Broody Hen Thread!

[PD-Riverman]

@PD-Riverman What do you think?

When you put her back in her normal place----if she runs back to the nest and starts staying on it----she is not broke. After 3 full days---I have never had this to happen-----they just go on with Chicken Life----even start back laying in a few days-----usually.

 

[katatonic123]

Broody appears to be broken! Mingled with the flock after I let her out and was on the roost at dark.

 

[gimmie birdies]

all my eggs have hatched now. I have these pics in 2 groups the older chicks and the ones that hatched to day getting their sea legs.



I brought in the mom hen put her in a box on a towel in a dark room, gave her the oldest 4 babies, I will add a few more a night till everyone is used to it then put all in an outdoor heated brooder box. I don't like to give moms brand new babies because they are not as strong, and can get squished.

I have 3 eggs due on Sat.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Broody appears to be broken! Mingled with the flock after I let her out and was on the roost at dark.

Great!! So simple to do---so many take them off the nest several times a day for weeks, some just let them set for months on no eggs or unfertile eggs. 3 days by herself and she will probably be back to laying soon!!

 

[scandiafowl]

My adorable banty Cochin Beatrice has done and gone broody. She sitting on her eggs and growls at me.
So far just two, but they are all hers I'd love to see babies.

 

[Arztwolf]

Right now my black Silky, Sponge, is sitting on a nest, no idea how many under her right now. The daddy is one of my favorite roos, Jo Jo, the Barred Rock. If they hatch those are going to be some interesting looking chicks!

 

[Halloweengirl13]

My other Japanese broody Ishtar and her new "chicks"

 

[Halloweengirl13]

Ishtar and all of her babies hatched and adopted

 

[mandy3246]

One of my hens is broody and has not left her box for 5 days. I'm not sure how many eggs she's sitting on. Should I give her food and water in her box?

 

[lazy gardener]

No. You want to encourage her to come out and eat. Otherwise, she may stay in the nest and poop on the eggs. What is your climate? Are you ok with having chicks in the winter? She'll do ok with babies, and some hens do brood in the winter. But, one thing you'll need to do is be sure none of the other birds go in her nest to lay. They may crowd in on top of her, or sneak in when she comes out to eat/drink/poop. It would be a good idea to mark all of her eggs and be sure she doesn't have too many to succesfully cover. you might also want to candle them at some point and remove any that are not developing, or not as developed. She'll wait a day or two after the majority of the chicks hatch, then leave the nest and any eggs left behind will be left to die.