Broody Hen Thread!

[LALA13]

Hey guys I'm totally new to chick hatching and now that it's getting warmer I have 4 broody hens on my hands..but is it normal for them to switch nesting boxes?? They each have a pile of eggs under them but every time I go out they have swapped nests..

 

[chickbrad24]

Mine are all so doing that well only 2 of them are that I have noticed the other BO is seriously broody she has not removed herself from the nest since she went broody. But my other 2 I think they are playing games with me.

 

[plmcmillan]

Okay, first timer here. One of my hens has spent most of the day in the nest box. I moved her mid day and gathered eggs. She spent an hour or so in the run and then right back to the box. I just went out to check for more eggs and she just made the most horrible noise at me. Like a screeching growl. Am I mistaken, or is she going broody?

 

[Cyrus83]

I'd say so, one of mine isn't quite broody, but when I go in to get eggs she runs into the coop and yells at me.

 

[chickbrad24]

One of my BO's got the boot from my Blue Lace Red Wyandotte so now I have 2 broody Bo's and a BLRW. I am going to have my hands full.

 

[plmcmillan]

Well, she's out running the yard today. False alarm. :-(

 

[AmericanMom]

Well, she's out running the yard today. False alarm. :-(

Don't be discouraged, it may take her several days to get in the groove, I had one that tried to go broody in the rabbit enclosure, soon enough I realized it wasn't a good area, she was being disturbed to much by the other hens. I moved her off that nest and tried to put her on a nest in the coop, I still have a scar from that endeavor, I figured fine, didn't need another broody anyways. About a week later I was outside and happened to see her clucking and all fluffed up running around like a crazy dummy.. Went into the coop and put some fake eggs into a cat carrier I had in there, that evening she was on the fake eggs. I left it alone for a few days, one day when she was off the nest I replaced the fake eggs with a dozen fertile eggs. She is about 8 days in and doing fine, well doing fine as far as I know, unless I have a heavy jacket and my husbands welding gloves I aint messing with her

 

[chickbrad24]

I have had a handful of hens that I thought were broody and they all were false alarms. Just watch her for the next couple of days you never know.

 

[christine9]

 

[chickbrad24]

Christine9 Is that your Mama Hen ? and if so what kind is she ?

She is beautiful !!