Broody Hen Thread!

[Spangled]

Hi guys, my broody frizzle is on day 20 and when I went in the the coop she was pacing up and down the sides of the broody pen, she does this when she wants to have a run around. Anyway I had brought some food down to fill up and she escaped! She ran over to the rest of the flock I looked at her eggs and one was pipped and cheeping I immediately went and caught her and put her back in the pen. The then ate her food for abit and then went back to the nest. Overall she was of for about 10mins when I was there but I don't know how long she was pacing the sides. Anyway will the eggs be okay, or will it get shrink wrapped. I don't know how long it has been pipped. But definitely less than 24hrs.

Thanks

You just never know. Today and tomorrow, you will just have to keep an eye on things and hope she stays setting.

If you have a fine misted spritzing spray bottle, you could always carefully lift your broody and spritz some a warm mist over the eggs once. But that's about all the intervention I would feel comfortable with and I personally probably wouldn't worry about it since shrink wrapping is more likely in an incubator. The live animal during natural incubation on top of the eggs should keep the humidity just right.

I've had broodies have X amount of chicks off the nest and out eating and then next day have X+1 or X2 chicks after setting again all night on the clutch. I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it, but it does happen.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Mine went out at 1 day old. But I free range everything right now and she is the one who decided to go back to the coop...

Yep, I've always had my broodies hatch and raise in the flock so, like yours, it was left to the hen as to when she felt she wanted to take her chicks out to see the big, wide world. Most are up and out with them as soon as they decide to abandon hope on any remaining eggs and the chicks are ready to go (dry and fluffy).

 

[chickbrad24]

That's what I did with my broodies they went out with their chicks when they were ready and they go back to the nest at night.

 

[Mccluckers]

Ok,thanks.

 

[fisherlady]

Well, we know we have cheeping under Maddie....our hatch in progress alarm (known as Mindy) is now in full alert mode. DH snapped this pic and sent it to me since I'm stuck at work.

This picture also gives a good idea of how we made a modification to an egg box to accommodate a broody who wouldn't move. DH placed a piece of scrap plywood on the front of the box and at the end to create her veranda, he then made the frame with Chicken wire on it to act as the door. A bungee holds it in place. When she is done hatching we will move her to a protected floor area.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Well, we know we have cheeping under Maddie....our hatch in progress alarm (known as Mindy) is now in full alert mode. DH snapped this pic and sent it to me since I'm stuck at work.

This picture also gives a good idea of how we made a modification to an egg box to accommodate a broody who wouldn't move. DH placed a piece of scrap plywood on the front of the box and at the end to create her veranda, he then made the frame with Chicken wire on it to act as the door. A bungee holds it in place. When she is done hatching we will move her to a protected floor area.

I love your hatch alert system
LofMc

 

[fisherlady]

I love your hatch alert system
LofMc

Thank you.... she loves hatch day more than we do, I think! She will stay in the coop now until dark waiting to get a glimpse of the new hatch.... since we have 6 more broodies right now who are due to hatch at intervals over the next couple of weeks she is a happy girl!

 

[chickbrad24]

Thank you.... she loves hatch day more than we do, I think! She will stay in the coop now until dark waiting to get a glimpse of the new hatch.... since we have 6 more broodies right now who are due to hatch at intervals over the next couple of weeks she is a happy girl!

Now that's adorable !

 

[aart]

Well, we know we have cheeping under Maddie....our hatch in progress alarm (known as Mindy) is now in full alert mode. DH snapped this pic and sent it to me since I'm stuck at work.

This picture also gives a good idea of how we made a modification to an egg box to accommodate a broody who wouldn't move. DH placed a piece of scrap plywood on the front of the box and at the end to create her veranda, he then made the frame with Chicken wire on it to act as the door. A bungee holds it in place. When she is done hatching we will move her to a protected floor area.

You know I thought my dog could hear those live eggs close to hatch...both under the broody and in the incubator...his interest definitely picked up the last day or so.

 

[Blackberry18]

Here's my Black Sex-Link!