Broody Hen Thread!

[Free Feather]

Why is it "hard"/stressful? I am on my 50th broody hen in just the last year. No stress at all for me and what seems like 50 happy broody hens to me. We only have around 100/102 days here and 115 is hot. You can simply break her broodiness, then you would not have to deal with it now.

"""I""" would not even try to put 1 week old chicks under a just started broody, even though she "might" adopt them---she is not stupid---she is going to know they are not hers. She "could" peck them to death----it happens----just according to the hen.

My last broody hatch was seven eggs I was hatching for a neighbor. He wanted the chicks immediately after drying off, so I would swap her hatched chicks with nearly two week old bantams that were clearly older that had been running around the chicken yard for a week. She is not people friendly and it was her first hatch, but she is a game hen x silkie. She acts nothing like a silkie, though. I just made sure that she could not see that I was giving them to her, and when she would peck at their wing feathers or look at them like she was considering attacking, I would divert her attention with treats or by rummaging under her chest, sometimes even passing my hand in front of her face. AND I did this in the day time. You just have to be careful about how you do it, and have fast hands. Nimue (the hen) is not stupid in the slightest.

 

[Free Feather]

I have also done it with day old chicks, with hens on their first clutch.

 

[TXchickenchick]

My last broody hatch was seven eggs I was hatching for a neighbor. He wanted the chicks immediately after drying off, so I would swap her hatched chicks with nearly two week old bantams that were clearly older that had been running around the chicken yard for a week. She is not people friendly and it was her first hatch, but she is a game hen x silkie. She acts nothing like a silkie, though. I just made sure that she could not see that I was giving them to her, and when she would peck at their wing feathers or look at them like she was considering attacking, I would divert her attention with treats or by rummaging under her chest, sometimes even passing my hand in front of her face. AND I did this in the day time. You just have to be careful about how you do it, and have fast hands. Nimue (the hen) is not stupid in the slightest.

So you had chicks running around alone in the flock starting at 1 week old? A couple of very significant differences there is your chicken had just hatched chicks so I am sure switching older live chicks with the live chicks she already had would be a little more likely to work, though not much. And two, those chicks were used to adult hens, unlike brooder chicks which I am assuming these would be. I think you got very lucky with that trade working.

 

[Free Feather]

So you had chicks running around alone in the flock starting at 1 week old? A couple of very significant differences there is your chicken had just hatched chicks so I am sure switching older live chicks with the live chicks she already had would be a little more likely to work, though not much. And two, those chicks were used to adult hens, unlike brooder chicks which I am assuming these would be. I think you got very lucky with that trade working.

Yes, I did have week old chicks running around with flock in the day time since it was warm. It makes integration easier if the adults are used to them from little chicks. I raise chicks in the warm months, and they stay in the house with me at night and when it is colder out.

Not sure why you are taking that tone with me. Yes, I imagine it could be harder for her, but I thought I would let her try it herself and see how it goes. I know a lot of things I do are not supposed to be doable. You have to try some things and learn yourself if it is not obviously dangerous.

 

[TXchickenchick]

Yes, I did have week old chicks running around with flock in the day time since it was warm. It makes integration easier if the adults are used to them from little chicks. I raise chicks in the warm months, and they stay in the house with me at night and when it is colder out.

Not sure why you are taking that tone with me. Yes, I imagine it could be harder for her, but I thought I would let her try it herself and see how it goes. I know a lot of things I do are not supposed to be doable. You have to try some things and learn yourself if it is not obviously dangerous.

I apologize if you interpreted any sort of...bad(?) tone in my reply. No particular 'tone' was intended or even implied. I am saying it's not going to work far more often than it would and that you had a couple of things going for you that most people trying to graft chicks would not. I was also genuinely curious about week old chicks milling alone in a flock.

 

[Sambi89]

Wait until she has been on for a week at least. She should accept the chicks even if they are that age if you are very careful and watchful. The most important thing to remember is to do it in the dark and MAKE SURE she does not know you put the chicks under her.

Quote:

It's only stressful because I'm neurotic. She lost so much weight the last time (because it was 28 days for ducks) I made sure she got a special diet every day and I live in the city where we have a limited amount of space. Keeping her and her brood sperate from my other birds isn't fun for the other girls or the dogs. When she hatched out the ducks I had a friend that ended up with two ducks a week older that we put with her. She didn't bat an eye at them she just rushed them under her and started cooing. She's a really really great mother and I have no fear she will not accept the chicks. I would be more concerned with them accepting her, or her thinking it's not been long enough or something and not bringing them out to eat and what have you.

 

[Scatterknit]

First broody hen for me! My big giant blue splash orpington is sitting on some eggs inside the coop - she's crammed into a pretty small nesting box. Anything I should do for her to make it better? She's going to get really hot in there. It's not too bad this week but for 3 weeks in July in Georgi inside the coop? Ugh!

 

[chicksurreal]

Don't mess with tbe momma hen! Lol My precious liitle Violet just came out with 6 perfect little sweethearts this morning!

She is a super tiny bantam naked neck. The only bantam in my flock. But my oh my she looks like a big girl here! Lol

I'm in love!!!

 

[TXchickenchick]

I'm in love!!! 

Awww thanks. Me too! I got so excited when I saw her new little puffballs. Now here's hoping they aren't ALL boys like her last hatch!

 

[chicksurreal]

Awww thanks. Me too!

I got so excited when I saw her new little puffballs. Now here's hoping they aren't ALL boys like her last hatch!

She's just beautiful! And the chicks are adorable.

I always want more roos, but we usually get a 3 to 1 ratio with girls to boys. So she had ALL boys? Wow!