Broody Hen Thread!

[Mandyj0458]

Ok, well I may just decide to be patient & allow her to continue hatching her golf ball unless you think it's best that I remove the ball. Thank you so so much!!

 

[fisherlady]

Ok, well I may just decide to be patient & allow her to continue hatching her golf ball unless you think it's best that I remove the ball. Thank you so so much!!

Hatching with broodies is a wonderful thing, I don't want to ever discourage any one from experiencing it but knowing a few 'fixes' ahead of time makes it so much easier. A few coop fixes and you are good to go....

If you have room in your coop for 1 or 2 more birds then I would encourage you to get 3 eggs from your breeder for your girl and give it a go... my birds raise their chicks mostly within the flock and it is a joy to watch.... if that is your child in your avatar then they will greatly enjoy the new ones also.

If you decide you don't want her to hatch then there are multiple methods to 'break a broody' and you can easily find them by typing that phrase into the search block above....

 

[Mandyj0458]

Fisherlady, thank you so much for the excellent information!! I just called the breeder to check into picking up some eggs!! My little hen is in a very safe place. She chose a nesting box in the coop but the others were irritating her constantly so I put a cardboard box over her & her nest with a hole big enogh for her to come & go as she pleases but small enough so that the larger hen will stop pecking at her. She seems quite cozy in there. My two sons are dying for chicks, as am I, so hopefully we can get all this chickie hatching stuff in order!

 

[fisherlady]

Fisherlady, thank you so much for the excellent information!! I just called the breeder to check into picking up some eggs!! My little hen is in a very safe place. She chose a nesting box in the coop but the others were irritating her constantly so I put a cardboard box over her & her nest with a hole big enogh for her to come & go as she pleases but small enough so that the larger hen will stop pecking at her. She seems quite cozy in there. My two sons are dying for chicks, as am I, so hopefully we can get all this chickie hatching stuff in order!

I look forward to seeing some more adorable pictures of the boys holding some chicks!

 

[chickenlickin8]

I raise my any chicks that hatch on the farm here go right to the coop. The first time the hens were super curios but now its normal to them.

Thanks holm25. I was thinking the hens would see chicks as something to chase after and eat.

 

[holm25]

Thanks holm25. I was thinking the hens would see chicks as something to chase after and eat.

Some hens do. The first chicks I put in had a fence around them. So the hens got use to them and now chicks r no big deal.

 

[hensinmaine]

I have only ever gotten day old chicks from the hardware store. One of our hens is sitting on a good nest of fertilized eggs. Once they are born, do we leave them to her care or do we need to dip their beaks in water like we did with the chicks from the store?

 

[holm25]

I have only ever gotten day old chicks from the hardware store. One of our hens is sitting on a good nest of fertilized eggs. Once they are born, do we leave them to her care or do we need to dip their beaks in water like we did with the chicks from the store?

If u provide water and food and water she will do all the teaching!!

 

[hensinmaine]

thanks so much! That is what I was hoping. I am very excited to watch this process. A little nervous to see what the other hens and the Rooster's behavior is around them, but I suppose it is a natural process.

 

[pasuit]

I have 21 hens and several chicks At this time. I have a game hen that won't stop brooding until she hatches chicks and I didn't have a rooster at the time. I bought 12 eggs from a lady who had several different breeds but she only sold the eggs. The chicks hatched. All but 2. The all were beautiful Americana. Very happy with them. Also have bought an Americana rooster. He's georgeous.