps which I've personally witnessed makes them grow stronger and faster, and I think become better all around chickens....all without my personal care other than providing food and water and a safe area to grow until ready to integrate. Much better, imho, than having to heat lamp in the brooder and then slowly acclimate them to the outside weather. That's weeks of mess in my garage which I have decided I don't need now that I've got a broody who does all that work for me.

Lady of McCamley