Broody Hen Thread!

[chickmeme]

how long would you let her rest?

 

[PD-Riverman]

how long would you let her rest?

If you are asking me-----I have never had to worry about that. My hens all hatch and raise their chicks(over 60 broodies in the last year). Your situation---I would break her, then when she goes broody again----she will be ready.-

 

[Lady of McCamley]

got my first chick last night.   she was all the way across the brooder from mama but she seemed strong so I picked her up and put her under mama.  I went in to get my camera and take pics when I noticed that she must have been pecked by the others.  she has two torn skin spots behind each eye.  brought her in and put her in my 20 gal fish tank that I use to raise my other chicks. she is peeping and standing up walking around so I am hoping she will heal.  one chick seems to be missing and three others have not piped out yet.  if they don't can I put more eggs under the broody hen right away.  the chick I have is red production and buff orpington.

My answer in this situation, it depends on the hen which is often dependent on the breed.

Most hens I would not put more eggs but let the brood run its natural course if the eggs do not pip. Most hens give up by week 4 or 5 latest. That is what the natural brooding span is, about 5 weeks maximum.

Now I have had some hens, a couple of my Silkies of note, that will not stop until there is a chick. Trying to break them is/was both futile and counter productive if I want a good brooder with good habits. Those girls I did put another batch under quickly so the length of their sulking is only 6 weeks, or better, go to the feed store and get a couple of chicks to foster. For them it was/is healthier than fighting their overly strong instincts which can last weeks and weeks.

LofMc

 

[chickmeme]

the hen is a buff orpington. she has tried to brood since she laid her first egg always huffing and puffing when I would try and take them. I took her first chick away because it was injured and need attention. it is now two days old and doing very well. could I put the chick back under her in another day or two when I am sure it won't need more TLC or just raise it and she if she breaks brood and if not give her more eggs?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

the hen is a buff orpington.  she has tried to brood since she laid her first egg always huffing and puffing when I would try and take them.  I took her first chick away because it was injured and need attention.  it is now two days old and doing very well.  could I put   the chick back under her in another day or two when I am sure it won't need more TLC or just raise it and she if she breaks brood and if not give her more eggs?

My large fowl hens always broke by about 5 weeks, so I let it take its natural course.

Hard to know with a Buff Orp. Some are very broody, mine were not.

You can try reintroducing the chick in a few days. If that goes well, it would be best for both as a lonely chick is not good.

But be prepared that the hen could reject the chick or the chick does not graft well and have a back up plan....for me that usually meant getting a couple of feed store chicks and heat brooding in the house.

Chances are momma and chick will connect and both are happy. If not, I would see if momma breaks by just taking the eggs in a few more days. She may sulk a little more, but put treats out in the run and soon you should see her joining the flock for them.

In other words, it has not been my Buff Orps or other large fowl breeds that brood for weeks and weeks...only my Silkies.

But if she refuses to show signs of letting up, and won't take her chick (unlikely but could happen), you might be best to let her try again. My theory is the time you fight a stubborn brooder to break them is sometimes the amount of time to just let them brood another batch.

 

[CGilbert]

Got my first broody hen as of Friday... then my incubator went haywire that evening with eggs I had just set that day. So I threw them under my girl. She should have about 12-14 eggs under there. I almost feel bad for her, but I REALLY hope she stays on that nest. I put a pen around that nesting box so no one else can get to her. And gave her food and water.
She's my largest Ameraucana and normally a sweetheart (but don't mess with her while she's broody,ouch).

 

[casey197530]

My silkie is sitting on two eggs again both doing very well will be my first babies of 2016 can't wait

 

[RachaelR32]

Hi, I'm fairly new to chickens and have a pullet gone broody on me. I'm nervous about hatching and getting the set up right.

She's currently in my coop, which is 3' up. So I'm thinking she needs moving. Can I move her after she has hatched the chicks, or should I try and move her before I give her the eggs? My other 2 girls are not laying yet, but spend a lot of time in the coop watching her. Would she be happier away from them?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Hi, I'm fairly new to chickens and have a pullet gone broody on me. I'm nervous about hatching and getting the set up right.

She's currently in my coop, which is 3' up. So I'm thinking she needs moving. Can I move her after she has hatched the chicks, or should I try and move her before I give her the eggs? My other 2 girls are not laying yet, but spend a lot of time in the coop watching her. Would she be happier away from them?

If you feel the others will pester her, then you should move her very early into the brood, preferably with "dummy" eggs so that if she struggles with the transition, no harm, otherwise no fowl in those eggs if she won't sit on them in the new spot.

If you feel confident she is top hen and will be dominant in that spot, you may let her hatch in the coop and then move the hen and chicks after they have all dried out. That is an optimum time to move momma and babies as momma will go wherever the chicks go easily.

LofMc

 

[RachaelR32]

If you feel the others will pester her, then you should move her very early into the brood, preferably with "dummy" eggs so that if she struggles with the transition, no harm, otherwise no fowl in those eggs if she won't sit on them in the new spot.

If you feel confident she is top hen and will be dominant in that spot, you may let her hatch in the coop and then move the hen and chicks after they have all dried out. That is an optimum time to move momma and babies as momma will go wherever the chicks go easily.

LofMc

I don't know if she's my top hen or not. I've not been able to tell what the pecking order is between my 3.

I moved her last night and gave her some dummy eggs. After getting up for a bit of food this morning she settled back down on the new nest OK so I gave her the proper eggs. Shes now got the dummy eggs and real eggs under her as I couldn't get the dummies out from under her.