Broody Hen Thread!

[microchick]

Hopefully you will move the feed so she can not reach it at least during her last 3 days because she Will have to Do One Of 2 things----either leave the nest to poop which can cause her eggs that are pipping/hatching to dry out or she will poop in the nest----a major mess if the chicks get into it.

Yep, I plan to move it out of the nest box in the morning after I let the rest of the flock out and close down the roosting coop for the day. Does she need the food in the box with her during lock down? I have read several places where it says to leave food and water in the nesting box for her during lock down as she will not leave the nest. This is new advice as far as I am concerned. Want to do what is right for her.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Does she need the food in the box with her during lock down? I have read several places where it says to leave food and water in the nesting box for her during lock down as she will not leave the nest. This is new advice as far as I am concerned. Want to do what is right for her.

My Broodies Always have food and water---24/7, But Not where she can reach either while on her nest. All my Broodies are in private hatching pens and their food/water in usually on the far side of the pen. None of my broodies leave the nest to eat or drink while they are hatching.

 

[Wendy High]

My new little momma would leave nest twice a day during incubation period for not more than 15-20 seconds. Last 2-3 days I did not see her get off. Nor did I see her get off once they started hatching. But I know she did not go without water for 4-5 days. So she must have gotten off when I wasn't looking. I have food and water in hen house where nests are located, but not in the nest. So far, so good. But this is only my 2nd broody hen.

 

[PD-Riverman]

But I know she did not go without water for 4-5 days. So she must have gotten off when I wasn't looking.

Mine do without---they do not get off the nest---I fix their food where it they eat one speck I will know---and they don't.

 

[microchick]

Thanks PD-Riverman for the information. I keep food and water in the coop where Aggie has to get off the nest to get to it. I just have this vision of the laying hens gobbling down chick starter like it's M&Ms and leaving her with an empty feeder.

Next broody hen will have her own suite. I spent yesterday doing some construction work on the new and improved maternity ward and post partum nursery....sorry, old OB nurse lingo breaking through here. Our coop is two stories, the lower just wasn't done in time for this hen to enjoy it. Once her chicks hatch and she leaves the nest with them, they will be transferred to the lower nursery until they are merged with the flock.

To say this hen going broody was a little unexpected is an understatement.

 

[PD-Riverman]

Once her chicks hatch and she leaves the nest with them, they will be transferred to the lower nursery until they are merged with the flock.

This is just a example of---we all Do Things Different. See my Chicks never merge with the flock-----or I should say the older chickens. If I have chicks that are 2 months apart---say---I will merge them but never with the older ones. I do not mix 1 yr old with 2 yr old. Once they reach about 2 yrs old---they take a ride!

 

[microchick]

I'm a softy. They only way chickens leave is if they are male and display the human aggression. Well not 100% correct. We have 4 roosters now that I have my hands full keeping in line and properly respectful, and I promised my husband that I would re-home any roosters that the hens hatch this spring and summer. When I was in my early teens and had my last flock, bantams and mixed breeds including one big white hen that I trained to ride on the handlebars of my bike. Those birds were my friends and for some reason my mother insisted that they all be killed when they were about three years old. They were not harvested for food. To this day I do not know what happened to them. They simply disappeared. Sad but true story.

I told my husband when he got my flock for me last year as a wedding anniversary gift that they would be with me till they died of old age.

I'm praying for pullets......

 

[PD-Riverman]

I'm a softy. They only way chickens leave is if they are male and display the human aggression. Well not 100% correct. We have 4 roosters now that I have my hands full keeping in line and properly respectful, and I promised my husband that I would re-home any roosters that the hens hatch this spring and summer.

I'm praying for pullets......

LOL. See with me I rather sell a 2 year old hen for $10 to $15 than feed her right on till she dies. I do not name them or walk around holding them---LOL---they are treated and fed good, but I always know when they reach around 2 they will be moving on. Yep the roosters have to go asap unless they working for their keep!!

 

[microchick]

The only way ours gets held is if one of the roos decides that he just has to have a go at one of my boots with his spurs then if you can consider the rooster being dangled by your heels and then pressed flat to the ground in a submissive position until he figures out that it isn't smart to mess with the woman that feeds you and knows how to use a tomahawk being held....well then yeah, I hold the roosters.

Seriously. That's how I have 4 sweetheart boys watching over the girls!

 

[MrsSalo]

My broody girl Smokie had a little peeper today. I found her pecking at a dead chick that appeared to not survive the hatch. She did do something odd. She left the little one peeping away and alone for 10-15 minutes. I took the chick into my brooder for a bit. Once she returned to the nest I took the chick back to mama and they snuggled up. I created a "lock down" situation in that per advice here, I enclosed the area outside the nest with a large wire dog kennel. Hoping to keep the new mama close to the baby.

I am concerned about the eggs she was sitting. After reading on here not sure about the humidity...I guess the next day or so will tell.