Broody Hen Thread!

[chickbrad24]

Here's my Black Sex-Link!

Beautiful what is she hatching out ?

 

[Blackberry18]

Beautiful what is she hatching out ?

I gave her a couple of Easter Egger eggs.

 

[chickbrad24]

I gave her a couple of Easter Egger eggs.

I gave my hens 3 EE eggs each plus whatever they were sitting on. Broody # 2 hatched 2 EE's but I cant tell which one is which ?

 

[Blackberry18]

Cool! I love Easter Eggers.

 

[n3kms]

I have a broody with 4 four week olds. They are in a coop by themselves. She laid an egg today or yesterday. She still seems to be taking care of the babies, although I saw her peck one kind of hard today. Later a cool wind blew up and she had them all underneath her. Do you think there's any chance of her harming them? should I maybe separate them soon?

 

[komakit]

I hate to be nosy, but can I ask why your nest box is four
Foot off the ground?:/

 

[fisherlady]

I have a broody with 4 four week olds. They are in a coop by themselves. She laid an egg today or yesterday. She still seems to be taking care of the babies, although I saw her peck one kind of hard today. Later a cool wind blew up and she had them all underneath her. Do you think there's any chance of her harming them? should I maybe separate them soon?

We have never had a broody actually hurt a chick during the weaning process, but they have space to get away from them.... the chicks are understandably upset and scared when Mama hen starts pushing them away but hurt feelings are about it. Just make sure mama hen has room to get away from them a bit (a dog crate sized area would be too small at this point, but a 3x3 coop with a small run should still suffice.

I hate to be nosy, but can I ask why your nest box is four
Foot off the ground?

Who?

 

[n3kms]

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!

That is just so sweet!

 

[n3kms]

...

 We have never had a broody actually hurt a chick during the weaning process, but they have space to get away from them.... the chicks are understandably upset and scared when Mama hen starts pushing them away but hurt feelings are about it.  Just make sure mama hen has room to get away from them a bit (a dog crate sized area would be too small at this point, but a 3x3 coop with a small run should still suffice.

This is where they are and there are roost if she desires to use them. The chicks in the pic are not the ones though. She is snuggled in the corner with them this evening so I guess they are okay. Is it usual for her to lay an egg again this soon?

 

[fisherlady]

She should be fine with that run...she is just starting the weaning process, some hens start at 4 weeks, some not till 8 weeks. I have a hen who goes 4 weeks in warm weather and 7-8 weeks when it is cold. So there is no absolute. when she won't sleep with them anymore it will be time to start planning to return her to the coop.