Broody Hen Thread!

[chickbrad24]

My 3rd broody eggs are hatching when I checked underneath her there were a lot of little chicks. At least 12 I think some of broody hens chicks went with her.

 

[goodb]

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!

You have 6 broodies!??? I have 2 right now with another into the second week into raising hers. I have a buckeye who will hit her first week on Saturday and a Black Australorp/Partridge Rock cross who will get her eggs tomorrow. Where do you put yours? I have limited space but with as many as 25 being raised by broodies and some Buff Orpingtons coming into my flock I may have more broodies than layers next year. LOL

I need to build a broody box. Does anyone have pictures or plans?

 

[UrbanFarmOC]

I need to build a broody box. Does anyone have pictures or plans?

my coop/run is set up so that the chickens roost and lay eggs on a platform (removable for cleaning if necessary). All I did was to block off the area under the platform and use it as a broody area. I blocked it using plastic deer netting I had laying around. So, "downstairs" is where she and her babies are. Technically downstairs is divided into 2 spaces by a large dog crate, which I currently use as sleeping quarters for two 6-week old cockerels who are too young to be sleeping with the adults and almost-adults.

 

[Mehroz Adnan]

I have only 1 nest box & 2 hens.The hen in lower pecking order has gone broody.I have now built a temporary nesting place(Not as good as the other one) for them .The broody hen was introduced by me 3 weeks ago & the older hen uses to hit her whenever she gets out in search of food & I think she will try her best to lay in the original nest box.Will the broody be able to defend her place & force the other hen to lay in the other place?As The broody hen was introduced by me 3 weeks ago & the older hen uses to hit her(not severe) whenever she gets out in search of food I doubt that it would create some trouble whenever she will be Introduced again after broodiness if separated.

 

[aart]

Can one of the sage veterans help this woman out?
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/975790/trouble-with-a-violently-broody-buff
I was going to send her here but the situation sounds dire, so maybe going to her thread would be judicious?

 

[dmbnj]

My SL Wyandotte went broody two days ago. I was able to slip in three Ameracauna eggs last night. I hope I wasn't too late. I wasn't planning on adding any chicks to my flock this year, but she had other plans.

 

[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.

So ... what ended up happening? (if you're still watching this thread) Hope it all went well.

 

[Mccluckers]

So ... what ended up happening?  (if you're still watching this thread)  Hope it all went well.

She hatched all three eggs! And she is such a good mum.

I have a couple of questions.

Firstly, when do the chicks start coming out and about?

And secondly, I was holding the chicks and I put the down right in front of her, she promptly tried to tuck them under her like she did with the eggs.
What is that about? Is it normal?

 

[Manningjw]

She hatched all three eggs! And she is such a good mum.

I have a couple of questions.

Firstly, when do the chicks start coming out and about?

And secondly, I was holding the chicks and I put the down right in front of her, she promptly tried to tuck them under her like she did with the eggs.
What is that about? Is it normal?

They will explore the coop day 1 and 2 with the hen typically, depending on if the hen is still trying to hatch more eggs or not. Out and about in the yard will depend on the weather and how easy it is for the chicks to make it in and out. Often within the first week in in my experience.

Hens tend to protect their young particularly when they are very young like that, it is normal. Also they tuck them under to warm them back up as well.

 

[Mccluckers]

Ok

They will explore the coop day 1 and 2 with the hen typically, depending on if the hen is still trying to hatch more eggs or not.  Out and about in the yard will depend on the weather and how easy it is for the chicks to make it in and out.  Often within the first week in in my experience. 

Hens tend to protect their young particularly when they are very young like that, it is normal.  Also they tuck them under to warm them back up as well. 

Ok, they came out to eat earlier and they were so sweet!! I can't let them go out itch the hen as we have an open topped pen nan lots of crows so I will have to take them put to an old guinea pig run everyday then bring them back to the coop.