Broody Hen Thread!

[Back2Roots]

Quote:
You'll probably get some varied advice from others, because not all broody hens are exactly alike, and not everyone's setup is the same, but here's my two cents, based on what I decided for my own broody hen's personality and housing situation: 1. I didn't check the eggs under my broody hen. I personally think it's best not to disturb a broody more than you have to. That said, once a day until two "lockdown days" before day 21, I picked her up out of the nestbox and put her down in front of feed, greens, treats (yogurt, for example) and fresh water. She was a very dedicated broody who needed encouragement to get out of the nest box to stretch her legs, eat, drink, poop and dustbathe. If I put her out in the run, she did all those things, and went back to her eggs about 20-30 minutes later. I also gave her feed and water close by her nestbox. 2. I didn't candle either, but I haven't heard of candling doing any harm. Again, I think that it's best to minimize disturbing a hen when she's sitting because too much fussing will just stress her more. I believe that the whole brooding process takes a lot out of a hen and is stressful enough, and hens lose condition while sitting on their eggs, making them less able to cope with stress. 3. I don't see any difference between candling eggs that are incubated naturally or artificially, but I wanted to leave everything to mama hen and let nature take its course. I also wanted the surprise on Day 21. It's just a personal choice, just like some parents-to-be want to know whether they wil have a boy or a girl, and some want to be surprised. 4. Are you sure of the day your hen started sitting? If you're sure when day 21 will fall, then chances are they won't hatch earlier than day 20.

 

[Nofowlplay]

I had to break my 2nd broody who I didn't have chicks or eggs for.

Feel bad for her but don't want her sitting on infertile eggs forever and getting unhealthy.

My Ameraucana girl is going through her most intense broody spell yet! I have no rooster and don't need anymore hens or chicks.
Tried free ranging she just ran around the yard like a nut case...tried spraying her butt with cold water....and finally had to put her in the dog crate. She is unhappy....but tough!
She would just get weak and more psycho if I let her sit on the empty nest and kept taking the other girls eggs away that they lay in there.
How long will she have to stay in there? I tried letting her out but she ran right back to the coop and nest. She is in a crate in the covered pen with food and water.
The crate has a hard plastic floor with wire sides and top. No bedding.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

I decided not to split the eggs so took the broody out of the nest and set her outside. Upon her return she decided to steal broody #1s nest so now they are sharing.
this could work out well as I believe there might be a staggered hatch so of all goes well one will be off being mom while the other still sits.... Crossing my fingers.

 

[barkinghills]

Well good news, my big cochin girl hatched out the 4 eggs yesterday, one day ahead of schedule on Day 20. It is fun trying to figure out what the babies will turn out to be. We have 3 bantam roosters and set two white eggs (either white or brown Leghorn or Blue Andalusian), one Easter Egger egg, and one cochin egg. The bantam roosters are Buff Cochin, Belgian Bearded D'Uccle, and Porcelain D'Uccle. Two of the chicks are pale buff with faint racing stripes on the back and head. The EE and cochin are dark and marked like EE or partridge chicks. It will be fun to se how they feather out.

I'm addicted now - which broody will get a nest to brood next??

 

[Rhandi74]

Well good news, my big cochin girl hatched out the 4 eggs yesterday, one day ahead of schedule on Day 20.  It is fun trying to figure out what the babies will turn out to be.  We have 3 bantam roosters and set two white eggs (either white or brown Leghorn or Blue Andalusian), one Easter Egger egg, and one cochin egg.  The bantam roosters are Buff Cochin, Belgian Bearded D'Uccle, and Porcelain D'Uccle.  Two of the chicks are pale buff with faint racing stripes on the back and head.  The EE and cochin are dark and marked like EE or partridge chicks.  It will be fun to se how they feather out.  

I'm addicted now - which broody will get a nest to brood next??

Congrats!! I am also going through the guessing game with my mixed flock. My broody LF Cochin hatched out 4 eggs, 4 weeks ago. My rooster is also LF cochin. Here are her chicks.

I love the surprise when you have a mixed flock. Have fun with the guessing game on yours.

 

[ochochicas]

Your chicks are so cute! All of mine hatched out yellow. I have 7 wheaten babies, one that sorta looks like a Rhode Island Red, and one Turken. I had to mark them with food coloring to tell them apart. LOL

 

[Rhandi74]

Your chicks are so cute!  All of mine hatched out yellow.  I have 7 wheaten babies, one that sorta looks like a Rhode Island Red, and one Turken.  I had to mark them with food coloring to tell them apart.  LOL

Thank you, all of mine were so different. I will have to remember the food coloring idea, that could come in handy.

 

[barkinghills]

Those are beautiful chicks! How fun to have them all so different. What is the mom? She looks like a blue cochin but is she lightly laced with gold? Very pretty.

 

[Rhandi74]

Those are beautiful chicks!  How fun to have them all so different.  What is the mom?  She looks like a blue cochin but is she lightly laced with gold?  Very pretty.  

Thank you
I was told she was blue Cochin but she does have gold coming through. This is my rooster, I was also told he was blue Cochin also but he has a lot of color coming through. I have been told, here on BYC that he is sunburnt splash. I love them both regardless he is an awesome rooster and she has been an amazing Momma.

Here is another of Jewel

 

[sonderah]

Took the Sizzle babies away from my 2 silkies this morning! :/ Hate to do it, but they r like 5 & 7 weeks old, and Momma's r still sitting on them! Time to give em up & start laying again! Lol I have a huge grow out pen with like 20 other babies in it anyway. What's 5 more??