Broody Hen Thread!

[n3kms]

I went out this morning to finally get some pics of my newest hatches...or rather 1 sole hatchling, the Isbar/Marans OE...really taking after the Marans side in color and shape...I do hope so as that comb shows very female at this point...this line of Marans telecasts very early for the boys with comb so hopefully I'm seeing a girl here...and lovely olive eggs to come! The two barred chicks are feedstore California Greys that are being fostered, and grafted in flawlessly with this banty. Finally an easy graft! One chick developed a protruding vent after pasty butt (from feed store), but it seems to be outgrowing it just fine. And since I was out, I took a photo of the extended tarp system...definitely looks boot camp-ish, but the camo tarp was on great sale that day...what can I say...free and cheap is what my birds get, put together with some clever know how by my husband and son to make for a really nice set up. You can see my screen partition below that I use as a main divider to create two equal halves...and one of the wood partitions for an end piece to create an isolation box for one nest side...I only do that for a couple of days at onset if others are bothering the newly brooding girl and at lock down to ensure no disturbances. Of course when I was standing to take the photo, all the hens came running to my feet and the cute little run scene was immediately interrupted as momma took the babies up into the coop, away from all those noisy girls. LofMc

Your California Grays look a lot like my Cuckoo Marans that I got from the co-op. Makes me wonder or maybe those just look a lot alike. I've never had either. They are sweeter chicks than the ones I hatched in the incubator.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Your California Grays look a lot like my Cuckoo Marans that I got from the co-op. Makes me wonder or maybe those just look a lot alike. I've never had either. They are sweeter chicks than the ones I hatched in the incubator.

Do you have leg feathers on your CM's...that will be a telling sign.

A lot of breeds look very similar as chicks. If you notice body type, however, between the CG's and the OE (Isbar/Marans)...the OE has a Marans type build...my Cal Greys have more of a lighter Leghorn type build (which is what that hybrid is based off of BR/Leghorn)...you can really see it when they are running around in the pen.

And if we placed them side by side later after adult feathers, your CM's will have a softer, more diffuse pattern, while my CG's and any BR's will have crisp barring.

Chances are you got what you paid for...but alas there is always the risk of a chick being mistaken for another breed.

LofMc

 

[n3kms]

I'll have to take a pic when I get home. They have no leg feathers. I'm learning more and more about chickens as I go. A little at a time.

 

[n3kms]

Okay..... I think this is the plan. I'm trying to use ya'lls advice but the implementation can be tricky. This is the insert I have made for the nest box that Anastasia is in.

This is how it looks in one of the other boxes.

I plan to take another of the red dishpans and cut I low in the front like that one but screw it to the coop I got from someone on Facebook.
Kind of like this.

Then after I get her sitting on the dishpan for a couple of nights I will just go pick up dishpan and all and set it inside screwed down dishpan in new coop. The screwed down one being for added stability.
This is my girl sitting. The dishpan is about the same width as her current bow but not as deep. Think it will be okay?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'll have to take a pic when I get home. They have no leg feathers. I'm learning more and more about chickens as I go. A little at a time.

Not all Marans lines have leg feathers, only the French line does.

As to your inserts...give it a try and she how she does.

LofMc

 

[n3kms]

These are my cuckoo marans from the co-op.
They looked more alike when they were younger. They are 3-3 1/2 weeks old. The larger one is getting more white on it. Hope they are both girls. I had three but one died suddenly for no apparent reason.

 

[farmhand]

I've been reading this thread for awhile and learning and have decided to start planning a new attached separate coop just for broody bantam hens. I am attracted to Cochins but open to what ever. Are there breeders that breed for broodiness? I know that all chickens personalities within a breed are NOT alike depending on the breeders selection and preferences. So does this hold true for broodiness?

 

[fisherlady]

I've been reading this thread for awhile and learning and have decided to start planning a new attached separate coop just for broody bantam hens. I am attracted to Cochins but open to what ever. Are there breeders that breed for broodiness? I know that all chickens personalities within a breed are NOT alike depending on the breeders selection and preferences. So does this hold true for broodiness?

This can be similar for broodiness, though some breeds are more likely to be broody if you find a breeder who has recognized the benefits of broodiness and has NOT specifically refrained from breeding on the broody genes then you may luck into a strong broody line. Your best hope is by talking to any breeder beforehand specifically about his line's tendency to brood and how effective they are as broodies/mothers.

I have a strain of LF Silver Pencil Rocks who seem to love being broodies, the fellow I got them from told me ahead of time that he sees a lot of his hens try to set and boy was he right! I love it in my coop, though I can understand why some breeders don't want it to be a prevalent trait because it does certainly effect egg production.

 

[farmhand]

So if I have a broody pen in the middle of my layer pens will this encourage my layers to become broody?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

So if I have a broody pen in the middle of my layer pens will this encourage my layers to become broody?

It might...if they are genetically predisposed to do so. Otherwise, they will barely notice.

And I agree with Fisherlady...broodiness is genetic and certain lines and certain breeds are definitely best.

I looked around for bantam Cochins and found a lady on Craiglist who was selling pullets. From correspondence with her, I learned she had gotten the original pair from a 4H girl and had bred them to brood turkey eggs as she raised turkeys to sell feathers from for the craft market. She had so many turkeys laying such volume of eggs that she wanted some help with the incubation.

I lept on it as I knew that bantam Cochins were typically broody, and here I had a line that was specifically being developed to brood. I asked for pullets from her broodiest hen, and she kindly supplied me with 2 from a Buff Cochin momma who was frequently broody and even in her nest brooding when I picked the pullets up.

They are too young yet, just entering 7 months, but I am beginning to see signs of egg squatting submission, so their first eggs should be coming shortly. Hopefully their genetics will hold true and they will soon desire to brood, and even better, co-brood.

Even better are Silkies, and there seem to be a lot of Silkie breeders who use them to brood and have an older hen they are willing to part with. I've managed to get 2 in such a way, and they have been fabulous. If you can purchase a proven broody, then you KNOW you've got a girl who will work for you.

Check through Classified Ads in chicken swaps and facebook pages, and don't forget the 4H office.

My thoughts
LofMc