Broody Hen Thread!

[drewskimac]

One of my hens went broody on easter morning. None of the feed stores were open to buy hay at, and I didn't have any extra. But, i really needed to move her out of the nesting area and give her her own coop with food, and water. So... I put news paper through a paper shredder and made a temporary nest. So far it has worked fine, but is it okay all the way through the hatching process? By this i mean, obviously when the chicks hatch the news paper will stick to them.. Is this a problem? Will momma take care of them? Thanks for any and all replies!

 

[n3kms]

I personally have not had good luck trying integrate them when they are at different stages. The hen gets up and begins to teach the chicks how to be chickens at about day 3, but little babies need momma to sit and be still while they get used to the environment. I've had littles get kicked about, and even killed, when momma was up and teaching olders to scratch as the littles kept trying to run under momma while she was scratching, thereby getting kicked about.

So I personally do not integrate if they are over 2 days, at most 3, apart. Just my experiences. You can always try it, but watch close and have Plan B. I haven't had one yet, but I've heard of some mommas who can handle multiple ages, fosters and hatchlings...that will be a very special broody which you will cherish her life long.

LofMc

Well, I planned to keep the two in the house brooder box. But while I was gone to work today one of them died. The other was very perky but very lonely. Decided it was worth a try to put it with the broody. I made sure it knew how to eat and drink and just for energy gave it a drop of nutri-Drench ad then took him out and stuck him under Anastasia. I'll be very anxious tomorrow to see how it goes.

 

[lacymorgan]

Well, I planned to keep the two in the house brooder box. But while I was gone to work today one of them died. The other was very perky but very lonely. Decided it was worth a try to put it with the broody. I made sure it knew how to eat and drink and just for energy gave it a drop of nutri-Drench ad then took him out and stuck him under Anastasia. I'll be very anxious tomorrow to see how it goes.

looking forward to hearing how the baby does with Anastasia

 

[aart]

Quote: Thanks fisherlady...that is exactly what I've seen so far, I suspect it won't be long and she'll go back to roost with the flock.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Thanks fisherlady...that is exactly what I've seen so far, I suspect it won't be long and she'll go back to roost with the flock.

Aart, what I do is different from alot. I separate all my Broody hens----When the chicks get feathered out(if they are not sold before then)---usually about a month---the hens seem to start trying to get away from them some mainly during the day, so I remove the chicks and put them in a separate pen to grow-out and/or sale. Then in a few days I put the hen back with the flock and she gets back to laying soon.

 

[n3kms]

looking forward to hearing how the baby does with Anastasia

Baby chick, I'll call him Spot, since he is the only one with a spot in his head, is alive and well this morning. But I watched for a while and as mom scratches in the pine shavings he mostly stood back and watched but did get in there and eat some. He would still have his yolk sack to keep him going a bit longer. It is so funny that there is a bowl of food and mom
insisting scratching in the shaving for them. I know it's instinct, so I just tossed some food around the coop and also put in a new bowlful. I use fermented good but I wonder if I should toss in some dry. Spot did go get a little out of the bowl. He is not much smaller than the smallest of the other chicks. I just hope he is able to stay warm enough and will know how to get up under her for warmth when she does slow down. I assume he stay under her all night or he wouldn't have made it.

 

[TheBanditQueen]

We have our first broody! I am thrilled!

She's a Buff Orpington we got from the feed store last May. She started sleeping in the nestbox at night and staying there in the daytime about a week ago. I've been told how it's hard to get hatchery hens who will set, so I thought she was ill, but when we would collect everybody's eggs from under her, she would growl and peck and flatten out and fluff up with that look that's half "utter zen" and half "touch me and I'll kill you". Paul has had broody hens before, so he was pretty sure. We let her stay there for a few days to see if she was serious, and she didn't budge. So last night we moved her into separate quarters. I was worried it would mess her up, but this morning she's sitting tight, so far.

We gave her 4 eggs, from a batch that I set in the incubator last Saturday, which was pretty close to the same time Gray Princess went broody. So if all goes well, they'll be due to hatch around April 25th.

I'm so excited!! I hope she is successful!

 

[aart]

Quote: Yep some do that, but I wanted her to integrate the chicks into the flock, they were hatched by her in the middle of winter.......
......as I have another batch of incubator chicks just hatched that will grow out in my only other coop enclosure.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Baby chick, I'll call him Spot, since he is the only one with a spot in his head, is alive and well this morning. But I watched for a while and as mom scratches in the pine shavings he mostly stood back and watched but did get in there and eat some. He would still have his yolk sack to keep him going a bit longer. It is so funny that there is a bowl of food and mom
insisting scratching in the shaving for them. I know it's instinct, so I just tossed some food around the coop and also put in a new bowlful. I use fermented good but I wonder if I should toss in some dry. Spot did go get a little out of the bowl. He is not much smaller than the smallest of the other chicks. I just hope he is able to stay warm enough and will know how to get up under her for warmth when she does slow down. I assume he stay under her all night or he wouldn't have made it.

Just keep a close eye...I totally get wanting to put him with momma since he is a lonely only...but you are seeing what I saw...the little hangs back and doesn't partake in the scratching...and unfortunately often is getting cold. They get warmed up when she sits and at night, but it can stress them during the day especially if temps are cooler. If he begins to look really rumpled you may have to take him back to the brooder and find a friend for him...I see the rumpled look first, and if that doesn't go away in a day or two, with them beginning to take part with the others, then I see losses.
LofMc

 

[Lady of McCamley]

We have our first broody! I am thrilled!

She's a Buff Orpington we got from the feed store last May. She started sleeping in the nestbox at night and staying there in the daytime about a week ago. I've been told how it's hard to get hatchery hens who will set, so I thought she was ill, but when we would collect everybody's eggs from under her, she would growl and peck and flatten out and fluff up with that look that's half "utter zen" and half "touch me and I'll kill you". Paul has had broody hens before, so he was pretty sure. We let her stay there for a few days to see if she was serious, and she didn't budge. So last night we moved her into separate quarters. I was worried it would mess her up, but this morning she's sitting tight, so far.

We gave her 4 eggs, from a batch that I set in the incubator last Saturday, which was pretty close to the same time Gray Princess went broody. So if all goes well, they'll be due to hatch around April 25th.

I'm so excited!! I hope she is successful!

Wishing you a happy hatch.

Keep us posted

LofMc