Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

I never will break a broody. If I thought it was a bad idea to let them sit I would break them but they are doing what they have for 100's of years. I think my duck is getting ready to brood and about 5 hens have been making brood patches so just gotta see who else goes broody!!

As I have said Many times----Thats whats good about raising your own chickens, hatching your own eggs---you can raise them/do them any way you want and do not have to answer to anyone---LOL.

Just to give a little info on my way and why--------I break any broody that I do not want to be broody----Having 1 or 2 broodies is not a problem But I got alot of chickens---if I got 30 hens being broody----thats 2 1/2 dozen eggs per day(well close) I am out and it cost just as much to feed them sitting there doing Nothing for weeks---Usually within a week to two after being broke they will get back to laying---some times longer. When you got 100's and 100's of chickens---the back yard hobby has become to serious to be a hobby any more---even though I still enjoy "messing" with them----when your chickens eat $175 in feed each week----I want them busy.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

As I have said Many times----Thats whats good about raising your own chickens, hatching your own eggs---you can raise them/do them any way you want and do not have to answer to anyone---LOL.

Just to give a little info on my way and why--------I break any broody that I do not want to be broody----Having 1 or 2 broodies is not a problem But I got alot of chickens---if I got 30 hens being broody----thats 2 1/2 dozen eggs per day(well close) I am out and it cost just as much to feed them sitting there doing Nothing for weeks---Usually within a week to two after being broke they will get back to laying---some times longer. When you got 100's and 100's of chickens---the back yard hobby has become to serious to be a hobby any more---even though I still enjoy "messing" with them----when your chickens eat $175 in feed each week----I want them busy.

And PD-Riverman makes a most excellent point for all who are reading...you have to remember each of us has different situations and purposes.

I too would be breaking broodies if my business were eggs...I actually have at least half my flock in commercial layer types that rarely if ever go broody because I do need eggs for the family, and to sell some to offset costs, so I do not want to have all my hens sitting around doing nothing.

Because I need fresh layers, and have to turn over my flock such that half are younger layers and no more than 1/4 are older layers, I am constantly needing to grow up the next generation...since I don't do heat lamps anymore (burned a coop down) and am working on small scale (2 to 6 chicks at a time, every 3 to 4 months), using broodies fits my needs perfectly

I have not had a lot of luck with my regular breeds going broody, except for the occasional, so I keep a "stable" of very broody types to do that...and thus far those very broody types with a couple of volunteers have met my needs....but I haven't had tons of volunteers, so I am not interested in discouraging broodiness...I've also had some hawk losses, losing a really good broody, so I am very keen to not lose or discourage a good broody.

I did almost have too much of a good thing when I was manipulating my flock for egg color last year and introduced too many new breed types...egg count really went down. I've since balanced out my breeds to include.those high layers, those specialty types for special egg color, and those brooding my next generation.

Each must find the right balance for their flock needs.

Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

To my friends on this thread (duplicate post from Old Fashioned Broody thread)

Well...the Isbar eggs and the last OE egg have no outward signs...day 22....sigh. I candled the Isbar eggs, and one looks full, and I *think* I felt something in it, pretty sure a peck...the other one was less full, the third one pretty sure is a dud. DIdn't bother with the OE as it is so dark.

Well...only one chick hatched, a penguin OE...and very healthy...still in total snuggle mode...and mom is still sitting tight...now what to do....I am hoping the one Isbar will hatch by tomorrow, but am not overly hopeful. Bummer.

So I've got a very tight window...I plan to put a call into my favorite feed store today to see what they've got by way of very young chicks and if nothing is showing by tomorrow morning, try to sneak in a foster tomorrow am.

I had noticed the Isbar seemed slower in development than textbook charts. I may put them in an incubator to see if they are simply just very slow. I have read some breeders have had problems with Isbar failed hatches. Hmmmmm.

News tomorrow.

Lady of McCamley

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

To my friends on this thread (duplicate post from Old Fashioned Broody thread)

Well...the Isbar eggs and the last OE egg have no outward signs...day 22....sigh. I candled the Isbar eggs, and one looks full, and I *think* I felt something in it, pretty sure a peck...the other one was less full, the third one pretty sure is a dud. DIdn't bother with the OE as it is so dark.

Well...only one chick hatched, a penguin OE...and very healthy...still in total snuggle mode...and mom is still sitting tight...now what to do....I am hoping the one Isbar will hatch by tomorrow, but am not overly hopeful. Bummer.

So I've got a very tight window...I plan to put a call into my favorite feed store today to see what they've got by way of very young chicks and if nothing is showing by tomorrow morning, try to sneak in a foster tomorrow am.

I had noticed the Isbar seemed slower in development than textbook charts. I may put them in an incubator to see if they are simply just very slow. I have read some breeders have had problems with Isbar failed hatches. Hmmmmm.

News tomorrow.

Lady of McCamley

Hopefully the Isbars are just running a behind a bit! Keep us posted!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hopefully the Isbars are just running a behind a bit!  Keep us posted!

Hopefully...but Wednesday was day 21....OE hatched wednesday night or early thursday morning...so I am now at end of day 23...not looking good as I've never had anything hatch more than 36 hours after the first as all set at same time.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Called my favorite store, nothing I wanted, so I called a big chain and they had JUST gotten in a batch of chicks. I ran down and got 1 California Grey, a breed I've been wanting for white egg layer (to offset those dark Marans eggs in the carton as my white layer is aging).

I only got the one as my luck I'll have 4 new hatched tomorrow if I don't think I will...worse case the lonely only has a friend now.

This little chick peeped loudly all the way home...I droppered some vitamins/electrolytes into it, then immediately stuffed it under the Queen Mum (which it is 8pm now so very dark)...who didn't budge. Foster stayed put and stopped cheeping...so far so good. I'll check later.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have the OE and the California Grey best of buds and if very, very lucky 1 Isbar.

Queen Mum has been exemplary through the brooding phase, so I'm sure it was just bum luck...or the cold weather (perhaps cold eggs from the breeder)...or maybe slow hatchers.

Updates tomorrow.

LofMc

 

[LadyHawkeAvry]

Called my favorite store, nothing I wanted, so I called a big chain and they had JUST gotten in a batch of chicks. I ran down and got 1 California Grey, a breed I've been wanting for white egg layer (to offset those dark Marans eggs in the carton as my white layer is aging).

I only got the one as my luck I'll have 4 new hatched tomorrow if I don't think I will...worse case the lonely only has a friend now.

This little chick peeped loudly all the way home...I droppered some vitamins/electrolytes into it, then immediately stuffed it under the Queen Mum (which it is 8pm now so very dark)...who didn't budge. Foster stayed put and stopped cheeping...so far so good. I'll check later.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have the OE and the California Grey best of buds and if very, very lucky 1 Isbar.

Queen Mum has been exemplary through the brooding phase, so I'm sure it was just bum luck...or the cold weather (perhaps cold eggs from the breeder)...or maybe slow hatchers.

Updates tomorrow.

LofMc

What a wonderful broody Queen Mum is!!!

 

[calichicken]

Hi Everyone!
I had a question about broodies and feather regrowth. My girl(bantam cochin/silkie cross) was last broody in October and her belly is still bald as can be! Will those feathers grow back? And if so, how long does it usually take? Since spring is on its way, she will probably being going broody soon anyway...LOL! She is a frequent broody

She is otherwise healthy, happy and fine going on 2 years old in April...just wondering about that bald belly of hers..LOL! Thanks so much for any info or advice!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hi Everyone!
I had a question about broodies and feather regrowth. My girl(bantam cochin/silkie cross) was last broody in October and her belly is still bald as can be! Will those feathers grow back? And if so, how long does it usually take? Since spring is on its way, she will probably being going broody soon anyway...LOL! She is a frequent broody

She is otherwise healthy, happy and fine going on 2 years old in April...just wondering about that bald belly of hers..LOL! Thanks so much for any info or advice!

First rule out any feather parasites...look for mites or lice in the far chance that she could be having problems with that.

How long did she stay broody in October? If she stayed in a perpetual brood until December, then went into a molt, which usually happens at the end of a brood, that could explain lack of regrowth....but I would think she should have regrown by now...do you see signs of feather shafts?

She may be plucking yet, hoping for a brood. Did you use her? Or has she been hopeful all these months for chicks? That will keep them plucking.

Final thought, I have had good results using Nutrena's Feather Fixer to help birds recover from molt and feather loss. I generally see results of active regrowth within a couple of weeks, most regrowth back by end of month with very glossy thick feathers....much faster than my normal food.

Make sure she is getting plenty of protein whatever you are using...and watch for signs of a perpetual brood. You may have to let her be a momma before she'll stop.

My thoughts
Lady of McCamley

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Good news...the foster California Grey is alive and well this morning and seems to have bonded with the Queen Mum and is acting mostly like a good little chick...still shy, which I find most of my fosters are the first day or two, and hesitant around the more boisterous hatchling, but very much alive and well and eager to go back under mum when cold. Yay! Victory there thus far.

Bad news...NONE of the other eggs have any sign of pipping or movement in candling....My personal experience has been if they haven't hatched by end of day 23, they won't. This is now the start of day 24. Not looking good for those Isbars. Boo. I really wanted some of them. I put the two most likely in the incubator, and left the two least likely with the hen so it won't be a loss when she abandons the nest for the 2 live chicks.

I also noted a new trick I will use when fostering...at least with this hen, and I suspicion with others this was my issue too...when I took the eggs away to candle this morning, momma immediately got up and started scratching and fussing with the babies. When I put 2 eggs back into the nest, she immediately sat back down and the babies ran under to snuggle.

I know many of you plunk fosters down and have immediate success with no fuss, but I've had troubles with feed store fosters not bonding well with momma and getting chilled, especially once she is up and about with the hatchlings, who have adapted to the colder environment already and are quite boisterous...I think I will be sure to leave eggs down to tempt momma to sit as long as possible after hatching so that the fosters get a little more nest time as they adjust to the temperature difference. A day can make a big difference.

I also had the luck that this California Grey had just arrived mid afternoon and had just gone into the heat lamp bins...I don't think it had fully imprinted to go to a heat lamp but was still in "dog pile" mentality.

Keeping my fingers crossed that at least I will have a female OE and female California Grey (90% chance as hatchery sexed)....and long, long shot that the incubator will produce an Isbar for me.

Lady of McCamley

The California Grey foster (left) and OE hatchling (right)