Broody Hen Thread!

[fisherlady]

One of the bestest things about having broodies in the coop...getting to see the unexpected 'awww' moments, and even better is when DH happens to have his cell with him and gets some snaps to share.

 

[n3kms]

One of the bestest things about having broodies in the coop...getting to see the unexpected 'awww' moments, and even better is when DH happens to have his cell with him and gets some snaps to share.

Awe.....so sweet. Another good thing about broodies is that you don't have to worry about the electric company coming to your neighborhood and turning off the electricity without warning. Eggs under broody stay warm but incubator gets turned off for 4 hours while I'm not home. So irritating. Hope they do okay.

 

[Puddin Fluff]

Awe.....so sweet.
Another good thing about broodies is that you don't have to worry about the electric company coming to your neighborhood and turning off the electricity without warning. Eggs under broody stay warm but incubator gets turned off for 4 hours while I'm not home. So irritating. Hope they do okay.

 

[lcconnelly56]

That depends on the hen.  Some will continue to be broody for long lengths of time which can be detrimental to their health as they don't eat and drink "normally" during broodiness.  If you are not wanting to hatch, I would put her in a "broody buster".  If you have an open bottom cage that you can elevate so that air circulates under her.  Put her in that with food and drink and monitor her behavior.  After 2-3 days she should be back to "normal" and you can let her out.  If she goes for the nest, put her back in for another day or two.  For sure if she lays in the cage, she is over it.  Broody hens do not lay but her broodiness should break before she returns to laying.

If she persists, let her hatch some eggs.  If you don't have fertile ones, you should be able to find someone that does.

Good luck.  

Thanks for the advise. I'll give it go of breaking her.

 

[16 paws]

fisherlady,
Those pix are absolutely adorable!

What kind of chick is that on mamas back?
Marie

 

[16 paws]

If it were me I would not put this chick back with the mama. Do you have a heat lamp and an area to look after it?

Hows the chick doing????

 

[fisherlady]

Awe.....so sweet.
Another good thing about broodies is that you don't have to worry about the electric company coming to your neighborhood and turning off the electricity without warning. Eggs under broody stay warm but incubator gets turned off for 4 hours while I'm not home. So irritating. Hope they do okay.

hopefully they do well!

fisherlady,
Those pix are absolutely adorable!

What kind of chick is that on mamas back?
Marie

A barnyard mix, either mama or dad is a white rock most likely, though light sussex is a lesser possibility. I know they are some big chicks!...and very brave, adventurous and friendly so far, we are looking forward to seeing how they grow out.

 

[microchick]

Thanks for sharing the too cute to be legal pics, fisherlady! Got taxes done today so I needed a pick me up. That did the trick.

I was thinking that today would be my first day of lockdown for Aggie but it looks like she was out of the nest sometime later on this afternoon. Maybe the cooler weather has thrown things off a day. I constructed a 'kennel' cage around her yesterday to keep the other chickens away from her nesting box. I don't think she was too happy with it cause she knocked the feeder over and proceeded to do a mega sized broody hen dump all over it. Yuck. How do they get it to smell So BAD?

In the 'oh say it isn't so' department. I went out to lock up the flock tonight and one of the Buff girls was walking around the run softly clucking to herself. She isn't fluffed up yet (she got fitted with a hen apron yesterday) nor has she laid claim to a nest but she is definitely making that distinctive soft 'tuuk tuuk tuuk tuuk' sound that they make when they are thinking that life would just be perfect if they had some eggs to sit on resulting in chicks to drool over. I came inside and broke the news to my husband who was not thrilled. He demanded that I tell her that wasn't acceptable behavior and I needed to tell her to knock it off.

If only it was that easy.

 

[Macis Papa]

I wish I had a broody right now. My 6 year old granddaughter was in charge of broody hens and chicks last year. She's positive every hen she sees in a nest box is broody! LOL. I have to admit I'm getting a little anxious myself.

 

[microchick]

I wish I had a broody right now. My 6 year old granddaughter was in charge of broody hens and chicks last year. She's positive every hen she sees in a nest box is broody! LOL. I have to admit I'm getting a little anxious myself.

I think it's that 'hurry up spring' attitude that hits this time of year. We have had millions of geese flying over for about the last week.Last Saturday they flew over in waves that seemed to never end. Then today I saw my first robin. He was in our orchard and was still hanging around tonight when I went out to feed and water. At this point in time I just want to hear peep peep peep coming from under Aggie. If 'Sweetie' is in the broody way I hope she fights the urge for a few days long enough for Aggie to get her eggs hatched. If she does go broody I'll just give her 6 Buff O eggs as the Welsummers just are not breeding as well as I would like. I had to laugh last week as our big moose of a Lavender Orpington rooster tried to get one of the welsummer hens to crouch for him. She screamed out loud at him and when he backed off, she went flying at him feet first. He had the most surprised look on his face when she did that. It was like she was telling him "When I say NO I mean NO!" I've been checking the Welsummer eggs though and only about half have bulls eyes on the yolks. Fussy hens!