Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

Hi All!
My silkie hen went broody about 3.5 weeks ago - I saw that she had 3 eggs under her and let her sit. After about 4 days, I checked on her - and she had 10 eggs under her (little egg-napper from my other hens!)
She has been the most dedicated sitter - I have never seen her get up from her spot in her maternity ward, and barely saw any food disappear so I started bringing mash right to her chin, which she did eat up.
Today there is a bunch of peeping underneath her! I am trying so hard not to mess with her, but I did tap on one egg at the edge of her fluff and it peeped back!
So excited and I am hoping for the best! I watched her for hours this morning, once she almost did a somersault, tucked her head under her body and almost flipped over?! It's all new to me, she is from my batch of April babies, can't believe she's going to be a momma soon
e

Congratulations! The 'almost somersault ' was just her rearranging eggs and possibly egg shells. It is a common move I've seen the hens do many times when they are brooding. You will be seeing some chicks within the next day or so.

 

[PD-Riverman]

I watched her for hours this morning, once she almost did a somersault, tucked her head under her body and almost flipped over?! It's all new to me, she is from my batch of April babies, can't believe she's going to be a momma soon

She Tucked her head under to bring her butt up-------telling you to Kiss Her Butt and Go on and leave her alone---LOL.--Just picking--LOL.

When a broody starts setting other hens will continue laying eggs in her chosen nest-----this is why I put Marked eggs under her in the beginning------so I can remove any fresh layed eggs from under her DAILY(I do move all my broodies a few days after they start setting to a private hatching pen)-----then all her eggs will hatch around the same time---instead of being stretched out for days---which most of the time she will leave the nest with the first hatched chicks before the others hatch.

All My Broodies do not get off the nest the last 2/3 days before the eggs hatch and I do not offer her food in the nest because if she eats she will have to poop and she is not going to get off the nest to do it so she will hold it as long as she can then Make a Big mess in the nest. Good Luck!!

 

[PD-Riverman]

This is a bit off topic, so I apologize if it bothers anyone..... I'm am looking to purchase a broody hen, preferably a Black Austrolorp, but not necessary. I've posted on various threads with no luck, probably because most people highly value their broodys and aren't gonna ever part with them. Thanks everyone!

Please PM me if you're interested.

I keep a pen of Old English Game----just for hatching eggs, some of them will hatch 3 to 4 times in a season. I have had 33 broodies this season and most of them have been the game Hens. Keep in mind when I have a broody game or other hen I put the eggs under her that "I" want her to hatch---not let her set on her eggs-----which would not happen because I remove all eggs from all nest daily----even if a hen is on the nest.

 

[vpatt]

My chicks: And their mama ^ The below freezing temps have not seemed to slow them done any. They still continue to get out.

Cuties!

 

[K Spot]

All aboard the Sussex express! My week old FWM chick hitching a ride on her hatch mumma.

 

[A6chickenhome]

All aboard the Sussex express! My week old FWM chick hitching a ride on her hatch mumma.

Bet that ones a rooster! Pretty Speckled Sussex.

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Sorry, but what is fwm ?

 

[K Spot]

Sorry, but what is fwm ?

French wheaten marans

Bet that ones a rooster!

Pretty Speckled Sussex.

It's feathering in like a pullet

 

[SD Bird Lady]

Gotcha, thanks

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm looking for a broody that has at leat brooded once and is a proven good broody. She doesn't have to be broody at this time. I will giver her a forever home and LOOOVE her. I am focused on sustainable farming practices and do not have an incubator. She will have free range of my 15 acre property in TN along with the rest of my flock.

I'm sorry you haven't connected with anyone yet, and sorry I can't help you. The first time I went on a broody search, I used the swap page on BYC and found my local chicken swap meet. Type in your state or location with "swap" in the search to find what is listed for your area. Then I sent out an ad to that meet group, and a very nice lady responded and sold me my beloved Silkie Oma San, who I picked up at the actual physical meet. Oma-san brooded faithfully for me every 4 months for almost 4 years until she was recently taken by a Cooper's Hawk staying tried and true as the Silkie breed is known for.

I then posted an ad on that original swap group as well as several others that I had since linked up with over the years (through that original swap group), and have just recently been gifted by a fellow chicken lover (and Silkie breeder) a beautiful faithful broody Silkie hen of 4.5 years to give her a loving forever home to do what she does best, brood.

I also, in my search, located a farm through Craigslist that sold bantam Cochins, and purchased several pullets that were out of a very, very broody Cochin momma. They are a bit of a risk for me as I do not know if they will be good broodies themselves, but the breed is known for brooding, and their momma was a very good broody, so chances are of the 2 girls, at least one of them will be a good broody for me too. I plan not to get caught flat footed without a faithful broody again but keep a "spare" broody and always be raising the next broody generation up.

I also use whatever odd hen comes into brooding during the normal brooding season (April to June), which may work out for you. I never discourage a brood if I can help it as I never know when I might need to use a hen. I've actually had good luck with these seasonal hens, several have brooded for me just one batch and then have never gone broody again, but they did a great job. It is a gamble as you never know who will go broody, and if they will stay the course, so I let them sit on fake eggs for at least a week to observe their behavior, and don't put really expensive eggs under them. I also have a plan B (either an incubator, or a brooding queen).

Good luck in your search. I hope you find your broody soon.
Lady of McCamley